Scared - 10th grade?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Hi,
First of all - an apology in advance for killing your brain cells.:) </p>

<p>Next year I will become a freshman in a new high school that is just being built. It will consist only of freshman and sophomores transferred from another high school. Since the school has no previous history, I am in doubt whether it will be good academically. They have offered to some people (few) "Gifted and Talented" courses, which may be of higher rigor than the standard and honors classes, although I am not sure.
Now, more relevant to the topic of this forum...</p>

<p>I am thinking of applying to a boarding school for my 10th grade year, as all (?) application deadlines are closed for 9th grade. Last year, I got an invitation from Mercersburg Academy in southern Pennsylvania. However, I was unable to apply because it required the new SAT, and I was unable to take it as I was informed a day past the deadline... :( Thus I will apply for my sophomore year, possibly to Phillips Exeter, Mercersburg (might have a better chance this time) and others (I need to do more research). </p>

<p>Now, as you all awake from sleeping,:D I ask you :</p>

<p>Will having one year of high school give me an advantage, because I have more oppurtunities to do ECs and etc.,? I plan to take the AMC 10 this year- I'm aiming for AIME, and join Math Club (XD), Science Club, or whatever else is available that suit my interests (Math, Science, Poetry, Violin, Writing, Art :D, though I may not join in all related activities), try out for all-state orchestra, and currently I am doing volunteer work for local food bank. Also, I do individual self-study on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Will my high school being new necessarily affect my chances at a good boarding school, and even further on, for college?:p </p>

<p>Thanks so much</p>

2

<p>I cannot comment on whether or not coming from a new high school will affect your chances. What I would like to say is that the test they require is the SSAT, which is different from the SAT. I think some boarding schools will accept the SAT for 11th or 12th grade. Good luck with your applications!</p>

3

<p>Sorry, I meant SSAT.</p>

4

<p>Chaos Theory -- It is very quiet on this thread right now. I think many people are on vacation or doing summer activities. If you don't get any response, keep bumping up your question. They'll come back! My only other comment to you is to develop a list of schools that you like that includes safeties, matches and reaches. Be sure to visit the schools when they are in session. I'm just a parent who went through this process last year, so I cannot advise you on what a safety, match or reach would be for you. I hear that Mercersburg is a wonderful school! Take a look at some of the other MAPL schools like Blair, Lawrenceville, Hill and Peddie.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for your concern,
I've seen the websites of other schools and started a little bit of research based upon the statistics - although I feel it would be much better to take a look at the school itself.
Right now the only thing that is bothering me is that I'll be applying for 10th grade, and I dont know if the application standards would be higher, and thus a little harder to get into.
Since you've recently gone through this process yourself, what would you recommend to make yourself look more competitive to boarding schools?</p>

6

<p>To the best of my knowledge it is easier to get in as a 10th grader at Exeter than as a 9th... but my knowledge on that is fairly fuzzy. I'm '07 there now. You could probably just call up the admissions office and ask? If you drop me a line I can put in a notice for someone somewhere to look it up for me (heh). Anyways, the "easier as a new sophomore" bit is what I always HEAR but I don't know if it is TRUE. It might just be lies perpetrated by the four-years for self-aggrandizement.</p>

<p>But, on your question more specifically: if you use your 9th grade year well, that will count in your favor, esp. if you are at a good school--it's meaningful and shows that you'd be able to perform at a good level here at Exeter. I guess. Anyways, hope to see you join our ranks... except I won't, because I'll be in college.</p>

7

<p>Haha, thanks for the information.
I feel a lot more confident now. Except I'm probably going to bomb the AMC. <em>insert Jaws music</em></p>

8

<p>Sorry--I know this is from forever ago, but I just noticed it. ChoasTheory, now that you're in that high school, how are the GATE classes? At my schools, our GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) classes (that I'm in) are a joke. They get $10 a year for each child in it, it's super-easy to get into, and they use it to make afterschool programs that are available to everybody--not just kids in GATE. They say that only having the programs available to gifted kids is "discriminating"--which is so stupid. They don't make the programs for disabled kids available to everybody, but that's discriminating agains non-disabled students. I thnk that everyone deserves and approprite education--advanced, remedial, or average. My friend says that our GATE stands for "Gifted and Talented and Everybody else".</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
My friend says that our GATE stands for "Gifted and Talented and Everybody else".

[/quote]

Haha, that's genius. </p>

<p>There is no such thing. I have heard nothing about it. It has dissapeared into the shadows, tossed away into the incessant velvet folds of the night mist. :D</p>

10

<p>There's a trade-off</p>

<p>1). It's EASIER to get in to a prep school when applying for the 10th grade level (at least at Andover).</p>

<p>2). The freshman year at prep school GREATLY prepares you for the years ahead. The most impressive graduates are disproportionately 4-year seniors.</p>

11

<p>You could repeat a year, if you wanted to do that.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, I've heard that quite a few 10th grade applicants repeat a year because the curriculum at these schools is so rigorous. Also, you skipped a grade, right? That might factor into your decision.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
1). It's EASIER to get in to a prep school when applying for the 10th grade level (at least at Andover).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That gives me SO much more confidence. </p>

<p>As some of you may know, I've decided not to apply to boarding school for the 2007-2008 school year because I do not feel that I am prepared; academically or emotionally.</p>

<p>I've decided to apply to Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, which is a pretty rigorous prep school. They offer clubs and language courses that I'm interested in, so hopefully the boarding schools I apply to for the 2008-2009 school year can see what my interests are. </p>

<p>But I might not even apply to boarding school for my tenth grade year. I might love it at Greenhills. (if I get in, 70% acceptance rate) But one thing is for sure, I am not going to the local public high school.</p>

14

<p>I believe I skipped Kindergarten, or something of the sort. :p
I was born on November 9th.</p>

<p>If I could repeat a year, that would be quite an experience; however is it worth the extra cost? Also, I would have a 5-year High-School. How is that looked upon in college? And if I were to prepare myself adequately this year for the 10th grade curriculum (assuming I get into at least one), would it be necessary?</p>

15

<p>You sound smart enough. I don't think you need to repeat a year.</p>

16

<p>That is comforting! I know that I'd probably get into the prep school of my choice this year (legacy, perfect grades at fancy NYC school, great extra currics) but I didn't want to leave for 9th.</p>

<p>So assuming you're a strong applicant, getting in for sophmore year isn't too hard?</p>