Weight of Grades

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

<p>Soooo I' think I've probably posted something similar to this before.... But I'm worrying so I'll still post!</p>

<p>My grades last semester were very average(grade average 7,3/10, class grade average 7,1/10) but those grades are the only ones that were bad. They are also only based on our midterms which are like 3 hour tests that count as 35% of our grade for the year and are the only grade we get until June(they don't include any essays, presentations, projects, assignments, evaluations, chapter tests, etc.) I made sure to include this in my application.</p>

<p>But my school is very good. It's technically public but has an acceptance rate of about 35-40% (the next most selective in my country and incoming students have the highest grade average). The average of an incoming student is 9,1/10. Last year my average was 9,3/10 and in the years before that always between 9 and 9,5. My SSAT results were 96% overall and individually in the 90's despite English being my second language. </p>

<p>The reason my grades have dropped is because it almost always happens. The grade transition that I went through this year is a big one where I live, you're changing school systems. All the best schools make the first semester of the first year extra hard in order to sift out those who can't handle it(make them fail and have to transfer or drop out, and yes it's true!). I chose to go to a really hard, challenging school instead of an easy one where I could have continued being best. Now I'm almost regretting that 'cause I'm not sure the schools I'm applying to will see that. </p>

<p>Do you think that the schools will be able to see from my other grades, SSAT scores, rec's(my teachers let me see them and I saw that they mentioned it too) and explanations that I am a good student and if I were at an average school my grades would be way higher?</p>

<p>Note: I'm also a year ahead in school but applying for my real year.</p>

2

<p>i know it may not answer your question but i found this quote on Exeter’s website. maybe it will help ease yor worries. </p>

<p>“Please be assured that Exeter does not have a cut-off for test scores. We review your application as a whole, which includes your grades and teacher recommendations.”
[Phillips</a> Exeter Academy | Home](<a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/admissions/147_189…]Phillips”>http://www.exeter.edu/admissions/147_189&#8230;)</p>

<p>take notice to “review your application as a whole”</p>

3

<p>i’m guessing many are the same:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/documents/Student_Profile.pdf[/url]”>http://www.exeter.edu/documents/Student_Profile.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Phillips Exeter Academy
The successful applicant will have many of the following
characteristics:
Intellectual curiosity and desire for academic rigor
Proven academic success with grades of more A’s than B’s
Strong character
Embrace living in a diverse community
Willingness to engage in conversation as well as being an
active listener
Welcomes the company of adults
Cooperative team member in group settings
Self-disciplined study habits along with organizational
abilities and time management skills
Love of reading and writing
Strong ability in mathematics
Studying a classical or modern language (if available at
current school)
Involvement in and commitment to extracurricular
activities at school or in your community</p>

4

<p>Maybe, I was just wondering if my good stats could outweigh my one bad one. I was also thinking about all that stuff I didn’t put on my app, like a competition I won in the 7th grade(national competition) and Saturday classes I took in the 6th and my summer programs at a University for the last 4 years. I just felt that stuff was irrelevant.</p>