What are my chances? Urgent Help Please

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Hello, I am a 9th grader applying to 14 Top-tier New England schools for 10th grade (These include all ten TSAO schools as well as a few others such as Suffield, Peddie, and Mercersburg). I am from Georgia. I will give you guys as much info as I can, and please respond with my chances. I had always been confident, but I have ended up with 3 B’s this semester due to a visit to India (I am still taking three AP’s as a freshman) Here is the rest of my information. I had applied to 10 schools last year, and was waitlisted on 4, so I really hope that I can get in this year.
Achievements:

I have earned Principal’s Honor Roll (GPA above 95), in all 8 semesters since 4th grade. I was a valedictorian in 7th grade (GPA 98.20) and a salutatorian in 6th (GPA 97.89) grade.
Received President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence 2015 as well as in 2016

PSAT/NMSQT – Scored 1400/1520 and 99th percentile in math.

Map Testing Fall 2016-2017 (NWEA): 99th percentile in all categories (Mathematics, Reading, and Language Usage, Science).

Turkish Olympiad Non-Native Speaking Students Poetry Recitation: 2nd place (2016 Culture and Language Olympiads)

Currently in 9th grade. Taking 11.5-grade math currently

Science Olympiad: Have won over 20 different medals in this activity. School Team member at Science Olympiad national finals held at Nebraska in 2015. Elected as one of four team captains this year.

Model United Nations: Have won three awards on three separate occasions; Honorable Mention twice (Including one at the Model UN Internationals in New York) and
Outstanding Delegate (the highest honor possible) once. Hold the secretary position at National Junior Honor Society.

Geography: I won third place in the National Geographic Bee 2013 national finals held in Washington DC that was hosted by Alex Trebek and earned a 10,000-dollar scholarship.
I am the only one who achieved a perfect score to be in top ten out of 53 state and territory champions. Received commendations from Nathan Deal (Georgia Governor as well as from Fulton County education board authorities).

Jeopardy!: I have made it to the Kids Jeopardy! Auditions. This year I am working towards the Teen Jeopardy! Competition.

Spelling: I also have a huge interest in spelling and have won my school bee twice and even finished sixth at the district finals

Viola: Began playing in late 6th grade. Have medium experience and have been to a couple recitals.

Duke Tip: I achieved Duke Tip SAT state recognition in 7th grade.

Boy Scouts: I completed Cub Scouts and transferred to Boy Scouts at the end of 5th grade. I am currently a First Class Scout.

Baseball: Used to play baseball for two seasons and my team finished second in the division in both leagues.

Basketball: Play as starting PF on my school basketball team.

Chess: Attended a few competitions and have a couple of trophies.

Academic Bowl: Started a school team in 7th grade. Led team to playoffs. Looking to join school History Bowl when it starts next semester.

Volunteer Work: I have accumulated over 60 service hours this past year with various activities such as food drives and homeless donations.

Student Council: Elected as the representative from my class, elected as school treasurer afterward

Debate: I have just joined a nearby debate team to sharpen my public speaking skills

Essays:
Very solid, edited by my counselor…

Recommendations:
Math - Little scared about this one - not always up to mark in this class. Have a B in this class as well
English - Probably all right - we do not talk very much
Extracurricular and Personal - Both probably great. One from my music teacher and other from a friend.

SSAT: 95th percentile first try.
Planning to talk it next week with a bit more preparation
Probably will land around the 97th percentile.

Interviews:
Could not visit at all. I would say that all the skype and in-person interviews went amazingly well, as I expressed myself and acted like the outgoing person I always am.

Grades:
Turkish: 98
Math:80 (2 and a half grades ahead though)
AP Computer Science Principals:86
AP Human Geography: 82
AP Biology:91
Language Arts: 90
This is what I am most worried about, as before this I had only received a single B in my life. How do you think that this will affect my application? I really see this as my only downside currently

That’s all I have to say. I really appreciate your time for reading this and it would be awesome if you could tell me my chances for each school as I am a bit worried.

2

What schools are you specifically applying to? Top 14/15 lists are different by year and criteria.

3

You seem to have VERY impressive ECs and test scores and - at least up until last year - outstanding grades. You really should have gotten in somewhere last year imo. Do you need a lot of financial aid? I am also guessing you are on over-represented minority but again the stats are good.

I don’t think that your grades in 9th grade are too big of a deal given how advanced your coursework is, the 80 is math is a little low, but your testing is so high and involvement in ECs so extensive that I don’t think anyone is going to doubt your ability or commitment in class.

I think you need to really think why you were turned down last year (waitlisted at a few) because it’s hard to see why you didn’t have a good choice of schools last year based on those stats. Good luck this year!

4

As long as you explain the reason for your lower grades I’m sure you’ll be fine. @SatchelSF brings up a good point in their last statement.

5

I am applying to all ten of the TSAO schools. You can find these with a quick google search. The other schools are Mercersburg, Peddie and St. Andrews
For the other users
Yes, I am applying with almost full financial aid.
And I believe that the reason I was not accepted last year was cause I did not play any sports
How much do you guys think FA will affect my application as well as the rest of my information
Thank you so much. I used to be very confident, but now I am doubting myself.

6

wait guys quick question… an 80 in my school is pretty high its an A and a B in my current school is considered pretty good but how do the schools know that since it’s quite different from other grading systems (e.g… this one). Is a B really that bad or is it just in your standards?

7

B’s are fine, it’s just in my standards they’re a little low. I wouldn’t worry if you had one or two B’s

8

@soccerlove6 ^