Current Grade: 7, applying for 9
Nationality: Korean American (parents are both Korean immigrants; I am a dual citizen of South Korea and the United States.) Attending a public middle school (7th and 8th grade only), in Irvine, California.
SSAT Scores: 99th percentile, 2400
I will also be applying to Phillips Andover, Lawrenceville, Hotchkiss, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Horace Mann. The hook will be adjusted accordingly.
Grades:
- English (Selective Class, Honors): A
- History (Selective Class, Honors): A+
- Math (Selective Class, Honors): B+ (:/)
- PE: A+
- Science: A+
-Orchestra: A+ (HIGHLY Selective Class)
-Science Olympiad: A+ (HIGHLY Selective Class)
EC’s:
In school, I have been elected the ASB President (in effect next year), Varsity Debate Club President, and Science Olympiad Team Captain, nationally qualifying. Our Science Olympiad team is highly selective with about 250 students trying out every year, as well as Varsity Debate, which receives about 200 students during the tryout process and taking only 45 for each club. I am off to my State National History Day competition and will update results if I advance to Nationals. I am also an avid cellist, the principal of the school’s most advanced Symphonic Orchestra, and a member of the All-Southern and All-State orchestras for California. I have received multiple first place awards for public forum debate, and qualify for the State championships. I am a leader in my Boy Scout troop and will be going to my first National Jamboree this summer. I have 80+ volunteer hours, wherein I partake in events that preserve and commemorate Korean culture.
Other passions: I have been independently studying philosophy and anthropology through MOOC classes and analysis of dissertations for about two years. This has shaped and influenced much of my ways of thinking and beliefs.
Hook: My stalwart character and my newfound passion for philosophy and similar ideals has made me a “free radical” with much of my peers in an Asian-based community; my beliefs in atheism and other dangerously subjective topics have molded me into a controversial figure that has one net goal: to preach my ideas and to disagree in a diverse community. Phillips Exeter Academy will serve me well for this, as my knack and experience in leadership, and to advocate and preach my knowledge to an academy that emphasizes their teaching style of discussion.
Props to 22louisl for the outline of how to write a post on a topic like this.
Wow your school sounds intense! My middle school has no honors classes :)) (or orchestra OR science olympiad for that matter).
You seem to be in good shape. It would be irresponsible to say that you have a good chance because these schools are all highly competitive, but there’s definitely nothing wrong with your stats.
Although all of your EC’s and such (NHD, etc) are all dandy, I find the philosophy to be the most interesting. I’m actually a HUGE philosophy nerd (I don’t really come off as a contemplative person though :)) ) and I’m pretty into existentialism and also LOVE Nietzsche (he’s the same Myers-Briggs personality type as me too!).
Here’s the thing: the philosophy isn’t really a hook, but more of a “differentiator”. A hook is pretty much something that you can’t control: athletic ability, URM, geographical location, legacy status, etc.
I actually wrote a Hotchkiss essay this year about why I would un-invent organized religion (war, sexism, oppression of knowledge… although obviously not every follower of a religion and not every religion has caused these types of things) and they seemed to like it.
I think that Exeter will like your whole philosophical, knowledge-preaching vibe that you described.
If you need anything, just PM me! I applied to Andover, Choate, Hotchkiss, and many more this last admissions cycle, so I can help. Also I’m going to Choate in the fall so if you have any specific questions regarding Choate ask away!
What debate format do you do? MSPDP?
I think that you have a rather strong chance, yet it would be naïve for me to assume you will automatically get in. Just remember that the interviews, rec’s and essays are important for final decisions.
Best of luck.
Your stats are amazing!All your leadership roles are definitely impressive.Your school sounds cool,I also live in California.Your interest in philosophy definitely what stands out the most to me which means a lot because everything you’ve done is eyecatching. Are you applying for FA? Overall you have a very good chance of getting in,but like what everyone says admission to a lot of prep schools can be unpredictable and not set in stone even with perfect stats.
I follow the NSDA format of debate (which also allows me to compete in tournaments outside my age bracket).
Yes, I am planning to apply for financial aid.
@Nietzsche0521 How much FA? Full,little,or half fa?
@CottenCandyTrill I am taking close to the average amount of FA for boarding school ($43,370). Would this amount spread over all four years, or will 43k be covered per year?
Just as a point of clarification, the school tells you what it will offer you; you do not tell the school what you want.
Per year, although for most schools, if not all, need is reevaluated annually.
I would also say “preach my ideas” is not going to be received well. No one likes to be preached too. Share your ideas may be a better way to phrase it 
Not hooks. Character is a given for what they want/expect, as is a passion for something. A hook is an athletic recruit/URM/legacy/development/celebrity. What you’ve described can make for interesting essays and interviews, but do not, by themselves, offer any advantage in admissions.
How are you applying to Horace Mann if you live in California?
You apply just like you would for any other school…? @GMC2918
Horace Mann is a day school @cababe97 and OP lives in California. I was wondering if the family will be moving, or maybe OP should take it off their list.
@Nico.campbell Just wondering if my PM’s are sending, I sent two to you recently. 
Feel free to send me a PM @Nietzsche0521 ! I’m an incoming Exeter sophomore and I’d be willing to discuss the process and everything!
@lusitari Hi! My messaging doesn’t seem to work at the moment, so would you mind PMing me first? I’d be overjoyed to communicate with you and bombard you with questions 
Wow! I’d say you’re a shoe-in for admission. But is your family willing to move to the Bronx for you to go to Horace Mann? That’d be awesome because they don’t board students.