I'm back! :)

Prep School Admissions
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<p>I'm back, from a long hiatus of staying away from the whirlwind of prep schools and focusing my attention on pubic high school work. I'm proud to say to say that I've started a successful, non-profit organization, and I've kept up all my grades as well as my GPA to 3.95 / 4.0, and am still improving! :)</p>

<p>Looking around at CC, I see that there's many new people on the forums these days. Welcome to CC! For those who don't know me, I'm boarderkid, a current 9th grader at a public high school. I applied last year to the Lawrenceville School and Peddie School, but was ultimately waitlisted.</p>

<p>I won't lie, however. Not a day goes by without me imagining myself at one of my dream prep school. Not a day goes by without me wishing I was at another school. Not a day goes by without me reflecting upon what would've been different if I had applied to boarding school this year. Not a day goes by without me asking myself, "Am I doing the right thing? Have I made the right decision? Will I regret this later on?"</p>

<p>The answer is yes. I will most likely regret this later on, that I didn't take up a wonderful opportunity to truly go beyond my potential. Nonetheless, as I gain insight into my family's financial situation, I realized that no matter how much I wanted to go to my dream school next year, I saved my parents stress and money by not applying and also gave my sister the opportunity to apply.</p>

<p>As the eldest child of the family, there are some natural obligations that come along. Make your family proud, be successful, look after the well-being of your siblings, etc. With that, I've realized that one of my responsibilities is not just to look after my own self, but instead look after my younger sister.</p>

<p>Though bittersweet, I am slowly understanding that no matter how much you want something, you cannot always have it--sometimes, you have to let go of it and hope for the best. I am still having difficulty with confronting it, and it's true--I do cry at times, when I really try to place myself in the boarding school setting. I keep wondering what could have happened, and I believe that is a universal problem--moving on.</p>

<p>My only comfort, at this point, is that my younger sister will get into her dream prep school. Perhaps this is a way that I can move on, by helping my sister in whichever way I can. That's what I've been doing for the past few months, giving advice and helping with homework while feeding her little tidbits of prep school information and interesting facts of certain schools. I will help her in the admissions process in any way possible, and I've promised myself that she will get anything from me if it means that it will benefit her. I want to make sure that she will not be unhappy here like I am, and that she will rise beyond her high potential.</p>

<p>In that aspect, I'm glad that I haven't applied. I can help my parents out around the house more, and try to make them happy whenever I get a chance to. I try to alleviate them financially when it's possible, and though I was looking into taking a summer program, it's too expensive. By not applying, the financial situation in our family is not as strained, allowing my family to better provide for my sister's BS education.</p>

<p>As the first-generation born here in the United States, I've begun to understand that it's better I stay where I am now, so my sister and cousins can come to me for help. Since I've had no one in my family that is older than me grow up here, I'm the experiment, in a way. Everything I do is new for my family, everything is a test. If it goes wrong, then we can fix it for my sister. If it goes wrong, then I lose--the thing is, I can't do anything about it. If it goes well, then fantastic! It'll be even better for my sister. :) For instance, prep school in the United States was an experiment, and I was the guinea pig. We did not know anything about applying, and I had found CC too later. Likewise, I was waitlisted and watched the schools close their waitlists. After spending so much time on CC, I've gained much information that I can use to help my sister.</p>

<p>Although I personally may regret not going to a prep school later on, it's for the greater good. I want prep school--I really, really do. I can only hope, now, that by channeling all the spirit and determination I had into my sister (who also wants to attend prep school), she will be able to apply better than I had. I will prepare her to the best of my ability, and make sure that she won't have any regrets like I do.</p>

<p>Phew. That was quite a long spiel. Thoughts, anyone?</p>

<p>By the way, if anyone needs to ask questions about BS or my own experience through the admissions process, feel free to PM me. :D</p>

<p>So, how were everyone's results? I hope that everyone got into their first or second choice! Those that were waitlisted or rejected--don't worry, there's always next year. :)</p>

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<p>hey! great post (though a bit long but that’s ok w/ me ;), and welcome back! :smiley:
Just got into Deerfield. Good luck to you!</p>

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<p>that was interesting! what a good sister/brother you are! im sure your sister doesnt know it now, but she will appreciate some day all you have done for her!</p>

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<p>WOAH WHAT, you founded a non-profit organization?! how cool is that?? for what cause??</p>

<p>oh, the things you never tell me on facebook >: (</p>

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<p>Boarderkid…its been almost year (it seems like it has).
I got into Exeter!!! I thought you applied this year too.</p>

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<p>I hope admissions officers from both L’ville and Peddie are reading your post…and KICKING themselves.</p>

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<p>Great post. Agree with neato.</p>

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<p>I think you have learned lessons by attending your public high school, that you wouldn’t have learned if you’d gone to a prep school.</p>

<p>It sounds to me as if you are mature beyond your years.</p>

<p>You wouldn’t know it from the CC site, but for most students in the U.S.–not just foreign born students–prep school is not even a option, and when they make their college decisions, they have to keep finances in mind.</p>

<p>I couldn’t go to exclusive private schools because my parents couldn’t afford it. But, I worked hard in high school and went to a very prestigious public university, and I’ve done just fine.</p>

<p>There’s an old American saying that applies to a lot of situations (BTW, the incorrect grammar is part of the saying): “It ain’t what you’ve got, but what you do with what you’ve got.”</p>

<p>Good luck. I predict you’ll go far.</p>

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<p>Thank you all so much for the kind thoughts!</p>

<p>@ exoveerotch: Congratulations on getting into Deerfield! It’s an amazing school. :slight_smile: Are you planning on attending it in the fall?</p>

<p>@ DanielleGirl: I’m an elder sister, and thank you! I hope that despite all the nagging I can do to her sometimes, she’ll realize that I’m doing everything–literally, everything–for her.</p>

<p>@ DiveAlive: Just spoke to you on Facebook! :slight_smile: Yes, I technically founded the non-profit organization in my area after branching it off from a friend, but it’s a club at my school that I’m in charge of. If anyone would like to heard about this organization, please PM me! I’m not sure if I should talk about its cause here on CC, just because the organization isn’t common.</p>

<p>@ urbanflop: Yes, it’s nearly been a year! How are you? Congratulations on getting into Exeter! I have a few friends that go there, and they love it! :smiley: I was going to apply, but ultimately decided not to.</p>

<p>@ neatoburrito: When I read your post (a few days ago, at night), even though it was short, I started to cry. For a good twenty minutes or so, and I’m glad I did–it helped me release some of the tension that built up because of the events explained in my OP. It seems silly, but I never thought that I would be so upset about not applying. It’s affected me in so many ways, now. People often say that you realize how important or dear something is to you when you’re no longer with it, or associated with it. This is the same for me. :confused: I really hope that the admissions officers are reading this post and kicking themselves, too!</p>

<p>@ OtherEtc: Thanks for the well wishes, I really appreciate your thoughts. :slight_smile: I agree with you, I believe that I’ve learned quite a few lessons that I wouldn’t have had I gone to a prep school, and I’m glad that I have picked up these lessons and morals and apply to my daily life.</p>

<p>I think that this experience, of researching so many things about prep schools and getting myself into the “amazingness” of prep schools has taught me a lot. I began to thoroughly research prep schools after I had handed in my applications, and found CC. What a surprise I found! There were so many schools, so many people, so many opportunities out there that I never got to apply to, meet, nor experience. It’s too bad that my parents and I found about applying to prep schools in November of 8th grade, when it was already a bit late. I do regret it, but what I regret more is immersing myself in the world of prep schools not only after handing in my applications to Peddie and Lawrenceville, but even after being waitlisted. It made things much more difficult–an example of where ignorance would have been bliss.</p>

<p>Your examples, OtherEtc, are fantastic and a constant reminder that prep schools are not the only options. Thank you so much. :)</p>

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<p>Cheer up and congrats! I can imagine how it hurts but looks like you’ve learnt something from the app process!</p>

<p>I’ll probably be in the same situation next year. (Yay! We’ve grown up! Getting rejected by prep schools is definitely NOT the end of the world!)</p>