What are my chances of getting into Deerfield Academy? Also Phillips Andover...

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

I’m applying for boarding schools and Deerfield is my first choice but I also would like to go to Andover (but not as much.)
Anyway I want to know your opinion on my chances of getting in. Here’s my info:

Current Grade: 8
Applying for: 9 (freshman)
Age: 14
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Half Caucasian, half Taiwanese
Financial Aid: Yes

Current GPA- 4.13
7th grade GPA- 4.0
6th grade GPA- 3.4

SSAT Score- 2124
Percentile- 82- I know they average is 89 but I’m hoping with my grades it will be okay.

Recommendations:
Algebra (the highest math level they offer at my middle school): Positive
English: Positive
Science/bio: Positive

Personal Recommendations:
French Horn Private Teacher: Positive
Band Teacher: Positive

Current Classes:
Algebra 1
English
Social Studies
Science/Biology
French 2
Spanish 3

Outside of School:
4 years on the french horn
1st chair state Youth Orchestra
9 years ballet
12 years alpine skier
3 years crew
Been in 14 plays (Both in school and out)
2 years in church choir
2 years youth group community service
14 publications of poetry in the newspaper
Currently a contestant in state-wide essay competition, results TBD

Travel:
Mexico, Peru, Chile, Canada, Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan
This summer I’m traveling to Spain, Vienna, France
Youth group trip to Costa Rica for service and mission trip
Fluent Spanish speaker, Learning French

Sports:
Crew
Alpine Ski Racing
Ballet (yes it counts as a sport)
wanting to start lacrosse

Awards:
Local art award
school honors/high honors award
2 music/musician awards
School spelling team for 5 years, 3 year state champions
3 time student of the month award
School Technology award
School fitness/flexibility award

Independent studies in:
French
Spanish
Sciences

My Deerfield interview went EXTREMELY well.

2

@zorastewy your EC’s will help along the way, Deerfield really cares about the SSAT so please be aware of that, it seems you have a decent balance though, they do however need to fill a quota and so just keep your mind open on other options to. Its a very low acceptance school, feel free to ask any other questions.
-current prep school student

3

Thanks so much for the reply! They were really late on getting my SSAT scores back to me so I never got the chance to take them over and it is too late now. Anyway, taking all my current grades and EC’s into account do you think my chances are okay? I mean I know the competition is crazy but do you think I have a chance at all?

4

Are you applying for full FA? If you’re not a coxswain- what is your 2K? Do you row with a club or school or both?(Don’t identify which club or school by for obvious reasons). Deerfield has a nice rowing program and BH :slight_smile:

5

elephant17 is right about Deerfield caring a lot about the SSAT. They sent a letter to me congratulating me on my perfect score. (They were the only school to do that.)

6

Deerfield does send out that perfect score letter-- but, beware, we know 2 different kids who got that letter and then we’re wait listed (and then didn’t get in). The SSAT is definitely only one piece of the puzzle-- or their average SSAT for admits would be higher. They reject some very high SSAT applicants and definitely take some with scores under their average (or it wouldn’t be an AVERAGE) when those applicants have other attributes they’re looking for that year.

7

^^ That goes for other BIG (highly selective) schools, too- not just Deerfield. If I could pin one post on Chances @Daykidmom 's post above would be it. Just don’t read it once, kids- memorize it because it’s the gospel truth.

8

Average SSAT scores are average for a reason. It would be great if you could break the score apart more. For example I guarantee you that the average from an underrepresented ethnicity or geography is a lot lower. By contrast the average SSAT for an asian kid from NY, Ct, Mass is probably a lot higher……