Hello,
I am currently in a Boarding School in Canada on a full scholarship, and now applying for grade 12th on some of the top Boarding Schools in America. I took my SATs today and I was wondering: which is the average of SAT scores in matters of acceptance in some boarding schools such as, PEA, PA, Choate, Loomis, and others? ( Specifically for grade 12th)
Thank you.
This data is a bit old, but
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-smartest-boarding-schools-in-america-2015-2?op=1
SAT scores aren’t everything though, so don’t fret
You’re asking the wrong question. The question should be “which boardings schools accept new 12th graders, and should I apply as a 12th grader?”
The answer to the second question is “No.” IMO. In addition to being in full swing for college admissions, the social integration will be close to impossible. If you’re intent on a US boarding school, you’d be better served applying as a repeat 11th grader.
@skieurope Got it. The problem is: I already started my applications for grade 12th, my teachers already submitted their letters, and I already did some interviews. I do not think that I could change my grade as an applicant at this moment. Do you think that I email the Gateway Prep Portal, would they allow me to change for 11th grade?
@MedeirosJP I think we need more information to really provide valuable input. Are you coming to play hockey? I know that quite frequently older players come to play in the US for a year or two. If not it might helpful to know why you would seek to transfer so late in the game.
@Center I will tell more, actually, I will describe. So I am from Brazil, and I came here (Toronto - Canada) on a full scholarship due academics. I have some medals in international Olympiads such as Math, Geography, Astronomy, International MUN’s, ICEF (kind of Science fair made by Intel, one of the greatest in the world) prizes, and others. I have a very strong background in all these accomplishments, since to reach it out I did a lot of campaigns, crowdfunding, went on tv, journals and all possible media. Those ones were successfully accepted and raised me the money to get into these places and compete. I am the founder of two volunteer programs, besides this, I volunteer in two other places here in Canada, recently I was invited to talk on TEDx of my state to discuss how to overcome financial conditions and pursue on your dreams. My fly tickets, books, and all other things that my scholarship does not cover is covered by a sponsor in Brazil, which is the Brazilian Industry Federation, where I had the pleasure to met ambassadors of several countries, ministers, and other important people in the scene that helped me to build a great network.
My average is 98%, with an average of 100% on grades 9th and 10th, resulting in a GPA of 3.95/4.0.
I have a good list of extracurriculars, which includes activities such as, president of the student council, head of school newspaper, art studio, preparatory pre-university on humanities area, among others.
The reasons why I would like to transfer:
I would like to transfer to a boarding school in the States, first of all, because of the learning methods that are totally different and I think it is way more challenging than here, the academic and residential life (which I think that fit on my profile), the preparation for American Universities, the diversity of environment and finally because I would like to be inserted on the field in matters of American System to be well prepared when I get into a university.
I was thinking in apply for grade 12th, and then take a PG year, but as the @skieurope said, I am considering in send an e-mail to ask for a change and apply as a repeater of grade 11th.
So, can you give me your opinion?
If you were on your country’s IMO team and won an individual medal, just apply to PEA. Send Zuming Feng (math faculty at PEA) an email and I can’t imagine that you won’t be accepted. You shouldn’t have any problem. Congratulations - any medal in the IMO is a huge deal. None of the other US boarding schools will have IMO caliber kids.
I agree with @SatchelSF except one thing catches my attention: have you taken the TOEFL?
@SatchelSF Was not IMO, I got this medal in a French Math Olympiad, actually, the competition rate was very high. But unfortunately was not IMO.
I forgot to mention: I was accepted on Yale, Brown and George Mason summer programs.
I think you are crazy to transfer. Stay where you are --dont mess around with your grades at this point.
@MedeirosJP - Well, that changes things a bit. Still, email Zuming Feng with your accomplishments and interests in math. Do you have any USAMO experience or AIME scores? PM me if you do and I could give you some sense of how they are viewed in the US.
@Center Where I am now is not offering me which I expect, I am doing all on my own without any support. But thanks for your help.
you may want to see your SAT score before you decide where to apply.
On my evaluations, my SAT score would be around 1300-1400. But I do not know yet, maybe less, maybe more, I am already applying. I can not wait, since the deadline of some of the schools is beginning of January.
I basically agree with @Center. Going to a US boarding school would probably make college acceptance even tougher - it certainly won’t benefit you.
Since you are strong in math, I suggest preparing for and entering all the available contests this year. AMC12 in February and AIME in March (assuming you qualify). It’s not too late (as a junior) to make USAMO - every year kids from Canada do. Don’t worry about being a Brazilian national - it doesn’t matter for the competitions, only for composition of IMO team.
Anecdotally, if you can qualify USAMO, you will have a big leg up on college admissions - various estimates are floating around. People say roughly 80% of USAMO qualifiers who apply to MIT are accepted; the corresponding figure for Harvard is 20-25%. Since you are Brazilian, that will be a huge leg up (affirmative action) for college generally, although being foreign might hurt you a little.
If you are only scoring 1300-1400 on the SAT, I think I would stay put at your current school and concentrate on your strong points in science and math. Don’t worry about not being prepared for US university - the dirty secret is that the harder the school is to get into, the easier it is to attend.
Best of luck!
Going back to my earlier point, not all schools offer admissions for new 12th graders. That said, AFAIK, no boarding school allows one to do a PG year at the same school. And for you, doing a PG year at one school and 12th grade at another is going to hurt you in the college admissions process, IMO. So I go back to my earlier point, if you want to explore US schools, applying as a repeat 11th grader is your best bet.
If you are consideardinf doing a PG year than I completely agree to just repeat grade 11. Essentially it is the same thing except you would be able to stay at the same school.
You can change the grade you are applying for easily. Just call or email your AO at each school. SwimKid did this as he applied as a repeat to some schools and not to others.