<p>I'm applying to some New England boarding schools, among them are Phillips Academy, Phillips Exeter and Hotchkiss School. I'm applying for the 11th grade, or junior year, but that is also my current grade, as here where I am now I'm a year ahead. I'd still consider repeating 10th grade if I don't stand a chance at 11th grade.</p>
<p>Last years grades or 10th grades, grades are very good, I was second highest in my graduating class and highest in three major subjects (where I live you graduate from the tenth grade and then you can go to a junior collage for 4 years, most people do that but it isn't mandatory). My math grade then was a 10 and biology 9,5 fx. But now in my first year at junior collage my grades have dropped to 6s and 7s, because it's crazy strict, my math teacher especially, he gives minuses if you don't write in a straight line! </p>
<p>But I'm applying for the grade I am currently in so I was thinking that maybe last years grades would be more the more important ones. Am I wrong to think so?</p>
<p>I have also taken the SSAT's and got a 2280 score and 96th percent. I do drama(2h) and choir(4h) every week, work as a waitress during the summer and one night a week during the winter. I also used to do figure skating and am very interested in the hockey team (not the varsity one). Where I live everything like that is also very expensive so I would probably want to try out things that aren't available here or too expensive. </p>
<p>All the grades are out of 10 and my average last year was 9,3. I'm also from Iceland</p>
<p>P.S.
Is it inappropriate to include a IQ score from a psychologist, if it's the norm then that might help me, Its around 160.</p>
<p>Plus in 6th grade I was in a Saturday school for gifted middle school children studying Latin and Debate, I went to a very good art school for 4 years studying art history and trying out different styles (only quit because I wanted to take model drawing as a specialty and it was too expensive)
For the last 4 summers excluding the most recent, I was in a summer program for kids and teens at The University of Iceland.</p>
<p>I usually don<code>t feel comfortable chancing people. However, I do realize that sometimes people can give pointers to fine tune their applications and soo… I will tell you what I read between the lines.
Your location is interesting. Therefore the AO will be interested to read what a kid from Iceland has to say. Take advantage of this.
You mention $. I</code>m assuming you need FA. You<code>ll need to stand out among the other FA applicants. Your grades and psat/sat scores will have to be high. Your recommendations should be strong as well.
If you play women’s ice hockey, just say that. Your level of play is up to the coaches to decide. Never down grade yourself in an app.
Also don</code>t be negative about teachers, schools or anything in your app.
Don<code>t mention the IQ or shrink thing. Thats too much info. Your grades, scores and interviews will show how smart you are.
Mention that you want to be on the debate team and that you have experience.
One more thing, make sure the school knows about something you are passionate about. It can be things like community service, a personal challenge you have overcome or have helped someone overcome. If you don</code>t have any community service under your belt maybe you could refer to an experience you had with a coworker, customer ect. Were there any life lessons along the way? My point is stand out among the piles of applicants in front of the AO. Good luck. I hope you make it. You sound like an interesting person I would like to meet in one of my classes.</p>
<p>Thanks for the evaluation, I really appreciate it. I don’t really know what they will expect of me or what I can hope to aspire to. Nobody from my country has ever gone to a school like these, at least no one I know of, and we’re only 300.000 here.</p>
<p>Just one more word of advice, You should add a “safety” school to your list. Try to find one school w/ higher acceptance rates. Any of the GLADCHEMMS are highly competitive.</p>