<p>I just finished my interview and I felt that all of you should hear this.</p>
<p>Perfect grades, great recommendations, good test scores, sports, arts are all BASIC things needed to apply to PA. They look for EXCELLENCE in a specific area e.g. 1st place at an international competition such as a math olympiad or Olympics or a bestseller book.</p>
<p>So it's not "I've 10 ECs at a mediocre level."</p>
<p>Why bother to go to PA when you have Exeter?</p>
<p>it applies to both</p>
<p>Yes, they are looking for excellence but it does not necessarily need to rise to the level you cite. ODP soccer, state youth orchestra, advanced course loads (e.g. geometry in 8th grade) are more the norm.</p>
<p>everyone at andover took advanced courses, got excellent grades and recs, did at least one state level EC. so you have to go on to national or international or exclusive elite level in some music or something else. Or you could just make the 1Goal campaign or be a UNICEF rep .</p>
<p>^ I don’t believe that</p>
<p>then don’t. it’s your choice. but I’m telling you, at least 90% of them do have the BASICS for Andover.</p>
<p>^ Yea I know that, but kids who have Excellence in a field arent the only ones that get in, that’s why the Essay is important</p>
<p>nah they say that the essay only sees how good you are in writing. which again is a basic to be able to write well if you want to cope at PA.
Dude this is legit stuff the interviewer told me. don’t defy nor deny.</p>
<p>With whom did you interview? I have a hard time believing an AO told you the essays are “only [to see] how good you are in writing”.</p>
<p>Are you applying again Snape?</p>
<p>ok sorry not only to see how good you are in writing. but they listed some things that are basic to most students that apply to PA: good grades, excellent recs, good test scores, ability to write well. and i think there’s something else i left out on that list.</p>
<p>guys instead of labeling me a LIAR like that scales1994, how about you go on and ask your interviewer what YOUR chances are. if they say anything different, post it here. and don’t lie because I posted in truth what i was told by the interviewer.</p>
<p>obviously if you ask your interviewer what your chances are then they’re going to say something along those lines. You shouldn’t let them think you’re leaving it up to chance. Be confident and make them think you know you have the ability to get it. On the other hand, the comment about needing to compete at the national level for ECs, and that all state level isn’t good enough, is completely over the top.</p>
<p>What kind of chance would someone like this have-</p>
<p>Perfect Recs
Perfect Grades
Perfect Interview
One Excellent Essay and One Less so (Great)
Perfect Standardized Test Scores (The one people get at the end of the school Year)
85% SSAT
EC’s-15 Hours a Week-Not National Level-Experience-Well</p>
<p>pretty good chance</p>
<p>Well, I heard that Andover looks for kids who have depth and breadth. Meaning they look for people who are good at many things, but who have gone into depth in one thing. But “going into depth” doesn’t mean you have to have “first place in an international competition.” An example is a kid who will be able to play on the Varsity team in ninth grade. He or she may not have won any international competition for that sport, but they are still very good.</p>
<p>I agree,^ although most people that are in 9th grade and in Varsity are not Exeter or Andover Material</p>
<p>@Exeterrr
that person would have an average chance :D</p>
<p>i guess the point here is that you need to be able to make a SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION to the community and be willing and able to TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU’RE OFFERED.</p>
<p>^you honestly have no clue what you’re talking about. If you were all state as a freshman in 3 sports at your old school (not all nation) then you would obviously make a huge impact. And even if you weren’t incredible at one thing, you can still make a special contribution to various areas.</p>
<p>It would be helpful if a CURRENT student at Andover was available for comment.</p>