Which boarding school would be best for me?

Prep School Admissions
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<p>Hello. I am currently in 7th grade and am seriously considering going to a boarding school for high school, so I just wanted some advice on what school would be best for me, your opinions, and your recommendations.</p>

<p>I am a straight A student and have always received high honors (overall average of a 3.75 to a 3.99) or scholars (overall average of a 4.0 to 4.5) at my school. I skipped 6 'levels' in math, so I am currently in 8th Grade Honors math (I will be in 9th Grade Honors Geometry next year, when I am in 8th Grade). I have also skipped a grade in English, so I am in 8th Grade English this year, and will be in 9th Grade English next year (honors is not offered). I take Honors French and Honors Science, and will continue to next year, but Honors History is not offered. Furthermore, I have been incredibly involved in charity work for as long as I can remember, and have done well over 200 hours worth of community service, although my school does not require it. I also play soccer, basketball, and softball for my school (although I am honestly not that great at sports, I still play). My school only allows each student to be in a maximum of 1 club, so I have only ever been in one at a time for this reason. As far as school plays, I have always been in our schools (which were required throughout lower school, but are not for middle school), and have played the female lead in all but one. I absolutely love acting, and would really like to become an actress one day, as well as a writer, and photographer. My writing and photography has been published on server occasions in magazines and online. That's all the information on my school life I can think of. If anything else would be important to know, let me know. I tried out for student council this year, but didn't make it. I also plan to try out for it again next year (for president). That's all the information on my school life I can think of. If anything else would be important to know, let me know. </p>

<p>As of now, I think I'd like to apply to Andover, Choate, Deerfield, Exeter, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, Kent, and Groton for ninth grade, but I wanted some opinions on which ones might be best for me individually. I'd just like to narrow it down and pick out my top ones. Currently, I think I like Hotchkiss, but I only know information on these schools from my own research. I want to go to a good school, one that will help get me into a good college, but I don't want to stress myself out by working TOO hard. I will definitely try my best wherever I go, but I want to be able to have a life too, if that makes sense. Basically, what I'm asking is what school(s) have a great academic reputation, but also have parties and stuff and is a place where I can have fun. Also, can you let me know if any of these schools is very sports oriented? The middle school I currently go to is VERY involved in sports, which is not something I excel at.</p>

<p>Please reply letting me know your opinions on what school(s) might be best for me. Thank you!</p>

<p>PS. I think that this is the right place to post this thread, but I'm not positive, since I just joined this site, so I am incredibly sorry if it is not.</p>

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<p>I am going to Deerfield next year as a repeat sophomore so of course I am bias but I think Deerfield is a great place. I have read somewhere that places like Choate, and the other bigger schools, although they are really good, can pick someone who is really great at math, but maybe a little weaker when it comes to English for example.
Deerfield, as well as many of the smaller schools have to pick a more rounded student in order to compete.
With that said I think you can see what schools you like from brochures that you get in the mail, and what you see online, or how great a school is but in the end it’s really what you feel is right, and I don’t think you can see which one you favor until you actually go and see the schools. I went and visited close to 11 schools, and some I liked more than others. I wasn’t even going to apply to Deerfield because looking through the brochures I didn’t really like it, and I was already applying to a few schools, but I ended up going for a tour and I fell in love with it. When you go to a school you are able to get a good feeling of what it’s all about and you can either picture yourself there or not.
So far it looks like you’re a great contender for the boarding schools, but there are a lot of kids like you. There are other factors though that come into applying such as the SSATs, the interview and many other things, but so far what you have going for you is great. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Oh and about the having fun thing, Deerfield is strong and competitive academically, but they are always doing fun things, such as dances, bringing the students to places on the weekend and much more.
I’m not sure about the other schools though.</p>