Hi yall! I am an 8th grader looking to applying for an elite boarding school in the U.S. I will be applying for four schools: Choate, Andover, Middlesex and Hotchkiss. I currently attend one of the most best, if not, best private school in my country. I play the violin quite well, and is preparing to record a few pieces as my repetoire. I was in our school soccer team, but not for the past three years. I also play Tennis and is the captain in my local Youth Tennis team.
I only recently planned on applying for a U.S. private high school. Most of my friends who are applying has been preparing for over 2 years, with some even applying to 10+ schools! Therefore, most of them have 99+ on the SSAT and have a refined application. However, I only decided on applying in October and only have about a month.
My grades are only average. I have an average of 94% last semester and only 92% this semester. Thankfully, my parents are supportive, I have finished two interviews and I have already found 2 teachers for my recommendation letters. We are on Christmas break, and I am in the painful process of writing my essays (I have thrown away all other homework, as I do not have time).
It would be really helpful if an alum or anyone could give me some advice on refining my application (I barely have anything to show). What are my chances of getting into these schools? Hey, I know the chances are slight, but why not try?
I have gotten over 100 views but still no reply to the thread. It would be genuinely helpful if someone could write anything – any advice or thought. Thank you!
A lot depends on whether or not you are full pay. It’s much easier to get into boarding schools without financial aid.
Also prior overseas boarding school experience is very desirable. It shows you’re at least comfortable with boarding if not the US. Otherwise any away from home experience should be highlighted like summer camps.
Your initial post has some grammar and spelling errors in it TBH. I (and many people!) write posts on the cellphone where errors are much easier. Perhaps you too are on a phone! But for the level of schools you seek, this is not an appropriate level of English.
Apply to more schools for a better shot at success.
Although I am not an AO, I feel like your chances are pretty low. The only way to increase your chance of admission is to show that you’re a recruitable athlete in Tennis. Otherwise, your EC list is pretty thin and you started very late. I suggest getting in contact with a Tennis coach at some of these schools, and if you’re really serious about going to boarding school cast a wider net and apply to some schools with a higher acceptance rate.
Honestly, not enough information to “chance” you, and anything people here write is just opinion, anyhow, in that most of the responders (like me) are parents of boarding school kids, not admissions officers. One thing I’d like to point out is that Andover is need blind, so full-pay or not doesn’t matter there. Another is that applicants should keep in mind that they are generally not competing for admission with every other applicant; instead, they are competing against applicants who have similar characteristics. For example, if you are a top talent in violin, then you would be competing against other violinists who apply; if you are a potential varsity tennis player, you would be competing against other potential varsity tennis players, etc. So, if you pass the academic threshold and are a strong talent in either violin or tennis, you likely have a chance.
Super confused about how you appear very eloquent and knowledgable on other users’ “chance me” posts yet you portray yourself as a complete newbie here? What are you looking for in a “refined application” when you believe others have the stats and great ECs, can you not use those as examples since you seem to suggest they are a great fit for the schools of their choice? Not exactly sure what you are looking for from your post. If you need a coach to look through your applications, you would have to hire one. Your best private school in the country doesn’t have a guidance counselor to aid you in the process? If you know your friends’ applications are refined, you must have seen them so you can use those for comparison or ask them to help you on your journey.
If you are set on going to school in the States but your grades and ECs aren’t much to show, your chances will be quite slim at the schools you are looking at. As someone else said, cast a wider net if you believe your chances are slim. Be resourceful with your best school in the country and have someone there look through your application face to face as no one here will be able to actually LOOK at your applications and help you refine it.
This was my first post on this website. I did later on view other forums, so I did appear to be bolder.
And thanks to @ameridad , @BSClass27 and @VisibleName2. I will consider all of your advice.
Full pay makes little difference for most or all the schools on your list if things have not change much for the the last two years. To check it yourself, try to find the ratio of students on financial aid from the school website, which should be available for every
school, also try to find the ratio of applicants on financial aid( harder to find but some schools have it), to see whether they differ much.
If you are international, pretty much all boarding schools will only accept you if you’re full pay. Exceptions are fully need blind schools like Andover. However, it is possible to gain financial aid as an international student to any school if you bring something really compelling to the table, such as a recruited athlete that’s the top in your country.
You would need a boarding school that is both need blind, meets full financial aid as they calculate it, and does this policy for international students. I believe Andover is the only boarding school that does so in the US. There may be other schools.
Many financial aid offices are happy to talk to you before you submit and application. I would call one or two and see what school officials suggest.