New People: Get some facts here

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH:
Boarding</a> School Review - College-Prep & Jr. Boarding Schools</p>

<p>Please, before you ask about repeating/school strengths/how the applications work... Look at the website of the school. SEND THE SCHOOL ADMISSION OFFICERS EMAILS. They have always responded within 24 hours and with a great reply when I ask.</p>

<p>Ask in a private message about some other stuff. I see the same threads every month, and all of them are posted by people that joined a day before they posted it.</p>

2

<p>Then stop looking on the boards everyday…get a life. Do some homework…write an application essay, and if your already in a boarding school then go talk to some friends or something.</p>

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<p>I actually am writing my essays with help from CC people, I’ve written 4 out of the 7 so far with my big three left. If you find people that are willing to answer your questions and help you out then just use personal messages. </p>

<p>I’m just giving some friendly advice. Being lazy about the application process and researching a decision that will affect your entire life is a bad move. Doing your own research will yield a better result.</p>

4

<p>Well why not buy some books on how to write a proper essay, or maybe call the admissions office and ask what would make an essay unique? Why have CC people help you…?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Because you need help expressing yourself in a way that will adequetaly help them get a gauge of who you are.</p></li>
<li><p>Because the people here have been there and done that and it’s the quickest way to get first hand experience and hear the things the admissions office won’t tell you.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>That’s why people do “research” on here that will affect their “entire life”. I think the much better question is why you need help writing an essay that’s suppose to help you express yourself? Thats the better question in my opinion. There will always be things to learn from sites like these that you won’t learn from an admissions office, not because of laziness, I believe that’s why most people ask questions on here if you were curious about that.</p>

<p>Try not contradicting youself in your own post…;), just some friendly advice.</p>

5

<p>Hey… Being aggressive really makes you look immature and it just doesn’t help what people think of you. </p>

<p>Honestly, use your head on this one. Books on writing essays… No thanks, that isn’t the main concern. If you have ever written an essay, I think that you can realize that the key to writing a solid essay is review, review, review and revise. Honestly, I got a little repeatative on my essay about lacrosse and I didn’t realize that I had written it with alot of complexity. I am revising it and focusing on my passion instead.</p>

<p>If my essay is not clear to every single admissions officer that reads it then I havn’t reviewed and revised it enough. The more people see it and the clearer I can make it… The better off I am.</p>

<p>I think that everyone here will tell you that if you do research yourself and present yourself in a better manner people are more willing to help you.</p>

<p>If you actually looked at the site I posted, I think about 90% of your questions would be answered with that… Questions like, “How many students? Can I repeat? How hard is it to get into?” can be answered with that site. Overall, doing your own research is the smart choice. A smart choice in the research will lead to a smarter choice when the time comes for schools.</p>

<p>Cheers man, sorry if I offended you.</p>

6

<p>italianboarder - are you applying to SPS? It has an honor code for it’s essays which you must sign:
In keeping with the St. Paul’s School Honor Code, my signature indicates that all information submitted is factually correct, complete,
and honestly presented. The written answers represent my own work and have not been edited by others.</p>

<p>My guess is other schools do as well. Soliciting assistance from other CC posters on your essays doesn’t seem very kosher to me.</p>

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<p>Repeatative lol. That’s what I was thinking yo!son. Do what you please though, good luck finding something to write about yourself other than lacrosse :)</p>

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<p>For SPS I did notice that and have yet to start on essays. </p>

<p>I have had Exeter and Andover teachers that I have talked to volunteer themselves. I doubt the teachers would do that if the school stands against it. </p>

<p>I think that anyone will tell you that assistance is the best way to make sure that my essay will be clear and concise no matter which admission officer reads it. If all of them can read it and fully understand it then half the fight is over. </p>

<p>Hotchkiss, Exeter, Andover, Deerfield and Choate are the only essays that I am working on that will be reviewed by my father.(I am writing about a lacrosse game and season that he attended and a few details are hazy… I fractured my skull so I have a few blanks.)</p>

<p>And the other essays are going to be reviewed by my school advisor(attended boarding school for 4 years and worked in admission and lacrosse coach for 6), Exeter friend and my math teacher. Also, several CC members have said they wouldn’t mind looking over them via email.</p>

<p>Hey, this is a place for people to discuss this process and if everyone gets a little bit of information before asking the same questions that were posted a week ago by another new person more intelligent discussion can arise.
Sorry if I offended you somehow, but there is no need for behaviour like this from your end or my end of things for that matter.</p>

<p>Lacrosse is my most passionate sport, I’m very into it and I think that is one of my best edges over anybody else applying. No one has my experience unique lacrosse experience. A 4.0 only gets you so far and I think passion really sets apart the applicants that get in and those that don’t. I mean, all my interviewers told me I was great to talk to and such, Andover even wanted to meet with me this november and I think that was because I talked about my passions. I didn’t even know that one of my interviewers was the varsity coach until i saw his business card. I was wondering why we talked for 10 minutes just on the finer points of defense… I just thought he played in college.</p>

<p>Another note about lacrosse… Practice has started. 6 hours a week, I am weight lifting 5 hours and throwing for 3 additional hours. The season starts in March. I play summer ball and indoor(Another 2 hours a week). So all in all, I am spending near 290 hours on lacrosse… Before the season even starts. I love the game and I love being good at it. Last year I didn’t start, 6 seniors that all played defense graduated. This will by my year to start and that just makes it even better. Plus, I’m up for being defensive captain as a sophmore. Only happened once before and my best friend is also a sophmore and he is up for offensive captain. We are pushing each other, and if you play sports you know the passion that comes with any game that you play.</p>

<p>This will be the last of me trying to explain myself. Just try doing a bit of research before shooting your mouth off… I get called on it sometimes and I would hate to call somebody on it. It can be avoided if you research a bit… Independence and boarding school go hand in hand.</p>

9

<p>Bitter…</p>

<p>How much of your night did you spend on this?
If I were you, I wouldn’t feel the need to explain myself, just move on… it isn’t worth either of your’s time to be bickering back and forth.</p>

<p>P.S. Honestly, italian… I mean if everyone did what you said, would there be a forum? Would there be questions to answer? That’s the point! What questions are left to ask? You’re suggesting some very silly things… </p>

<p>If it’s of such inconvenience, and if it bothers you so much, why do you answer so many of them and have so much to say?</p>

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<p>Alright man, you talk about your passions like you the only one with a passion. I can tell you now that your not and definitely not the only lacrosse player out there. </p>

<p>And I actually play 3 sports, captain of 2 of them currently as a Sophomore…Unfortunately their not lacrosse or hockey so I can’t make that the crux of my application. </p>

<p>I don’t really care what your lacrosse life is like because I have a life of my own and trust me you don’t want me to explain the hours I put into things other than school every day. Good luck though, just letting you know there’s a reason this forum is here and that’s to help people through personal experience.</p>

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<p>Finally you get it. Basic research such as, “Student body size?” can be looked up very easily.</p>

<p>Personal experience cannot be and that is why the form exists.</p>

<p>And RJM, I try to be helpful, but honestly the same questions come up so many times that I think if people took the time to research they would have a better understanding then if someone said, “here is the answer”.</p>

<p>And honestly, I think you are being a bit critical Mpicz. I never said I was the only one with passion, but on a serious note alot of people don’t put forth the time that I put for lacrosse or football. Lacrosse is my sport so I put alot into it, I play on my school team, a competitive team, an indoor team and a summer team. To play at a top level I put alot of time into it… When you said good like writing about something other lacrosse I thought it that it was an ignorant statement. I think that is a major hook, it shows alot of dedication and passion. Very few people can match that(According to my hotchkiss interviewer). </p>

<p>I defend my views, and I only responded out of retaliation… And to try and clear up my point.</p>

<p>I’m going to wrap this up by saying that I hope people just do some research because you are making a poor choice if you don’t. If you let others recommend schools that is really unwise. Recommending+research is much better.</p>

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<p>Actually reading a book about writing essays is not a bad idea. You may be able to avoid some very typical pitfalls that people unwittingly fall into. Not the grammar and structure part, but the ideas you express in your essay. You need to avoid the Miss America essay and I will change the world deal. Look at college application books about the essay and apply it. </p>

<p>And I would also like to point out that most people who review others essays do not rewrite them themselves and insert made up facts - this is what SPS code is referring to. They do not say that no one can ever look at your essay and give feedback.</p>

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<p>I guess the SPS code is open to interpretation but when my child applied, given the fact the code that must be signed mentions no editing by others, I did not edit her essays. </p>

<p>Let me tell you that was challenging as a parent - not pointing out an error or two! My only comment was that she should self-edit before submitting.</p>

<p>I guess I took a more literal interpretation of the SPS code than PhotoOp did.</p>

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<p>Italian, I don’t know exactly what you mean by “reviewed,” but watch your honor. Most applications have you sign an honor code at the bottom, attesting that you have not received inappropriate help. They will also have your ssat writing sample to compare. If you mean “reviewed,” as in “Which one of these is the best?” or “Was my intent clear?” then I suppose that’s fine. If you mean “reviewed” as in edited for anything beyond typos and very basic grammatical errors, then you may have an ethical dilemma once you go to boarding school. Don’t let anyone suggest specifics. By all means, talk out your ideas with you parents, teachers, or however else whose opinion you admire; but when it comes the words on the paper, it must be 100% yours.</p>

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<p>I see where your coming from…I don’t really care what your qualifications are. I think I’ve proven my point.</p>

<p>Just a side note, third freshman RB to make All-State in Georgia history (other 2 made it to NFL). I think I play at a pretty top level ;). I would put football 3rd on my list of ECs…just a little insight to how much time I spend on things other than school.</p>

<p>But ya I hope you get in where you want, I hope everyone does. Just don’t agree with what this thread was originally posted about…w.e though.</p>

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<p>I think the original intent of this post was to avoid the questions like “does St Exeoverfield School offer underwater basket weaving as a sport?” when in about 45 seconds on the school’s web site you would know that. In fact, many times it probably took the person LONGER to post the question here, than it would have to looked on the school’s web site for the info.<br>
I know it’s an overwhelming process, but you do need to get to know the schools you are interested in by exploring their web sites. If underwater basket weaving is important to you, then BSR CAN be of some guidance if you don’t know where to start (keeping in mind it’s not 100% accurate), but basics like size, Saturday classes, dress code, etc. are pretty good.</p>

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<p>mpicz,</p>

<p>Dude, may I direct your attention to Salisbury School on CT…</p>

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<p>Ya I heard somewhere about 16-1 football record over last 2 years…my mom doesn’t want me to get to focused on it though. I’m passionate about so many more things other than football, I just happen to be crazy athletic.</p>

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<p>Football is real good, new turf field with lights, great coach, very good matriculation, probably the nicest venue in prep football.</p>

<p>Two new state of the art academic buildings. New fieldhouse with an Olympic size hockey rink, two basketball courts, eight squash courts and a wrestling arena goes on line in 2009. </p>

<p>Great bunch of guys and a faculty that gets it…</p>

<p>But there’s a lot more – 300 boys on a beautiful 108 year old hilltop campus in CT. Check it out.</p>

20

<p>Alright i’ll look into it…</p>