<p>I'm an international applicant applying for Grade 11. I'm a Chinese citizen, and it's already hard for me as it is because of affirmative action policies. I'm not studying in China, but my school over here is top-ranked in the country and I'm in various special programmes. I don't play sports though, and my ECs are extremely weak. Will requesting for financial aid (rather light, around 15-20k, far below average aid granted) hurt your chances?</p>
<p>Andover is need blind, which is fantastic, but I don't think I'm good enough to be accepted into Andover. Moreover, acceptance rates have reached record low this year D:</p>
<p>irrelevant: how do I get an interview if I'm over here, a 20 hour plane ride away?</p>
<p>My guess is that the financial aid request will impact your chances. “Light” need, as far as I’m concerned, would be $5 to 10K. Anything beyond that is still pretty significant. And I honestly don’t know what impact even a $5k request might have on an application.</p>
<p>As for the interview, many schools send admissions rep’s to Asia, so you might have a chance to do an interview with an admissions officer right where you are. Otherwise, your options would be either a Skype interview (with an admissions officer) or an in-person alumni interview with a graduate of the school who lives near you.</p>
<p>My take - the financial aid request is only part of the equation - the lack of sports and EC’s is the other. Your reference to affirmative action “hurting your chances” was uncalled and irrelevant in this case. </p>
<p>11th grade has few spots and they are reserved for kids with strong resumes and EC’s. There are tons of Asian kids in boarding school (US and foreign born) so your ethnic background isn’t the issue. You say you are in a great school but your own comments show you haven’t exhibited any of the traits or done the activities boarding schools expect from their existing students. So even if you were to repeat 10th grade your chances are low.</p>
<p>You need to ask yourself - what do you have to offer? And why would a school that is going to award aid to only 10-30 kids in each gender pick you over the thousands of others wanting the same thing?</p>
<p>Your best bet is to stay at your current school and focus on college. I think you waited too late to have a shot at a boarding school at this point. All spots are now taken, the cycle won’t start again until fall and getting a spot as an incoming (non-jock) Senior is virtually impossible.</p>
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<p>Exie, I believe you misunderstood. I think eradicated is intending to apply for the first time next year for his or her junior year the following year. </p>
<p>And, although the reference to affirmative action was unfortunate, I think eradicated’s concern has more to do with what you mentioned yourself - that there are “tons of Asian kids in boarding school.” So eradicated’s ethnicity is not going to help his or her chances.</p>
<p>We also don’t know what those “special programs” are that eradicated is doing . . . perhaps they would be something the schools would be interested in.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree that it’s an uphill battle, but if eradicated is willing to look at a broad range of schools - and not just focus on Andover - he or she might have a chance.</p>
<p>From an admission’s perspective (and not to discourage him/her)</p>
<ol>
<li>no sports</li>
<li>weak EC’s</li>
<li>applying for 11th grade which has only a handful of spots each year even at the biggest schools.</li>
<li>already at a good school so no “compelling reason” to leapfrog him/her over another qualified applicant.</li>
<li>needs financial aid but hasn’t articulated what he/she brings to the table.</li>
</ol>
<p>Spells very low odds even at less competitive schools. It isn’t the financial aid that is the biggest barrier - it’s the weak resume. And even if “bolstered” with new activities now - it will look like resume padding instead of passionate pursuit.</p>
<p>—@eradicated - I’m a fan of trying even in the face of low odds. But I just wanted you to know what you are up against.</p>
<p>eradicated,</p>
<p>Everyone understands the hurdles that Asian students must overcome as over represented minority applicants. So, don’t think that Americans are clueless about the challenges you face. </p>
<p>Needing financial aid and lacking outstanding ECs are complicating factors, not disqualifying ones. If Andover is beyond your reach, have you, for example, considered the St Andrews School? Like Andover, it is an outstanding need blind school. There are also many need aware schools that provide generous financial aid. Having outstanding ECs definitely helps prep school applicants. However, the fact that you are involved in special programs and that you attend a top ranked school are positive factors upon which you may be able to successfully build your application. </p>
<p>To help us help you better, tell us more about yourself without revealing your identity. What are your grades and SSAT scores? Would you consider repeating tenth grade? Are you open to the possibility of applying to a wide range of prep schools? What are the special programs you mention? What do you excel in and love to do? These factors won’t allow people to reliably chance you for admission. But they will permit CC members to recommend schools for you to consider. Of course, nothing is guaranteed in prep school admission. But there may be many schools that suit your needs. </p>
<p>Off-campus interviews can be conducted through local alumni representatives or Skype. There is also the possibility of interviewing with an admission officer, if he or she happens to travel to your country. Once you compile your prep school list, each individual school will help you work out the details.</p>
<p>I’m in Singapore, and I am in the Integrated Programme ([Ministry</a> of Education, Singapore: Gifted Education Programme, Integrated Programmes](<a href=“http://sg.sg/rJRjpS]Ministry”>http://sg.sg/rJRjpS)), the Moot Parliment Programme ([Ministry</a> of Education, Singapore: Gifted Education Programme, Humanities Programmes - Moot Parliament Programme](<a href=“http://sg.sg/FQJNzH]Ministry”>http://sg.sg/FQJNzH)), and my school’s own Humanities Programme. </p>
<p>I’m semi-involved in Model United Nations and council. I’ve been in the St John’s Ambulance Brigade for the past 3 years, and I frequently provide first-aid service at events. I spent 1 year giving tuition to a primary school and I have clocked a total of 150 community service hours in these years. I’ve always been a above-average student with my lowest GPA being 3.5 (using the US scale of counting B as 3.5).</p>
<p>I take on quite a number of projects and I’m doing 2 social studies researches and 1 art project this year.</p>
<p>^these are all my ECs… and I have not taken the SSAT yet. My family income is around 140k per year but my father’s house is on a mortgage loan and he doesn’t have a fund for my education ._. Thanks for all those who helped, and I think if I’m really not suitable for boarding school, I might as well give up applying. I’m exploring this as an option but I’m kind of already accepting the fact that I may not get in after all.</p>
<p>Those are not “weak” EC’s. They’re good ones. Don’t worry about them. You should apply and be proud of them. </p>
<p>Giving up is not the mark of a good candidate. Many students on the CC boards did not give up. And schools do take 11th grade students (and repeat 10th graders) so why shouldn’t one of them be you? Based on what you describe, there is no harm in trying. Reach out to a broad range of schools to maximize your options. But I will say that needing FA puts candidates in a more competitive pool. Needing only partial aid instead of full aid might work in your favor as schools try to spread limited funds among a greater number of families.</p>
<p>But you should try. We based our comments on your original post. Your new information helps put things in perspective. Go for it! If you don’t find a spot, you still have a good local school to fall back on! Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>eradicated,</p>
<p>Yikes, please don’t post your family’s financial information online!</p>
<p>If your thinking is that it must be Andover or nothing, then you are done—no need to apply. I would concur with the other posters that Andover admission is probably a stretch for any international applicant from an over-represented nationality (Chinese), with an over-represented country of residence (Singapore), with less than perfect academic credentials, with less than exceptional EC’s and also needing FA. (I agree w Exie that your EC’s are interesting!)</p>
<p>There are other BS’s that might be a better match.</p>
<p>Some linguistic tips for you, as you are not an American-English user:
American say “tutoring”. The word “tuition” refers to the money you pay to go to school.
GPA means Grade Point Average—it’s the average of ALL your grades.<br>
The grading scale is:
4 = A
3 = B
2 = C
1 = D</p>
<p>I agree with Exie - your activities are really quite remarkable!</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you think the term “extracurriculars” refers to . . . perhaps you think it is just sports? But “extracurricular” means, literally, any activity you pursue outside of your academic subjects. And the activities you have listed here certainly qualify!</p>
<p>You have much to be proud of. I don’t know if your application to American boarding school will be successful - but you should certainly try!</p>
<p>Go [url=<a href=“Boarding School Search Results”>Boarding School Search Results]here[/url</a>] to see a list of all the college preparatory boarding schools in the United States. Find a dozen or so that look interesting to you and start making inquiries. Some offer financial aid for international students and others do not . . . so make sure you consider that factor is putting together your list.</p>
<p>eradicated,</p>
<p>As I suspected, your ECs are fine. Study for your SSAT, take it, and see how you do. Then check back with us for more specific school recommendations. In the meantime, do your research, and compile a balanced and provisional list of reach schools, likelies, and safeties. Good luck!</p>