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Do you have relatives in the northeast? Is St. Marks not on your list because they don't offer Chinese and are too small? You have a clear legacy there which might work to your advantage if you want to apply to the school. You come from a well-educated family, and it seems to me that some of your relatives with first-hand experience can advise you as well. Of course, they may just encourage you to attend the school they went to.
In my opinion, it is risky to only look at the most competitive schools. In recent years, boarding school admissions for the most competitive schools has become even more competitive. It seems to me that applicants who would have been accepted without question 5 years ago, might not have been accepted in the last 2 years. This coming admissions cycle might be as competitive, but I just don't know. You certainly have an impressive background, so you certainly should have a chance.
If you apply to a school that family members have attended, by all means, you should let the school know; I think they like the fact you have some familiarity. You just might not be classified as a legacy.
Most boarding schools will offer the chance to play sports on less competitive teams or intramural. You should investigate this at the schools you want. Did you know that Taft does not offer swimming? They are known for having a strong equestrian program.
Others on this board might not agree with me, but I think it is to your advantage to look for a few (2?) boarding schools you can love that are not as competitive as your core list of schools. Do you like The Hill? There are many more.
Good luck on the ssat! The score that boarding schools use is not the score that is nationally normed; it is the score that shows how well you did compared to other ssat test takers over the last 3 years.
Because you will have a few interviews after the Admissions deadline, be sure that these schools will include your application as part of the regular admissions cycle. I don't know if they make exceptions for International students, but here in the US, schools will not include an application as part of the regular cycle if all components (including the interview) are not completed by the deadline.
Good luck!
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