Greetings, I’m a current eighth grader and I am applying to Lick Wilmerding High School and University High School. I love almost everything about both of these schools and would love to attend any of them. The application process is over, and I am deeply concerned about my chances to get into any one of these schools. The other San Francisco SF schools I am applying to are SI, SHC, and Lowell. My SSAT score is a feeble 60th percentile overall, and my gpa in my recent quarter is 3.91, while the quarter before that was 3.83. I have applied and taken around 2 weeks for each highschool to work hard on my applications with the help of my Harvard lawyer father LOL. But anyways, I do realize that those two independent schools are extremely competitive to get into, and I’m not super special academically, but I tried to be unique through my applications and talked about the hobby aquarium and practical fish keeping which includes biology and the responsibility required to go to those schools, etc. About 13 percent of people accepted to Lick go there, so I’m guessing the actual acceptance rate is around 18 percent. For University, it’s like 16 percent, so the actual acceptance rate is probably like 20 percent. So: the real question: what are my chances?
Do you need financial aid? How strong are your extra curriculars? Do you currently attend public or private school?
I will not be receiving financial aid, and my many extra curricular activities include: Club Boys Volleyball, School Soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and I belong to a swim team. As for the non-sports side, I am part of the technology club at my school, where we set up speakers and microphones for morning assembly, part of student council, and there are definitely more stuff that I can’t think of off the spot. As for my school, I attend a parochial private school. I think I’ve essentially explained what my life is.
Not needing any financial aid will help a lot! So will sports!
Do you think I should and aggressive and express that I really want to go their school?
Does your school have a counselor who has been helping you? They would know the schools best. Do you have a very clear first choice?
No, unfortunately my school does not have a counselor. I don’t have a clear first choice, but I would say Lick and University as my top two.
First choice is a help. At my son’s school (private in SF), the high school admissions counselor asks all parents what their student’s first choice is. Schools do like to know they are first choice, it can be worth a small bump.
Interviews will be a valuable activity for you. I assume you’ve done your Uni one. Lick’s dual interviews are this past Saturday, and this upcoming one (my son will doing his this Saturday).
Since applications were due Jan. 11, it seems that these are the things you can do to affect your chances:
- Designate one school a first choice, and let them know.
- Rock any remaining interviews.
- Update schools for any extraordinary accomplishments you have in the next few weeks.
BTW: The other schools - SI, SHC, Lowell - are all fantastic and will still lead to amazing outcomes down the road. Don’t sweat all this too much.
@SirNam505 How’d the high school application season end up?
Our girl was admitted to Urban, UHS, and Lick Wilmerding…
& Lowell
@CaliMex That is FANTASTIC! Congrats to her. What a wonderful choice she got to make. Where did she decide?
We put down a deposit on Lick to hold the spot while she visits some of the boarding schools that accepted her (Thacher, Middlesex, St. Andrew’s, Berkshire, Emma Willard). How did things go for you? Have you made any decisions yet?
My SHB son is heading to Archbishop Riordan. He was accepted into their Engineering Program, which fits him well. Over the four years, he’s going to do: coding (Swift, Java), 3D printing, robotics, Unity game design, AI. It’s a program they started this year, and we’re really excited about it. He’ll also be a St. Francis Scholar there as well, which is great; not gonna complain about half off tuition.
Lick-Wilmerding is awesome. I’m aware of a couple CES girls heading there.
Congratulations! Sounds like a great program!