What NOT to waste your time worrying about

Prep School Admissions
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<p>The same nagging issues keep cropping up in different threads. So, here is a one-stop sanity check for stuff you shouldn’t waste your time worrying about. Does it mean you’re absolutely going to be admitted? No. But it’s not make-or-break, or it’s something you have no control over.
PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST</p>

<p>GRADES

  • You’re not going to get hammered for not having straight A’s. It is, however, preferable to have more A’s than B’s.
  • A “C” does not mean you are doomed. If your transcript has blemishes, then it is best to show an upward trajectory of grade improvement.
  • It’s better to have a B in an honors course than an A in a regular course. Then again, it’s better to just have an A in the honors course.</p>

<p>SSAT

  • If your overall SSAT score is at or above the school’s average, then don’t waste your time retaking the test. Move on.
  • If an SSAT sub-score is below the school’s average score, don’t go crazy. Do you really think the admissions people really have time to fixate on your one sub-score, provided your overall score looks good? Move on.
  • If your overall SSAT score is below the school’s average, then do the arithmetic and remember that an average is calculated from some scores above the average and some scores below. How low is too low? Well, that depends on whether there is something strong in the rest of your profile to “balance it out”. </p>

<p>EC’s

  • The AO’s know you are in MIDDLE school. They don’t expect you to have Olympic-record racing times nor expect you to play the cello like YoYo Ma. But if you are really that good, you are golden.
  • If your present school/community has few options for EC’s, then mention that. The AO’s read your application in the context of the opportunities available to you.</p>

<p>NOT A LEGACY, SIBLING, DEVELOPMENT CASE

  • So what? Neither are most people who are applying.
  • Legacy/sibling preference isn’t what it used to be. For development case, your parents better be prepared to open that wallet REALLY WIDE—I mean new science building wide.</p>

<p>CHANCES FORUM

  • Don’t read it.
  • If you just can’t help yourself and do read it, keep it in perspective. The kid who pretentiously moans “boo-hoo” that his/her one A is lowering an A+ GPA is either a pathological narcissist, or goes to a school w massive grade inflation</p>

<p>Relax…</p>

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<p>U wrote out “you”! Huzzah! :-)</p>

<p>Excellent list, but it seems to be human nature to waste energy worrying about things that are out of one’s control and, even more, about things within one’s control after the point at which they could have been changed.</p>

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<p>Thanks for this! You’re great :)</p>

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<p>wait so how do you know what is your schools average ssat?</p>

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<p>tomura: You can check boardingschoolreview.com for the average SSAT of any school you are considering, or check school websites as many schools post this information there.</p>

<p>Thanks, GMT. Now let’s sit back and see how many people will start threads on these very subjects anyway even though you have definitively covered them.</p>

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<p>About grades: I don’t think most people are in my situation, but at my school, it’s kind of hard to get below a B (not that many kids don’t). We have one leveled class (math), which is only split in two sections (algebra and not). So I second what GMT said about grade inflation in the Chances forum. Good luck to everyone applying! (Myself included, ahem.)</p>

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<p>Excellent reminder! Cross all your t’s and dot all your i’s and let it go. </p>

<p>My d is currently stressing out about a supplemental essay. She is SO close to being done with all of this, but every now and then she freaks out and says she has NOTHING to write about. Sigh…</p>

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<p>Add to the list: recommendations can come in after the due date. </p>

<p>Seriously, the AO’s won’t read your entire file on Jan 16. If your recs are a little tardy, it’s okay. They understand it’s out of your control.</p>

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<p>Add to list: if u take the Jan SSAT, the scores will be received electronically by the schools in time.</p>

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<p>Add to the list: Experimental sections on the SSAT are just that–experimental. They are not counted in your score.</p>

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<p>Something you SHOULD worry about - read your essays out loud. Check the spelling. Check it again. MAKE SURE YOU SEND THE RIGHT VERSION TO THE RIGHT SCHOOL. Do not hit “submit” before checking and double checking. Really.</p>

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<p>Add to the list:
Don’t obsess about what your interviewer said
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1601101-interview-nudges-what-do-they-mean.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1601101-interview-nudges-what-do-they-mean.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>5 days left to obsess</p>

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<p>Add to the list: What Andover looks for in applicants.</p>

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<p>ˆˆˆˆHah. 10 char.</p>

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<p>@GMT Nah, we’ll obsess until M10, and long after if we don’t get in. I know from experience. :)</p>

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<p>So guidance counselor is dragging her feet and I am starting to get nervous about school report making it for the 15th. I’m sure it will be close, but I’m not feeling overly confident…</p>

<p>Call AO and let them know it may be late or hope that they understand?</p>

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<p>Here is the link as OP suggested - titled “Common sense secret to admission” written by Webb’s Admission Director: </p>

<p>[The</a> Webb Schools: A Common Sense “Secret” to Admission](<a href=“http://www.webb.org/news/detail/index.aspx?LinkId=1850&ModuleId=66]The”>http://www.webb.org/news/detail/index.aspx?LinkId=1850&ModuleId=66)</p>

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<p>4 days left to obsess</p>

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<p>@booklady, recs will be trickling in thru the end of the month. Just make sure the parts you’re responsible for are submitted on time.</p>