I’m completely new to College Confidential, but I hoped some of you out there could offer some advice.
I’m an eighth grader in Northern California applying to Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter, and The Thacher School. I’ve put my stats below (I didn’t know what to put, so I just put everything, sorry!):
Academics:
top ranked in my grade at my school
2376/2400 on the SSATs just recently (fairly strong essay, I guess)
1600/1600 on the SATs as a seventh grader (2018)
800/800 SAT Subject Test Math Level 2
took AP Calculus AB as a seventh grader, got a 5
enrolled in Stanford University OHS for AP Computer Science A
Taking AP Physics, Chemistry 10, Guitar 1, this year as well
studied at University of Nevada over the summer through the Davidson THINK program
Athletics & Extracurriculars:
‘Most Valuable Player’, cross country and track (2018-2019)
ASB elected class president
Founded and run my school’s programming club
Captain my school’s Academic Pentathlon team
2nd in Hewlett Packard CodeWars (Roseville division)
took MS theater arts class last year as well
I’ve already had my interview for Andover, and while it didn’t go terrible, it wasn’t all that great either. My Exeter interview is just around the corner, fingers crossed…
I’m not too worried about not “meeting the academic bar”, but I’m worried that I’m too scattered, and don’t really have a “spike” to speak of.
Could any of you offer advice as to what I can do now to help my chances, and what my chances are now? Or maybe just weigh in on what school would be the best fit for me?
W h a t. whatwhatwhat holy cow your resume is amazing. I can’t really give advice, because obviously, I am substantially less intelligent than you are.
But, why on Earth aren’t you in college? You’ve gotten a 1600 SAT, which is so so so rare in high school, let alone middle school.
My dude. I’m stunned. I’m amazed. I’m… inferior? Omg.
@TheHappinessFund Thank you! Yes, I get good scores, but that doesn’t mean at all mean I’m any smarter or better than you, all they are are numbers! Are you applying to boarding schools as well?
WoWOWOoWO
Color me impressed!! I’m a 9th grader right now, and I’m applying for 10th. While compared to you, I look pretty dull; but what I’m worried about is that for BS, even the most talented of kids sometimes get rejected. IDK, I heard stories about interviewers who knew for sure that kid would get in, but didn’t, and the opposite, a kid who they thought wouldn’t get in got in.
It’s all chance; but really, I do think with your resume with a great essay and interview, you’re pretty much in. (I don’t want to give any false hope, though )
I think you have a very good chance. I agree that you need highlight and narrow your ECs to show how you would contribute to a school.
Will you run track in highschool? Are you talking to the coaches? Do the schools you’re applying to have coding or academic pentathlon teams? Everything will be on your transcript so highlight things you will do once in highschool.
Narrowing - Things like taking theatre in school aren’t really important to mention. That will be on your transcript so if a school cares they will see it. Unless you were the lead in multiple productions it’s just a class you took and many middle school students take art and theatre.
Write excellent essays that show how you are a great kid and will make a great member of the Andover family. Insert any school.
You are correct, many kids with your stats get rejected but honestly none of us really
Know why. Do your best, be authentic, you have a great shot.
Cheese and crackers! Unless you are incredibly unpleasant in person (that does not seem to be the case based on your writing) you are “all set”. These reactions are NOT typical for these type of posts. “We” usually have lots of advice. Just keep on keeping on until M10.
@Mercurrii Thanks man, I wish…but really I just studied a lot for the tests (maybe too much ). Do you have any advice on what school may be the better fit for me? Thank you!
@one1ofeach Oh wow thanks for all the advice!! Yeah, I really really love running, so I’ve asked my coach for a recommendation to show that and I’m writing about it a lot. I’ll try to focus on my main points. I’m not top of the top in running, but I’m decently fast, maybe not fast enough to be recruited though (last year in seventh grade I did a 5:25 mile, now maybe a 5:17). Do you think that I should contact the coaches at these schools?
PEA and PA admissions are very much like college admissions. Scores, even perfect scores, alone are far from sufficient. You need to show you’re a good fit.
BTW, there’re quite a number of 7-or-8th graders who achieve perfect scores on SAT (even on the older and more challenging versions of SAT). CTY keeps data on these test results, I believe.
@ttK5050 Hmmm, I think that you’re set, but do apply to maybe one or two more. IMO, safeties and extra schools really help, and maybe your perspective changes a lot when you look into more schools. Who knows, maybe you’ll get into ALL the schools you apply to (unlike the rest of us it’s probably what’s gonna happen.) but maybe the schools you listed decided to reject you for unknown, godly reasons. So be prepared for that path as well. (says me, as I haggle with my mom not to put orchestra so I have more classes for my profession even though it’s for a public school, just in case ) ask yourself though, why do you want to go to boarding? I noticed that you have the top schools, why is that? and would you go to a less ranked school that you’d love? if yes, consider maybe some smaller schools. Sorry for the ramble. DM me if you want, I’d love to know more about you!
Are you a boy or a girl? I am going to assume boy because if you are a girl and 5:17’s your mile time on a 5K you would be over a full minute faster than the girl who just won the ISL championship. The boy who won ran a 5:17 pace on the 5K, finished in 16:24. That makes you SUPER competative and you should absolutely be emailing coaches ASAP. This would make a huge difference in your application and IMO assure that you would get into most of the schools you applied to. With your academics combined with such an impressive running time you would be a big asset to most schools.
If your time is actually 5:25 you are still competative just not as WOW factor. I’d still contact coaches. If you are unsure how to do this I suggest you get help from a parent. Talking to coaches can be tricky and unlike most people on CC I don’t think it all needs to come from a kid.
Most schools have athletic interest forms that you can fill out, but I would also encourage you to contact coaches directly. You can always ask AOs for contact info just to make it a bit more formal.
Your challenge is going to be finding schools with sufficient depth in their math curriculum. There are other threads here that gives suggestions for that. You should be able to find excellent options. Good luck.
@ttK5050 And yes, absolutely contact the coaches. Quick friendly email of your resume highlights and your times with an interest to run at school. I have heard (for what it is worth) the Exeter/Andover coaches don’t have pull in the admissions process, but it is great to have someone pulling for you from the inside. You’ll also want a quick follow-up after your application is submitted so they know you actually followed through and are in the pool. My own child did this and is a successful student athlete at one of the schools you are applying to. Coach CLEARLY stated he had no pull, but certainly aware of him and was notified before we were that he was in. He was also WL at another “top” school and that coach was mildly frustrated (he was also a very solid applicant regardless of sports) so I tend to believe their input is limited.
I’m quoting the above, not because there is anything wrong with the post (there is not), but because it is not meant to be the opening salvo debating how much pull coaches actually have. That’s a discussion for another thread, and need not derail this one.
I would say relax and just be you. Let people see who you are when you let your guard down, when you’re being goofy, when you’re excited about something, when you’re invested in an activity or subject, etc. Each school is a community, and you’ll want each school to get a flavor of how you might weave yourself into it…
@1NJParent For sure. That’s what I’m most concerned about, finding a good fit for me, and then demonstrating my other points, like running. Thanks for your input!
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). Do you have any advice on what school may be the better fit for me? Thank you!