Should i apply? concidering i live in Australia

Prep School Admissions
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<p>Hello!
Ever since i was about 8 i have wanted to complete my formal education in America, i never wanted to go to university in Australia, mainly because my parent both work as lecturers in Australian universities and i don't like how they are run, i want a community, and i know i can find that in an american college.
I was thinking, and have done a little research and i am seriously concidering going to Prep school over in america, from my sophmore year of 2007/08. I am soon going to present my parents with the propostion but first Iwanted to narrow donw the schools i am interested in. I was wondering if anyone had any information on from a students/parents point of view also information on the atmosphere boaridng there and the academics etc.:
Phillip Exeter Academy
Lawrence Academy
The hill school
Hotchkiss school
Deerfield Academy
Miss. Porters School</p>

<p>I think there is a little variety there. My parents would prefer Co-ed i think, so i have only one girls school on the list , i welcome any other suggestions similar to these school and as much tips etc as possible
what i really want is the oppurtunity to discover a different culture and make friends with differnet people from other countries. I have browsed through the forum, but i think it may be easiest just to ask in a new thread.
Thankyou very much in advance!
claudia</p>

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<p>All the schools you've listed are top notch school. I'm wondering how you are academically, and in terms of extra-curric. activites. Are you only interested in attending school in New England/Mid-Atlanic region?</p>

<p>Exeter, Lawrence, Hill, Hotckiss, Deerfield and Miss Porter's are very good schools and are very rigorous, and you'll need good grades to get into them. You should also consider St. Paul's, Groton, Middlesex, Lawrenceville, Milton, Andover, St. Mark's, St. George's and Choate. These are all provided that you have pretty good grades and do things OUTSIDE of academics. </p>

<p>Phillips Exeter Academy - Often noted as one of two top schools in the country along with Phillips Academy Andover. Exeter is very good, but may not be the best school (if you're looking in terms of ivy league admissions), but that's just some people's opinions. They're very strong in math + science. The school is in New Hampshire.</p>

<p>Lawrence Academy - Next door to groton. I don't know a ton about Lawrence. I think it's below Exeter, Andover, Hotchkiss, St. Paul's, Groton, Milton, Deerfield academically, but I'm not sure. It's a very good school. Lawrence is in Groton, Mass.</p>

<p>The Hill School - I'm also not sure about this one. It's very good, but not as top tier as Exeter etc. I'm no expert, so don't trust me.</p>

<p>Hotchkiss - Very good school on a very pretty campus. There's a lake, and it's in Lakeville, CT. Small-ish compared to most boarding schools, so there's a very tight knit community.</p>

<p>Deerfield Academy - Considered the most preppy with St. Paul's. Athletics are especially good here. It gets very very cold and snowy at Deerfield.</p>

<p>Miss Porter's - Also a very good school located in Farmington, CT. I don't think it's as top-notch as Exeter, Andover etc., but still a terrific school with excellent academics.</p>

<p>Hope I can help!</p>

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<p>Thanks so much, I did think they were all rather good from lookign on this site and i had looked at St. Pauls and Choates website but no the others you mentioned.
What do you think would be better for me concidering I:
Have an avid passion for the classics (literature etc, etc)
Study french
Play Double bass, sing and study Musicianship
Play field Hockey and Row
Debate as much as possible through school
Prefer Humanities, English and the sciences
Adore History, although i know very little on US history, beacuse i live in Australia
am in the Humanities club, Intermediate Chamber Chior and senior chior at school</p>

<p>Gosh, that must sould a bit self-absorbed of me, sorry if it does, but these are my interests and i think it may help to ask what you think would suit me best.
I have always gotten good grade, As normally, and yes i do think i would prefer it in the New England area, because it is such a beautiful area and i have always loved it around there. But i am open to suggestions!
Thanks</p>

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<p>Some of your questions were addressed in the thread started by esahopeful95 called"St. Paul's School vs Exeter". If you go to the search function and search on the thread name you will find the discussion. Off hand I would say, you sound more St. Paul's than Exeter. If you are really hot on classics why not apply for the classical honours scholarship at SPS?</p>

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<p>To my consternation the thread to which I referred does not come up by its title. So try an alternative search. Go to "advanced search", click in paleozoic, search by "posts", "any date" and the thread will come up on page 11 or so. It is worth learning how to use the search function anyway.</p>

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<p>Claudia, in addition to Miss Porter's school, other all-girls schools to consider............Emma Willard (Upstates NY), Westover (CT), Miss Hall's (Mass), Chatham Hall (VA),Foxcroft (VA), Madeira (VA), and maybe Hockaday inTexas. Hockaday has a very small boarding %. If you're looking for a smaller bs I would like to recommend Middlesex (Ihave a d at MX), therefore the plug. Other small schools to consider, Groton, SPS, SGS, SMS, and Brooks. Claudia, as you'll soon discover, there are many fine boearding schools to consider. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>I have feeling thats what i am finding hard, i am not sure which are right for me!
I will have a look at Emma Willard, Miss Halls and Westover and the others, but i am not so sure my parents want an all girls school, i don't know why!
Thanks so much for all the advice so far.</p>

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<p>Have you looked in boardingschoolreview.com ? They have compiled a number of facts about the majority of boarding schools, although many of the facts need to be updated. You might want to look for schools with a high % boarding students. That probably means that there will be a good number of students there on the weekends. Keep in mind that most boarding schools have around 10% international students. If you go to a school with 350 students, that 10% would only be 35 students. There are many wonderful boarding schools in the US. It is hard to narrow your list without just narrowing it to the most selective schools. It is a good idea to include reaches, matches and safeties. </p>

<p>If your parents refuse to let you go, you might look into whether or not you have an international school close to home. These schools are really
American schools established for the children of Americans working abroad. They generally have a very high % of students from all over the world whose parents want to send their children to college in the US, so they prepare them with a US-based education. </p>

<p>It's a good idea to visit the schools when schools are in session. In the US, the schools break June-August and begin by mid-Sept. (some earlier). Isn't the school break in the fall in Australia? I hope you can also convince your parents to visit schools with you. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>As you look through boardingschoolreview and other resources, keep in mind that the SAT changed this last school year. It used to be that the highest score you could get was 1600. Now the highest score is 2400. The majority of schools are still reporting scores the old way. Some are reporting them the new way, so it can be confusing trying to interpret the scores. The SAT (most popular) and the ACT are the tests that the majority of US colleges require as part of the admissions packet.</p>

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<p>Could you be a bit more specific as to what grade you are in right now and what grade you would be applying to in America? It sounds as if you would be applying "from your sophomore year" that is to say, TO the junior year at an American prep. That is in principle possible but fairly difficult as there are very few places at that level. If you are indeed planning to apply to the junior year, I would urge to look at one of the United World Colleges which are set up for that pattern and which offer a two year IB programme. There are about eight of these colleges world wide, including one in Canada and in the US, two or three in Europe, one in South America and one I believe in Oceania. They are free, excellent academically, 100% boarding and of course very international.</p>

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<p>I applied from New Zealand last year as an international student. </p>

<p>Are you an American citizen/Permanent Resident or are you an Australian Citizen? It makes a HUGE difference if you are applying for financial aid. </p>

<p>It's funny because when I was being interviewed by an Andover alumni rep in Sydney last year she said that out of the 3-8 people who have applied from Australia in the past few years, I THINK she said none of them got in. </p>

<p>But don't be discouraged. I got in to nearly all the schools I applied to. Just make sure to choose your schools meaningfully. I think one of my downfalls is that I just applied to schools that looked 'pretty' and I didn't really take the admissions process as seriously as I should have.</p>

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<p>Hi! I go to Exeter and, looking at that list of interests, you can do all of that quite respectably here at Exeter. If you like debate--not just debate as in competition, which we do have through DANEIS (same league as all these other schools)--then I think you'd find yourself drawn to the Harkness method, which is very much about debat--er,,, discussion. :) Sit around a table and talk / debate about subjects. Great great fun. </p>

<p>as you take all of this in, let me just caution you to thoroughly do your own research! for many reasons, you want to get your own sense of these places. </p>

<p>I know people from as far away / farther than australia, so it's very possible. There aren't all that many because financial aid is more difficult to get, and because it's very far from family for most people. Long travel times aside, the distance can be big psychologically no matter the number of miles / km. Personally I board but live an hour and 15 minutes away, so, there's a big range between me and my friend from tel aviv or jakarta.</p>

<p>getting to know people of different cultures is a great goal, and definitely a worthy pursut. at all of these schools you'll find a fairly heterogenous group of people, but not the melting pot / salad / blender that you might be imagining. College might fit that bill a little more specifically, but boarding schools could certainly be a good start for that--and also for getting a toehold to the american college system.</p>

<p>if you have any questions about exeter, don't hesitate to ask me by private message / email / whatever. happy to inform--and so are the admissions staff, you could definitely get in touch with them on the down-low behind your parents' backs. ;)</p>

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<p>thanks for all the information everyone, I have looked at the schools you have mentioned. Yeah, I was wondering about he amount of Australians that actually get in, oh well I shall try my very best. I understand how much I need to dedicate my self to each application I eventually send, and I really will put my best into it. I am currently in Year 9 in Australian, taking into account that we have our school years from February to December. I would be applying for year 10 in America, leaving my Australian year 10 half way through. Beefcake man- with the SSAT, how did you do the exam? Also, does anyone have any information on what schools offer a good music program as well as a large humanities program. Any other general information would be appreciated.
Oh, i am an australian citezen, but i have a EU passport through my french grandfather. if that counts!</p>

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<p>St. Paul's has a terrific humanities program. I'm not sure about their music, but I know they have an orchestra. Is Year 9 like freshman year?</p>

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<p>Yeah, it is, year/grade 9....we dont use freshman etc here because high school goes from grade 7 to 12. Anyway, i had noticed that St. Pauls had a very good humanities and Music program. Of course, because we start school in feburary, your fist year of school in Elementary for us is 6 or so months before it is in America if that makes any sense.
I think this is my list as it stands, of course i am open to suggestions:
PREFERRED
St. Pauls
Exeter
Andover
Deerfield
NEXT
Hotchkiss
Miss Halls
Chatham Hall
Miss Porters
AFTER
Choate
St. Georges</p>

<p>This isnt so much based on results, more how i liked the feel of the website and information.
Thats about all at the moment, i have gone through boardingschoolreview.com very thouroughly (reviews etc) any others that you might think are suitable considering my interests etc (see above post) then please tell! I do think i would prefer the New England area as well. But am not sure.
to qxcvz:
Yes, i didnt think it would be terribly varied, but in terms of going on to the American College system it would be a much easier transition. Also, i really am getting slightly sick of the way Australia is, i do love it obviously, but the education system though good, isint what i want and need. The Harkness method looked very good for me in that regard.</p>

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<p>I just took the SSAT's at a school they were held at. There were about 2 or 3locations to take the test around the country. I'm sure it won't be hard for you to find some place in Australia to do the SSAT. Especially if you live in a big city like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, etc. </p>

<p>When I took the test I was only one out of 4 people taking it.</p>

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<p>Thanks! i am in Melbourne, but go up to Sydney quite alot so it souldn't be that hard, i just wasnt sure.
I was wondering, would it be worth doing a repeat freshman year so i am fully aligned with the American curriculum. ( If i get in of course), or is tit a waste of money/time. i am young for my year as it is, (born 8/3/92)
Hmm, i guess its just the parents now, and starting the application process, any tips in regards to the essays etc would be nice!</p>

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<p>My 15 year old son just got back from his first trip to Melbourne -- his friend moved there 2 years ago, so it was time to visit. Your city looks amazing... from the few pics he took. He was there to visit his bf, not to tour, as he told me.... but.... speaking as a mom.... are you sure you want to live so far from your family? Do your parents want you to? The 22 hours he flew each way nearly killed me. Are you originally from the US?</p>

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<p>ps, just checked on boardingschoolreview--the % students of color at exeter is rather off. our website implies more like 35%, <a href="http://www.exeter.edu/admissions/147_162.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.exeter.edu/admissions/147_162.aspx&lt;/a&gt;...&lt;/p>

<p>although I have a funny / sad story about the history of diversity at exeter, it's still more than 12%.</p>

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<p>As far as St. Paul's is concerned there is no particular advantage in applying for III form rather than for your age appropriate IV form. To my certain knowledge music at St. Paul's is very good as are languages. The jewel of the place is the integrated humanities programme which is modelled somewhat after the signature Western Civilisation sequences at Columbia, Harvard, Chicago and which use the Harkeness round table method. There are a considerable number of students from China/Taiwan who also are many miles from home.</p>