<p>Here is my situation. I live in a town where going across the country to study is not the norm. My local high school is not all rainbow and sunshine. Its very run down with teachers who are unmotivated. I want something more. I want something that will challenge me. </p>
<p>My grades:
6th grade: All A's with the exception of 1 B (it was in the first trimester)
7th: All A's
8th: Really going to put some effort in getting all As</p>
<p>EC:
My school has had budget cuts right when I entered. The programs that they do offer, I'm in. You might ask "hey, no clubs? start one!". I can't do that because the dean won't give us permission due to safety. I'm in student council where I'm the secretary, hold cabinet in a few committees, greater, and I'm in band. </p>
<p>I know who my math teacher will be for next year and I'm sure she will give me a great recommendation. I also have a "outside of the classroom" recommendation that will be great from my band teacher. Besides the pity amount of ECs, I will also be applying as a international. I hold a EU citizenship but I currently reside in California. The worst part? I might need a partial financial aid. </p>
<p>I really don't want to go to the local high school here. I'll go to any school but this one.</p>
<p>Okay. For your case, they won’t see your file and be blown away, you know that.
So your main points are going to be the interview and essays. Make the admissions officers feel your desperation to get out of your little town. Think of some examples of why it’s not the best place to go to school. (:</p>
<p>Your grades are really good, though. Be sure to get a great score on your SSAT (It doesn’t seem hard for you, haha)</p>
<p>Also, if you want to start a club, find a large group of students that would be interested. Make a petition to the dean. If he still says no, you can take your club out of school. Meetings rotating at people’s houses. Boarding schools want you to be very passionate about your activities.</p>
<p>You’re looking good!! I wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>It really depends on the kind of school you’ll apply to. You have very decent grades, and that’s good. Make a club of your own and mention it in your application, I’m sure people from admission will like it.
the financial aid seems like the toughest part, because there are a lot of talented students from everywhere.
don’t give up, you still have a plenty of time, you’re a good candidate, especially if your country is underrepresented ! :)</p>
<p>How underrepresented is a Scandinavian country? </p>
<p>I’ll head out to borders ASAP to pick up SSAT prep books, then! I’m really not sure how I will do on the SSAT. My current school is really bad. You have to be really trying to fail a class to get a F. </p>
<p>Can I put clubs like that on my application? do they really count? </p>
<p>Do you guys have any boarding schools that you guys know of that have a high admissions rate with a decent endowment? i’m looking at BSreview site right now, and I’m not sure if I have the right schools or not.</p>
<p>I’m not 100% sure, but it most likely is quite underrepresented. the SSAT is not a difficult exam, you can easily do well on it.</p>
<p>regarding your ECs, you better ask boarding schools about that. I guess they should count.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about boarding schools anyways, since I’m a future applicant myself. just search for the kind of schools you want on BSreview, and then read more about them online… that’s basically what I did.</p>
<p>Gluepeeling… The SSAT is very easy. The math, you barely have to look at (ex. "Which of these numbers is not divisible by 4?). The reading section requires some more concentration, you should study that. Make sure you find a prep book with a pretty large vocabulary section – you’ll need those. But overall, you don’t need to worry about the SSAT.</p>
<p>And yes, starting your own club helps. A lot. It shows leadership as well as devotion to your interests – those are two things that boarding schools LOVE to see in an applicant.</p>
<p>Better set up your interviews asap! Only one month left. And don<code>t forget the offices will be closed over the holidays. Ck out schools w/ rolling admissions and Feb. dead lines. This gives you some more time. Hope you don</code>t eat the glue after you peel it. :D</p>