Repeat 11th chances at Exeter and Hotchkiss?

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Hello again everyone!
I’m back after losing my password for a few months. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone would want to chance me or just give me any tips for this application cycle. Last year I was in 10th grade applied for 11th grade (class of 2020). I was waitlisted at both Exeter and Hotchkiss. This year, I am applying to repeat 11th (class of 2021). I know I will be criticized for only applying to these two very selective schools, but I am already at a top public school in the US, and felt a connection with these two schools in particular. Here are my stats:

Academics:
PSAT: 1430 (99th percentile)
GPA: 92 (out of 100)
3 AP’s (APUSH, AP Language and Composition, AP Psych)

Sports:
Baseball for 10 years (Captain of JV last year) - I talked with the coach after my interview, he said that I should send him any video and he will tell me how I would fit in on the team if I was accepted.
Swimming for 8 years - Did not contact coach (did not make varsity at current school lol)

Extracurriculars:
Boy Scouts for 6 years - Life Scout, Eagle Candidate
Makerspace (Engineering) Club
Science Olympiad (just joined, no awards)
Physics Lab Squad (Volunteer hours)
STEM Lab Counselor at Scout Camp
Lifeguard (Job)
Attended United States Naval Academy Summer STEM Program

Music:
Piano for 4 years - Not very good
Bagpipes for 2 years - Again, not very good, but I know Exeter has a pipe band

Interviews:
Can’t compare to anyone else as I don’t know anyone else applying, but I was able to convey more of myself and my personality than last year

Essays:
Working on them to make them as unique and interesting as possible while conveying my personality.

Other:
Location - NYC
Race - Caucasian
Need financial aid (Blue collar father, stay at home mom, 4 siblings who all need to go to and pay for college)
1st generation American (Polish)

2

From what I’ve seen, students who apply, get waitlisted, and apply the following year with a much stronger app looks good in eyes of an admission officer. It shows strong interest, amongst other things. Your chances are probably stronger than they were last year. Now, here’s the issue: your applying to Exeter junior year. That is apparently the most brutal year at Exeter and they have a lot less spots available. It’ll not only be tough to get into, it’ll be a whole lot tougher to adjust to.

Oh, BTW, I have a question. I’m a freshman and I’m taking the PSAT in February. Does the test go up to precalculus or not?

3

Not. There might be some trig, but nothing more advanced

And for the future, hijacking a thread is against the rules. If you have a question, start a new discussion.

4

@YoungThriver see I’ve heard that it is hard consistently on this site, but I’ve also been told (both on this site, by admission counselors, and others who are involved with prep school) that the acceptance rate for 11th graders is within 1-2% of the acceptance rate for preps. Where I would agree is that a higher percentage of 11th grade admits are recruited athletes than 9th grade admits, but I don’t think they fill all the new 11th grade spots with recruited athletes, so at least I stand a chance? Hopefully?