Should I bother applying?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>I already go to a MAPL boarding school [not Lawrenceville or Peddie] and I was just wondering if I could get into Exeter. I mean, I love the idea of going to Exeter, but I don't think I really should at this time. If I have children, I'd love for them to go there. Anyways, I want to know if I could get in as an 11th grader [I'm going into 10th grade next year]. I guess I just want to know if I am qualified enough, so I don't need to wonder in the future. But the thing is, I have to take SSATs again... are they reported on your transcript or to colleges? Also, if I give my stats, can you tell me if I should even bother?
I might apply to: Exeter, Saint Paul School, Andover, Choate, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, and Lawrenceville.</p>

<p>These are my stats: </p>

<p>Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.88/4.0 [More like a 93% out of 100%]
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 4-5% out of 120
AP (place score in parenthesis): Not available for Freshmen or Sophomores. Took all honors classes, advanced Spanish and Math. Will take 7 APs in 11th and 12th. Can't take more than 5-6 classes.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (this is also including a projected 10th grade): </p>

<p>School Newspaper - 2 Years. Head Staff Writer 2 Years. Given the Newspaper Excellence award (only person given) [Editor in Chief for 11th + 12th Grade]</p>

<p>Piano - Played since I was 4. Performed in New York. Not phenomenal, but I've been dedicated.</p>

<p>SADD Club - 1 Year Member, 1 Year Vice President. [President for 11th and 12th]</p>

<p>Community Service Club - 1 Year Member, 2 Years Student Board of Leaders</p>

<p>Fencing - 2 Years. [1 Year JV, next year probably JV]</p>

<p>Tennis - 2 years [1 year JV, next year probably JV but with a decent chance of Varsity]</p>

<p>XC - 2 years varsity.</p>

<p>MMA - Since I was 11. Won trophies at tournaments.</p>

<p>Student Honor Council - 1 year.</p>

<p>Girls Learn International - 1 year of student leader, possibly.</p>

<p>Forensics - 2 Years, not a leader[ will be though ] Placed in tournaments, probably the best underclassman.</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience:</p>

<p>Tutored for a summer? [Not really anything special, but I'm not really sporting job experience]</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service:
- 9th grade : 150+ hours.
- Volunteered for Library, went to events and book drives, summer reading club, etc.
- Animal Shelter - raised HUNDREDS of food cans, bags of food, toys, supplies, and more. Also volunteered a lot too.</p>

<p>-10th Grade: aiming at 200+ hours
- Will continue at Library
- will continue at Animal Shelter
- Will start working in patient care at local hospital</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
- 9th Grade: Nike Tennis Camp, NYLF Med Leadership Forum, CTY Chem.
- 10th Grade: Going to try to go for internships/research stuff.</p>

<p>Essays:
- I'm a good writer and will probably get someone to help me.</p>

<p>Teacher Recommendation:
Teachers like me. Don't know how much more they will in 10th grade.</p>

<p>Interview:
I think I'm half decent at interviews. I live in NJ, and I was wondering if I would have to drive all the way up there to interview...</p>

<p>State (if domestic applicant): NJ
School Type: Private boarding
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 150,000 ish
Hooks: None</p>

<p>Thanks. I think the whole application would be helpful, regardless of whether or not I was accepted. I'm a good test taker. I did very well on the SSATs for Middle School and a 2260 on the SATs.</p>

2

<p>Nobody? :< laaa</p>

3

<p>Its always good to try and you have very good stats.</p>

4

<p>it might not work out, it might. nothing is fixed.</p>

5

<p>Please note: I don’t want to go. I want to see if I’ll get in, so I don’t have to wonder for the rest of my life. Then again, I can always apply PG just in case I don’t get into HYPSM or any of my schools… </p>

<p>ALSO:
DO COLLEGES SEE SSATS AND ALSO WILL I NEED TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO NEW ENGLAND FOR AN INTERVIEW? :S</p>

6

<p>Colleges don’t see SSATs, as the name suggests (Secondary School Admission Test). And if you don’t want to visit the campus for an interview, most schools conduct phone interviews.</p>

7

<p>Thanks. Now that that’s out of the way, does anyone think my stats are good enough at all? Would one school possibly choose me over another and for what reason?</p>

8

<p>Seriously do not apply just so you can find out if you could get in. You would be taking someone’s spot who genuinely wants to go. Don’t apply.</p>

9

<p>Well at this point, I’m not sure if I really want to apply. I’m not necessarily willing to shell out several hundred dollars, and then just drives hours to New england for interviews…
could you just tell me if I’m qualified? I’m not saying I’ll necessarily immediately deny it, I’m just not sure I want to transfer.</p>

10

<p>Carin- are you at fencing summer nationals in dallas? (i am)</p>

11

<p>Yes, you’re qualified. Now don’t apply.</p>

12

<p>No I’m not. And if I’m qualified… where would I get in?
Exeter: Yes/No/WL
Andover: Yes/No/WL
SPS: Yes/No/WL
Deerfield: Yes/No/WL
Choate: Yes/No/WL
Hotchkiss: Yes/No/WL</p>

13

<p>No I’m not at the fencing nationals. I’m not that great, I only made JV.</p>

14

<p>OH AND LAWRENCEVILLE!</p>

<p>Yes/No/WL</p>

15

<p>Exeter: Crapshoot
Andover: Crapshoot
SPS: Crapshoot
Deerfield: Crapshoot
Choate: Yes
Hotchkiss: Crapshoot
Lawrenceville: Crapshoot</p>

16

<p>What does Crapshoot mean?</p>

<ol>
<li>crapshoot<br>
A toss up, roll of the dice, or a gamble. Anything could happen. </li>
</ol>

<p>Eh. I was like… wait LV? But then I realized I’m a day student so yeah…</p>

17

<p>SPS: No, not for eleventh. They barely accept any 11th graders, unless truly exceptional or a huge hook (hockey…etc.)…ususally anywhere from 5-10.</p>

<p>…I would say roll of a dice.</p>

18

<p>Yes, that’s what crapshoot means. There are no guarantees at the schools that you mentioned. Academically and in terms of your extracurriculars, you’re in very good stead, but so are 70% of all applicants. The big deal is personality, which you express in your essays and interviews.</p>

19

<p>I think I have a good personality. I’m creative. I’m not a stereotypical asian robot at all. In no way shape or form.</p>

20

<p>Good point, mpicz. Such is the case, in fact, for all of the schools you mentioned. Mpicz and I did it though, so it’s not impossible. But the stats tell all - for Andover, in 2008 there were 300 applicants for 11th grade, with 20-25 places available. Assuming an 80% yield, there were 25-31 admissions, meaning an acceptance rate of 8.3% to 10.3%. But things supposedly got a lot more competitive in 2009, and that may also be the case next year.</p>

<p>Oh, you’re Asian? That could be problematic. You probably already know how much harder being Asian makes the admissions process.</p>