<p>Hello!
Well, would you please 'chance' (I understand that you are not an AO) me. I am heading to eighth grade for a couple weeks.
Grades:
Sixth Grade:
Math: A-
Science: B+
English: A
Social Studies: A-
French: B+
Art: A+
Gym: A
Health: A</p>
<p>Seventh:
Math: A
English: A-
Science: A-
French: A-
Social Studies: A
French: A-
Art: A+
Gym: A
Health: A+</p>
<p>Other:
-Volunteer at a camp for kids with learning disabilities once a week
-Rock Climbing for two years
-I have a bow and arrows, so I would be part of the Archery team at Choate
-Tennis for all of elementary school
-Mock Trial A-Team Attorney for eighth grade
-Video Production class in sixth grade (got cut out by budget, so I couldn't take it in seventh grade)
-I've done a few things as community service (bake sale for hunger, walk & kayak for breast cancer, etc).
-Attended the Writing Workshop at Choate 2012
-Spotlight Student for December in my school
-Excellence in French award, honoring students who do particularly well during the year</p>
<p>FA: Not needed
"Hook": I am a writer. I started writing when I was nine. I've written two novels, currently working on my third. It is a huge passion of mine.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Oh, and I did Yearbook, Student Government, and Newspaper all last year.</p>
<p>This is good! Do you have anything else, like ECs, instruments, awards, stuff like that? You should let your persona shine through.</p>
<p>Your hook isn’t really a hook, unless you have published a dozen international best sellers.</p>
<p>Not needing FA really helps. Are you an URM?</p>
<p>spaceneedle-
I’ve never been very musically talented, but I did teach myself some piano this year. I’m not very good, and I would take the Piano course at both schools…
I may sound very very monotone on here, but usually I’m pretty out there. =]</p>
<p>EnemyOfTheSun-
Yeah, haven’t quite done that yet. What is hook, then? I thought it was just where you are talented, and have your passion at.
And, feeling very out of the loop here, what is URM? :/</p>
<p>Under-Represented Minority. So, if you were like from Siberia…
I think your hook is unique. They have a little area for ‘multimedia’… I think you could put it in there, although they may not be willing to read the whole thing.
About how long are they + are they published?</p>
<p>Ahh, no. Not from Siberia here. I’m actually from Connecticut, but I’d board to Choate, because I live too far away commute. Do you think that because I’m not, well, a URM or something this could hurt my chances? >.<
I have two books that are finished. The first one is about a hundred and fifty pages (sort of a novella length), but I probably wouldn’t submit this one. I also have my better book, longer too (almost two hundred pages). Though, maybe I could just submit the book I’m currently writing (by far my best) and only submit the first, say, five chapters (fifteen thousand words) so that they don’t have to read a huge thing? I also love cliff hangers, and perhaps they could see that if I leave them hanging.
And no, I don’t have anything published, though I think I’ll get to publishing my current book.</p>
<p>I meant nationality, but geographically diverse is good too. My area is underrepresented, so I have a little bit of an edge, I guess…</p>
<p>Ahhh. Well, yeah, I’m American. I have lots of family in Europe and Canada, and travel there every year, but… Just American.
And, if you don’t mind my asking, where are you from?</p>
<p>China in nationality xD
But my geographic location can probably be determined from my name
<<<<< haha</p>
<p>Seattle!
Randomly passing by~</p>
<p>Seattle! Huh. Yeah, I couldn’t imagine many people from Seattle applying. =P</p>
<p>Yeppp
Unless you were talkin bout yourself…</p>
<p>But yeah, most of my friends are set for life-- their inheritance includes millions–unfortunately mine doesn’t xD</p>
<p>Yeah, I have a couple friends like that. It’d be nice to have money just in your back pocket. Ya know, no need to work or anything…
Sigh. Maybe I’ll get published and get some money, or something like that.
Have you got any idea for the future?</p>
<p>Entering some film contests. That’s about it.
I’m not the most accomplished person.</p>
<p>I don’t think I am either. It’s pretty intimidating, with all these people who are semi-geniuses applying. I always feel very pale in comparison. =/</p>
<p>Bookie101,
I know I m gonna come out sounding biased since I am a student there, but apply to Middlesex! If you are a writer, really look into the school. Among the boarding schools it has one of the strongest English curriculum around. Just wanted to let you know.</p>
<p>Also I want to point out if you are interested in Concord Academy (which is actually 5min away from Middlesex), there are a good bunch of day student population there, and if you are really looking for the NE prep school experience, look into some other schools too.</p>
<p>Despite what EnemyOfTheSun has said, I think that having already written two books before going into high school shows real commitment to your passion. Why would you ever expect an 8th grader to be an “international bestseller”? doh.</p>
<p>Dont worry about your diversity if you are “just american”. Most of the kids in boarding school are from the states. There’s other things that make you a unique/strong candidate.</p>
<p>Showing real commitment to your writing passion is a good thing. It definitely gives your profile a leg up, but how on Earth can it be considered a “hook”? Unless the schools are in dire need of writers, (for school newspaper for e.g.), I really can’t see why they would recruit you for your writing talents only (what a hook does), because I imagine there are already many well-qualified candidates who already possess strong writing skills manifested in the essays.</p>
<p>This aside, your ECs are about similar to mine and I think your grades are good enough. You can send in the two books if you want, but I doubt they would have the time to read them due to the sheer number of apps that needs to be evaluated. How do you plan to sell yourself and your gift for writing to the schools?</p>