eight28

Aiyo. I am in 9th grade, and I'm applying into 10th grade at a boarding school.

I'm looking to apply to Andover, Exeter, Lawrenceville, Deerfield, and Middlesex.

Status: International under H-4 Visa (dependent of H-1B worker)
Race: Indonesian (Asian)
Financial Aid: Needed
Income: 70k to 100k

Background: Came to the US of A when I was three to accompany both of my parents who were graduate students at Michigan State University. When they finished their degrees, we decided to stay in the country and so they updated their visas with H-1B worker visas. My father is a civil engineer at a locally famous firm. My mother is a researcher/analyst working for the state. And by the way, I am fluent in two languages (English and Bahasa) and I am currently studying Español.

Education
School = Top 1000 school (US News and World Report)
Grades = Top 10% of class (as of 1st MP). All A's and B's. Top student in all of my business teacher's classes. :P
Testing = Distinguished on state exams. Last time I took the practice PSAT I received a 180. I'm gonna take the SSAT in January.
Courses = Cambridge International GCSE curriculum. All are considered AP classes by my school. I am also taking business, food prep, health, and Honors Spanish Dos.
Recommendations = Should be good.

I have also always been in accelerated classes ever since I was 10.

Extracurriculars
- Started the school Physics Club
- Started the school Academic Bowl team
- Captain of the Math League A Team
- Science Olympiad Freshman Captain
- FCCLA
- Winter Track
- Baseball

Work Experience
- Started my own computer building business
- Started my own web design business
- Power seller (merchant) on eBay
- Started a blog which is looking to reap in profits
- Tutor


Just give me my chances please. Also any suggestions so that if I have low chances, I could make myself a better applicant for next year if I choose to apply next year instead.

Obviously

To me, you kind of sound like the typical Asian applicant (really smart, ECs having to do with academics, etc.) However, I haven't seen a lot of applicants from Indonesia, so maybe that might help you? (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) If being from Indonesia is the same as being from Korea, China, or India (Over represented in BSs), you'll really need to stand out in your essays and interviews. Be original and be yourself. Could you maybe be recruited for any of the sports you play? Look into it. You definitely have a chance at all the schools, maybe a little bit more so at Lawrenceville.
Good luck!

eight28

Indonesia could be considered as the Ethiopia of Asia.. If you compare it to other Asian countries.

And do the typical Asian applicants do Winter Track or Baseball? I think not. Tennis? Maybe. But Track and Baseball, no.

Obviously

There actually are a lot of Asian applicants that play sports and are quite smart (surprising! you can look at some of the applicants from last year, tons of them o_o). That's why I said above that you should look into getting recruited and having good essays & interviews.

I didn't mean to get you mad in any way, so sorry if I did! (I tend to be somewhat harsh-ish.) Anyway, good luck again!

BrooklynGuy

@eight28: Your post gives WAY too much personal information....you shouldn't post information that could easily identify you. Admissions officers do read these boards. I think it is probably too late to edit your post, but you can write to one of the moderators and they can change it for you.

Taking the SSAT in January is acceptable for most schools, but you might want to try to take it in December, so you might get an extra shot at it. Also, it would be good to get it out of the way so that you can focus on your applications.

You have chosen to apply to very selective schools, but being from Indonesia could make you stand out from the crowd.

Ccer999

First of all,
don't listen to Obviously because of the simple fact that you aren't a typical Asian applicant. According to your post, you started two businesses and founded several clubs which is very eccentric.
Second of all,
And you'd be surprised at how many kids at prep schools play sports, its not as many as you think. I've been to five interviews so far, and none of my tour guides were athletes, except for one who played club squash, which really doesn't make you an athlete.
Last of all,
Asia isn't very well-represented at BSes. I mean, sure, there are a good chunk of Koreans and near 10 Chinese people, but there are 0 from India, and either 0 or 1 person from Indonesia. And the rest of Asia (the random countries) have 0 people. Basically, if you are from China or Korea, you are over-represented, but otherwise, you really aren't.

3x3t3r

im giving you the cold hard truth, no sugar coating. you seem well rounded, but dont put a lot of things in to make it look like a lot. If i was in 10 clubs, thats not the same as being president of 2 clubs.

Ccer999

Hey, 3x3t3r, I know what you're saying. But you can be in a lot of clubs and still be the leader. I'm the leader/pres. of four clubs and class president, and out of those four clubs I founded 2 and recruited all of the people in them. Basically, as long as you can show you actually "do" something in those clubs, feel free to put it up there.

And.. 3x3t3r, what grade are you applying for and what year? 9th and 2010-2011 here

fogcity

Your post doesn't suggest an academic focus and passion. To get into elite schools you need that. That you've started clubs, 2 businesses and that you're become an ebay power seller suggests that your focus is outside academics. To do all of these things well is a 24x7 effort. So I suggest that you play down those accomplishment and work on communicating your academic passion in your applications. Take the SSATs right away. You can arrange to do through placment consultants. Best of luck.

3x3t3r

hey ccer, im applying for 9th 2010 to 2011. same as you i think haha XD. Good luck man

urbanflop

You should try to do your SSAT's before January because I don't think BS accepts after December's SSAT.