<p>I'm a grade seven, going into grade eight. I would like to apply for a boarding school which I can attend in grade 9. Right now I'm having trouble choosing schools, as I can tell from the threads on this forum that my extra-curricular activities and achievements are simply not outstanding enough to get me into first-tier schools such as Exeter and Andover.</p>
<p>Grades:
-I have been a straight-A student ever since grade six, with the exception of Home Economics, Drama, and Technology Education. Before grade six I would always get C+'s in P.E, but now I've learned to try harder and is achieving straight-As in P.E as well.
-My school does not have AP or other advanced classes, so it is not possible for me to attend such classes.
-I have taken many practice SSAT tests and have received overall scores of 91% - 95%. My vocabulary was 87% the first time, so I am working to improve on it.</p>
<p>Extra-curricular activities:
-Regional swim team (not very good; never won any awards)
-Piano, currently in level 8; taking the level 10 (highest level) test hopefully in January
-Art classes (does this count?)</p>
<p>Awards:
Nothing basically, except for a virtual science fair award from grade six.</p>
<p>Extras:
-I speak fluent Mandarin...because I am Mandarin</p>
<p>Wow. That's it. Now that I think about it; I really am not quite an impressive applicant. :/
I was thinking about applying for Brentwood College School, Annie Wright Upper School, Choate Rosemary Hall (impossible), Westminster School, The Webb Schools, Ashville School, Blair Academy (though I am not religious and would prefer to go to a non-religious school), Concord Academy,The Loomis Chaffee School, or Ashbury College. Please tell me which, if any, of my choices are reasonable! I would appreciate some 'safe' schools as well!</p>
<p>ECs are improtant; however, BS’s don’t expect all their students to be future Olympic athletes or Broadway stars. I think a school will be impressed that you were determined to improve yourself in some area you found lacking, and you set your mind to it and achieved it! I would try to mention this in your interview or essays.</p>
<p>If Stella is your real name, suggest you change your login name to something anonymous-- not a good idea to have your private info spread out on the internet.</p>
<p>Not everyone who gets in to boarding school writes in to this board. Those who have stats they can boast about are far more likely to write in than those who dont. The kids here are kids who have sought this board out, but they are not necessarily the average boarding school kid. Also, some kids may be exaggerating their resumes. </p>
<p>I think you are too worried about what other kids are doing. Look at yourself by yourself. Are you interesting, curious about the world, willing to try new things, mature, outgoing…
At the school where I teach, not every kid has a star resume, but they all have something unique and interesting to offer the school.</p>
<p>As long as you have schools like Asheville, Webb, Loomis Chaffee, Concord, and Blair on your list, you have a better chance of getting in somewhere than if your list were nothing but Andover, Exeter, Choate. If you are not insistent on going to school in New England, you will find some wonderful schools that have higher rates of admission because fewer kids are trying to get in. Asheville School illustrates this so well. If it were suddenly magically relocated to New England, it would be dramatically harder to get into, although the quality of the school wouldnt change. </p>
<p>Dont worry too much. Focus on what you have to offer the school. Remember that there are many kids like you who dont write on this board and still get into schools that they love.<br>
good luck to you!</p>
<p>Blair is not a religious school. It was founded by Presbyterians, but for sure there are tons of atheists, agnostics, buddhists, and whatever else there. It is an amazing place. Check it out! I have friends there who really love it.</p>
<p>Stella, I am a current Blair parent who just joined the board. I have posted on a few threads about DC’s experience to date, which you may find of interest. We are not a religious family, and have been completely comfortable at Blair.</p>
<p>Knowing Blair very well, it is not particularly religious nor is it a country club, by any means. Have never heard anyone refer to it as a country club before! I think the kids, parents, and faculty would look on that comment as very unlike Blair and the ethics they espouse.</p>
<p>The kids at Blair work very hard and there is NO grade inflation at the school. They earn their grades. Classes are offered at the regular level (still well beyond what would typically be seen at most U.S. high schools), the honors level, and AP, so kids can choose their level of rigor depending on their strengths and interests. The number of classes is flexible in this regard as well - a very enthusiastic kid can take a heavier load than normal if they wish, although they will work very hard indeed if they do.</p>
<p>Blair is very fair in their dealings with the kids, and those from wealthy backgrounds or legacy families get no preferential treatment whatsoever if they choose to break the rules. They find that they are every bit as subject to the rules as those from less lofty backgrounds. </p>
<p>There are kids from all backgrounds and across the socioeconomic strata at Blair. Financial aid is common - look at the stats. You can’t tell the FA kids from the full pays by looking. DC dresses casually, is not brand-conscious, and I have not found that the Blair environment breeds a need to look or act one particular way to fit in. While the top students can go on to Ivies, I have been struck by how broad the matriculation list is. It seems that each student is encouraged to find the right fit, for them, at college, and the school gets to know each kid well to give them good guidance in this regard.</p>
<p>At Blair, there are a few required vespers a year held at a lovely chapel, but they are sensitive that the students come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and beliefs. Each student makes of it what they choose, and there is certainly no pressure. There is one semester of a religion class, which can be simply comparative religion, if the student chooses.</p>
<p>One thing I will warn you about is the practice SSAT’s are harder than the actual SSAT. I would also try to branch out into some sort of leadership role, such as maybe student council.</p>
<p>I have decided to apply to: Miss Hall’s School, Mercersburg Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Lawrenceville Academy, along with other Canadian schools.</p>
<p>It would be nice to apply to schools that are very competitive to get in, that are likely to be accepted and that are rather easy to enter. </p>
<p>If your nationality is Chinese, you are likely to compete against with Asian applicants in many schools. Keep that in mind. But don’t be intimidated. You have plenty of time to prepare. You want to sell yourself as a whole, not the scores, EC alone. Cheer up and be positive and confident. I wish you all the best next year! </p>
<p>I’ve already finished my application process. Because this thread was posted in the summer, you may be confused that I am still a grade seven student. Right now I am currently in grade eight, and I am preparing to attend a boarding school in my grade nine year.</p>