<p>I just received my ISEE scores in the mail. I am applying to 3 pretty prestigious private day schools (NOT BOARDING SCHOOLS). Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.), Potomac School (Mclean, Virginia), and St. Andrews Episcopal (Potomac, Maryland). Potomac is definitely my number one choice. Here are the scores:</p>
<p>EC's include- 7 years of piano, 5 years of video production and film making, 8 years of basketball, and I am also really into photography but there is no official class I'm doing for it. Also I did this summer exchange thing for a month in barcelona, spain. </p>
<p>Please be honest. I want the most honest opinion possible. Just remember these aren't boarding schools, so I don't need to have a 99% on my test. Thanks!</p>
<p>sorry i wish i could help you out but i don't know any of the schools you're applying to except for SAE and I've only heard the name passed around before. i'm not quite sure how the isee works. what grade are you applying to?</p>
<p>I'm applying to 10th grade. Since you don't know the schools specifically, do you think my ec's and scores are good enough for the private schools in general?</p>
<p>There is a wide spectrum of different private schools. While your ECs may be considered exceptional for some, they may be seen as lackluster by others.</p>
<p>Your ecs are more than adequate for any school. Applicants who claim more than that are padding and the reviewers can see right through them. There are a limited number of hours in the day, although you would never think that based on some of the ec profiles that I see here. It is depth and commitment, not breadth, that matters.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with you pan1956. It's hard for me to believe that the threads that include EC's that are outragesly difficult are actually true. Its impossible to do all the activities that some people say they are doing.</p>
<p>Assuming that you are articulate and personable, you will be a good candidate for any of those schools. And you are obviously thoughtful, since you see right through those posts that claim dozens of ecs! Incidentally, Sidwell Friends is the school that Chelsea Clinton attended and that the Obama girls now attend!</p>
<p>Thank you very much. I don't like my public school at all so I would love to go to one of these schools. Thanks for the support. </p>
<p>P.S. Yes I know about Clinton and Obama!, and that's what I'm worried about, I think that I will have no chance there because of Obama's kids. Just my opinion though.</p>
<p>Sidwell Friends does draw very strongly from the political crowd, in part because they have gotten good at handling the security/privacy issues. But, plenty of unknowns go there too. I think that folks didn't know (at least there wasn't any press about it) that the Obama girls were going there until pretty close to the date by which apps had to be in, so for this year, they won't much affect admissions numbers.</p>
<p>Well, you ask for honesty, so really I don't think those are good scores. I mean, afak you can't just get 70 percentiles and get into a good prep school (and look, those schools you're applying to are DC's best, they're on par with the new england boarding schools).</p>
<p>To mcgoogly, thank you so much for your honesty. I know and agree with you that my scores aren't the best, they are a little under what the average accepted student gets. However, I have many connections particularly at Sidwell Friends. My grandparents graduated there, and my parents are really good friends with the head of admissions. So I'll just have to wait until next month! Thanks again.</p>
<p>While legacy might give you an advantage, I'm pretty damn sure that the fact your parents are friends with the head of admissions won't do jack **** for you. At least I'd like to think so - if it did that would be, well, just disgusting.</p>
<p>I'm not saying that at all RingTingTing. I don't expect the admissions office to be that arrogant that they would just accept me because of connections. All I'm saying is that my ISEE scores weren't terrible, and I had a good interview. Don't put words in my mouth.</p>
<p>Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'd never intentionally put words in your mouth.</p>
<p>I've just never seen "I had a good interview" BASICALLY worded "I got a below average score but my parents are besties with the dean of admissions."</p>
<p>Your putting words in my mouth again. Did I ever say my parents were "besties" with admissions. No. They know him. My interview didn't even involve my parents. A teacher was interviewing me, and I got to know her well. So why don't you actually READ the thread first before making your judgments. Your acting very conceited.</p>
<p>I'm acting excessively proud of myself? Vain? Okay. I won't ask how.</p>
<p>Don't worry, I read the thread. You did say, though, that your parents are "really good friends with" the dean of admissions. Sorry that I interpreted that, in its context, as an insinuation that you have a higher chance of admissions because, as you said, you have connections. I don't think I'd be alone in thinking that a little snide since, as you know, not everyone has connections at the schools they apply to. It annoys them (and me) that some people even suggest their chances are above average simply based on acquaintances - especially when that someone isn't even as qualified as the others.</p>
<p>I said conceited because you are acting like you perfectly understand what I'm talking about and you know exactly the relationship my parents have with admissions office.</p>
<p>And as a matter of fact, I agree with you. It really annoys me how people are accepted based on connections instead of actual accomplishments and intelligence. I shouldn't of mentioned my parents relationship. Sorry for upsetting you by doing so. You are right. It hopefully will have no impact, as that would not be fair to other students who actually got good test scores and have great accomplishments. I'm just trying to stay positive because I applied to the same schools last year, and got rejected from all 3. Why? Because my SSAT scores were a composite 32%. I had no preparation, and basically bombed by chances. So I really want this. But like I said in my original post, I want honesty. And I appreciate the honesty I am getting.</p>
<p>No, no, don't worry, I wasn't upset or anything by it :)</p>
<p>Just remember that no matter how honest people on CC are, the majority of us are applicants to schools and don't know too much about the inner workings of the admissions process. If stuff seems harsh from anyone, just remember that they don't know about the process. Best of luck with your apps!</p>