sallyfour

It's my first post..so I'm sort of nervous but I'll try and write everything down.

I'm a South Korean female studying in one of the best international boarding schools in India. I learnt English since I was three, and began receiving an English education when I was in fourth grade. Now my English is more fluent than my first language, Korean, and I've won awards for my writing and the academic subject 'English' in Olympiads.

My grades are top, all A*s, with my average percentage never less than 90% and mostly above 94%, and I'm always one of the top five in my grade academically.

The principal of my school organizes a few writing competitions annually, and I've been the only one in my school(6th-12th grade) to win each and every kind - it began when I was in sixth grade- so he knows me in person and will presumably and hopefully write some good stuff about me.

I've also won a few writing awards between other schools, and my English teacher favors me above everyone else - I've always come top overall in English at the end-of-year results.

All other grades are great, and in sports I'm in the basketball team, and have also set the school record for my division in cross-country. I am division captain for my 'house', as in sports, this year. (The whole school is divided into four houses, and we have captains for each division as well as overall)

I'm also part of the orchestra, playing the flute(3 yrs), and I also play the guitar (2 yrs) and the piano(6 yrs). I did trinity drama grade 1 and grade 3 (high merit and distinction).

SSATs .. I'm not sure, haven't took them yet, but according to my practice tests the average overall is about 92%-94%.

I really need FA, because my parents' yearly income is less than $75,000 yearly and we also have my brother's education to think about.

Basically my strong point is English ..

PLEASE chance me

Will my nationality / FA affect my chances?
Might be applying for late application OR tenth grade.

Thank you in advance!

(My foreign languages are French/Korean/English)

GMTplus7

The schools you list are very, very tough to get into even as a full-pay student.

You've got a great profile, but you need to realistic about your chances of getting FA as an int'l applicant from a relatively highly-represented country. Here is some info from another thread:

Need Blind boarding schools for international students

magusalex

I think that you have a good chance but most of the time when 10th graders etc, not 9th are accepted, they are normally sports recruits. A lot of schools want students that they will benefit from, ex: a sports player who will bring their team up. I don't know if they will find a good writer to be extremely beneficial, but that is just my opinion. Don't apply late though, chances are lower that you will be accepted. For Exeter, Andover, and I think Deerfield, FA shouldn't be a problem. Also note though, that schools accept less international applicants, but they also like diversity. Coming from India is a good advantage as of diversity. It's also good that your grades at a top school are top 5 and your recommendations should be good.

sallyfour

thank you, magusalex, GMTplus7! I'm miserably downhearted right now, (due to many other reasons as well) but you were a great help!

GMTplus7

magusalex, entering 10th graders are not primarily sport recruits. The U.S., unlike other countries, does not have a uniform education system. Some school districts end middle school after 8th grade, others end middle school after 9th grade.

sallyfour, for fall 2012 enrollment for the schools you mention, the chances of getting admitted w FA as a late-applying int'l Korean student or Indian student is probably zero.

magusalex

I didn't say primarily; but unless she is incredible and I mean incredible or special in some other way she probably won't get in. Honestly, when talking to students at the schools; it's easy to tell that most accepted students for grades other than 9th are sports recruits or have something very very special ex: 1st place piano player in state, or created an invention that is now being sold in stores, etc. But remember, I am not an admissions employee so there is still the chance you could be accepted. I think if your school ends at 9th grade you can then explain if that's the case.

magusalex

I should also probably tell you that being an asian is sadly a disadvantage. The number of asians that apply to top schools is pretty large; yet only a fraction get in. And most of these asians are well qualified students. It is very competitive for asians to get into top boarding schools. It's sad to know that just the color of someone's skin can make it more difficult to be accepted...

sallyfour

Thank you, magusalex and GMTplus7.. Though I was even more downhearted after reading it about late application, you helped me make the right choice and thanks for all advice and information!

schakrab

@ magusalex,
not necessarily, my tour guide at lawrenceville came in 10th grade and he did not play a single sport, same at andover

EnemyOfTheSun

@schakrab: are you sure you're describing your Lawrenceville tour guide and not me?

schakrab

are you white and from chicago?

98beebee

ahahaha it's not EnemyoftheSun.