For what seems like the longest time, I have been wanting to attend Choate. However, I am doubting whether are not I will be getting accepted. For those who see this please let me know what you think. I am applying for 9th grade and repeating the grade. I am an African American girl but my parents originate from Ghana.
My grades are currently all A’s
I am in Band
I have done competitive dance for almost 7 years
I played soccer for 3 years
For one year I did track
I am currently in FBLA ( Future Business Leaders of America) , Social Justice Club, Ecology Club, and my school magazine. Also part of my local library Teen Advisory group
Last year I participated in a National Scholastic Reading and Writing Awards. I was one out of 2 people at my school that won. I received both an Honorable mention and a Silver Key for the pieces of writing that I submitted
Last year, I also participated in my local Plainsboro library initiative called “Friends of the Library”.Three times a week, I volunteered an hour of my time each week to organize used books that were then re-sold to the public. Money from the sale of these books was used for renovation projects in the library.
This past year I decided that I want to do as much as I can in my life to help others. Having said that I was able to volunteer at a few places such as my local library, soup kitchens, and help bring awareness to breast cancer.
I also performed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation breast cancer walk as a part of Woodbridge School of Dance for 2 years and even decided to help volunteer with one event in New York.
You have quite a lot of extracurriculars…how are your grades and how did you do on your SSAT?
My grades are good. All A’s and occasionally a one B or two. I haven’t taken my SSAT’s yet. However, I started studying in the summer for the SSAT in December or January. Soon I will be taking tutoring for though.
You need to focus on ECs that you will continue participating in at BS.
You ran track for one year. Are you fast enough to run track at Choate and make varsity as a freshman? If yes, you need to play that up.
You are in the band. Are you good enough to play in the Choate band or orchestra? If so you need videos of your performances and should be talking to the music teachers.
You do competitive dance. Does Choate have a dance program? You need to get videos of your dancing to the appropriate person.
Does that make sense? Many of the applicants have done student government, volunteered here and there, written for the school newspaper, etc. Beyond checking a “well rounded” box you need something to make yourself less round. You need an activity at which you truly excel, something you stand out in.
P.S. Choate has players on their soccer team who make national team pools so do you see what I mean about useful ECs? You playing soccer for three years will not interest a coach who has national team prospects on his team. That’s why I asked about track. If you are wickedly fast a track coach is going to be interested even if you need some tuning up.
@tqrsssppp1444 I also plan to do some more volunteer work within those clubs. I have done a few interviews last year including Choate and Peddie. It went really well considering the lady taking my interview at Choate was friends with my family. I really do hope I get in. It is the only school I am applying to. Any advice on what more I should do. I am really involved in my school and community and I don’t know what else to do.
@oneof1each I’m not really much of a sports person as much as I used to. However, I am very good at writing. I have done the writing summer program on the campus. I also have a blog where I post occasionally. It is something I definitely excel at and see myself having a future at it. I’m more into clubs now as I get older. I like being involved in my school and community and genuinely just want to help. I feel as if I could bring so much to the table with what I have to offer. I volunteer almost all the time and do it not only for the benefit of myself but rather to help those in need and because I think it gives me a substantially great learning experience.
Then my advice to you is to beef up your blog and find a way to have your volunteering be more unusual. As in, don’t volunteer for 10 different things but do something for 1 or 2 organizations where you grow the volunteer program or bring the program to a new community. Does that make sense?