My Chances

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>This year I will be applying to Loomis Chaffe, Andover and Kent fro 11th grade, currently I am in 10th. I attend an international school in the Netherlands. However, last year I lived in Japan. I am not applying for Financial Aid. So I need to hear advice?</p>

<p>Grades:
9th Grade- I had a gpa of 3.3
I took Physics, Music Composition, Glass Art, Geometry, English, World History, Japanese 3.</p>

<p>10th Grade- (Attend IB school so different Grading System)
I take Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, Pre Calculus/Advanced Statistics, Economics, Geography, Japanese ,History, Food Technology, IT, Design Technology, PE and Personal Project. My GPA (out of 7) was a 5. </p>

<p>Athletics: Varsity Tennis, Varsity Swimming</p>

<p>Community Service: Habitat For Humanity, Animal Advocates, Students Against Landmines, Scorer for athletic meets, make rice at church for the homeless.</p>

<p>Arts: Played piano for 5 years, Violin for 3 years.</p>

<p>PS. I attended Andover Summer Session this summer</p>

<p>thanks</p>

2

<p>I would say that the GPA of 3.3 and 5 will hurt you -- my older son also goes to an IB school, so I am familiar with the 1-7 grading scale. 5 isn't terrible, but a 5 average isn't great for a competitive school like Andover, either. coupled with your 9th grade GPA of 3.3, it might not look great.</p>

<p>I think your SSAT scores and teacher recommendations are going to be looked at very closely to determine if you can handle the workload. Do you have any idea where you stand in your class -- top 10%, top 25%? </p>

<p>Otherwise, your activities and community service look good -- but unless one of the schools is looking to add strong swimmers or tennis players, I don't see a hook or anything that will necessarily get you in.</p>

<p>Your international background and the fact that you don't need FA will help.</p>

3

<p>My PSAT scores were very high around 204. Does that help?
My grades are quite low but, the school I attend now does grade at a high level because the average IB score at my school is 36, which is quite high opposed to the US IB system. I just hope they take that into account.
I also understand that Andover is a stretch but, what about the other ones?</p>

4

<p>the PSAT score will help -- I think that teacher recommendations are going to be a big factor for you. You need to make sure that your school report gives clear information about the grading system -- and how many kids get each type of grade.</p>

<p>At my son's school, a 7 is equal to an A+, a 6 is an A/A- and a 5 is a B/B+. those grades are supposed to be an indication of how the teacher thinks you are going to do on the IB exam. That is why I am saying that a 5 average is low -- it is about a B/B+ average or around a 3.5 on the traditional 4.0 grading scale. When you add that to the 3.3 from freshman year, it looks questionable.</p>

<p>of course -- the other factor that schools need to consider is that you not only changed schools, but you also changed countries. That could be a huge factor -- on top of the difficulty of understanding the grading system.</p>

<p>make sure your teacher recommendations and school report are very good and really explain how well you do in school and how you compare with other students.</p>

<p>Are you applying as an international? If so, that pool of applicants is even more competitive.</p>

5

<p>I am american but, my father works in business overseas
I am however, applying as international b/c I dont live in the USA.</p>

6

<p>I am not 100% sure how it works, but my understanding was that US citizens would apply as such no matter where they lived. It has to do with whether or not you hold citizenship and whether you need a visa.</p>

<p>If you are an american, then you don't need a visa to study in the US -- so you should apply as a US student.</p>

<p>Contact the individual schools to see -- but stress that you are a US citizen and that you wouldn't need a visa. </p>

<p>It would certainly increase your chances if you apply as a US student -- not only are you not in the same competitive pool as other internationals -- you also have a very unique experience attending schools abroad.</p>

<p>Have you considered applying for 10th grade and repeating the year -- it isn't that uncommon and might make you even more competitive. Most schools admit many more students for 10th than for 11th</p>

7

<p>I went to Andover Summer Session, too. I think we're facebook friends lol.</p>

8

<p>I have no idea what your chances are. However, I think the fact that you have lived abroad (especially the Netherlands) but don't need a visa would make you more attractive as an applicant.</p>

9

<p>capriatifan, I think you have a unique background that will make you stand out. Your community service list is impressive; a lot depends on the depth of your involvement so discuss in your interviews and essays if they are important to you. Out of curiosity, why would you want to go to a U.S. boarding school when you go to an IB school in the Netherlands? It sounds like you are already in a great situation.</p>

10

<p>The school is too small for me, and you dont get a lot of choice in academics. For example, the administrators threw me into advanced math which Im getting a 5 in. For Japanese, I'm in the mother tongue class because i've lived there for so long. The school also doesn't offer alot of clubs and service groups so, i feel boarding schools woudl be a great choice.</p>

11

<p>you look really good to me! i think you'll get in to at least one of those schools! (it would be extremely unfair if you didn't :))</p>

12

<p>I can't tell you if you will get in or not but I don't see a reason why they would think of rejecting you!
Have you considered repeating 10th grade?</p>

13

<p>i got my ssat scores in the other day and i got 82% but 99% on math and its my fave subject so ahhhh more help plz</p>

14

<p>So an 82% was your overall?</p>

15

<p>mmhm yes that was teh total</p>

16

<p>im also going to apply to tabor as a safety
is that a smart decision?</p>

17

<p>I would say that your chances for getting into Andover are less than Loomis and Kent, but there's a pretty fair chance in all of them. I'd just cross my fingers and hope for the best or just retake the SSAT</p>

18

<p>ne other advice?</p>

19

<p>study ALOT. I know it seems like the same thing is being told over and over again, but trust me, it all pulls out in the end. Try to reach for an 85 and go out and but an SSAT handbook (i find the ones from kaplan are helpful) and take some practice tests</p>

20

<p>i cant tho
i had to fly to london to take the test</p>

<p>i just am so scared i poured my heart and soul into my apps and hope i get in
im scared about loomis and andover</p>

<p>andover is soo hard to get into i maybe to weak to getin
my interview went realy well</p>