This discussion was created from comments split from: Applying to selective boarding schools in 2015-16 app cycle? Read this….
I’m new to this website (sort of)! After reading many posts I decided to join. I know it’s obviously past the application deadline but I will be a sophomore this year and want to attend a BS. I had a bad first year in high school overall (socially). I go to a private day school which is regarded as one of the best private high schools in my state and I got a 3.97 (I took the available honors classes as well). Throughout my first year I did well academically and even showed improvement in my Honors English 1 class. I pretty much get straight As and I’m active in our campus ministry, service, and commitment program, plus other charity groups I’m a part of. I am not happy at my current school and from what I have researched think BS is the best fit for me. I would just apply this year for my junior year but I have heard it is hard to get accepted. Is there a way for me to transfer into a school after the first term? (middle of the year) The school I’m most interested in is Kent School which I know has a 30-40% acceptance rate. Just wondering how the admission process would be and if it’s even possible! Oh and I also play tennis and run cross country and track! Thanks so much I hope this is an okay post for this topic?!
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Hey! I’m an incoming student to Kent this year, and I’ll try to answer any questions that you have.
While mid-year transfers aren’t unheard of at schools in my area, I don’t think that they’re very common or if they even really exist, save for special cases, in most boarding prep schools. The best way to survey your options would be to call in or send an e-mail to the admissions offices of the schools that you’re interested in and simply ask about the opportunity that there is to transfer. I would be surprised if they let you transfer rather than going through the regular application cycle for next year, but you can’t know if you don’t ask.
You’re right that junior year admissions is tougher than sophomore admissions, but specifically for Kent, there are a large number of new juniors that come in when compared to other schools. Kent’s freshman class starts small, and it grows considerably every year. While admissions are a bit of a crapshoot, you sound like a very qualified candidate, so don’t discount your chances at junior year. Also, if you’re at all interested, consider repeating your sophomore. I understand that it’s not for everybody, and for some it’s not even an option, but repeating a year in boarding school has a lot of benefits that have been touted ad nauseam on this forum. I won’t talk about to much unless you want to know more, but if you do a quick search on this board, you’ll find plenty of information about it.
Good luck, and feel free to ask any additional questions that you have!
Congratulations on Kent, that’s so great for you! I really appreciate your detailed response, definitely gives me some hope on an admission. I think I will just wait it out and apply to go next year as a junior as it seems to be possible. I’m planning on joining my schools MUN club and doing some more extracurriculars to further increase my chances, but other than that I think I’m on the right track. I do have a few questions about the school in general and about your application experience.
How was your interview? (What type of questions were asked)
How many essays did you write and where the topics hard?
What is the dress code? (I know it’s formal but I can’t find any more than that)
When you were accepted what did you receive?
What grade were you applying for and what was your general academic level at?
Thanks so much and have fun at Kent! I hope to see you there 2016-2017!
From my experience from applying to different boarding schools, it’s hard to predict how an interview will play out before it starts, as the interviewer has total control over the questions asked and such. That being said, I found my interview to be inviting and more laid-back, also a more open-ended interview with simpler questions (what are your interests, why do you want to attend Kent, etc.) I also had plenty of time to ask questions about the school.
Kent’s candidate project, if I remember correctly, was lots of short answer questions and only one or two essays. The essays had very small character limits, so unless they changed it, don’t mess around with introductions and get straight to the point of your essay. I remember the topics being value-based. I don’t remember too much else, but it didn’t take me very long. Don’t sweat it.
Pasted from Kent’s student handbook (https://www.kent-school.edu/sites/kent-school.edu/files/2014-2015_student_and_parent_handbook.pdf)
Any further policy-related questions that you have can be answered by that book, by the way
Academic dress for boys includes a blazer and tie, dress shirt (tucked in); dress slacks or corduroy pants; socks; and shoes, dress sandals (including Birkenstocks), or sneakers in good repair. Boys must be clean- shaven with sideburns no lower than the earlobe. We suggest that a larger-sized blazer be purchased so that a sweater or vest may fit under it during cold weather.
Academic dress for girls includes a dress or skirt of a length at or about the knee (no mini-skirts). Slacks or corduroy pants may be worn with a traditional blazer (having a collar, lapel, and buttons), dressy top or shirt, shoes, dress sandals with a heel (including Birkenstocks), or sneakers in good repair. Blazers must be worn and not carried. A student’s midriff, cleavage, or bare shoulders should not show at any time. Strapless dresses, dresses or tops with spaghetti straps, and halter tops are not academic dress. Undergarments should not be visible.
Decisions are released online at midnight on March 10th. I received my decision online, nothing in the mail.
I applied as a repeat sophomore. I’m a generally strong student.
P.S. Just as a side note, it’s great if you have plenty of extracurriculars that you’re involved in and enjoy, but don’t do something solely for your application’s sake. For example, if you have a legit interest in international relations and public speaking, by all means join MUN, but if you don’t, don’t waste your time with it. These schools want to see that you’re passionate about whatever it is that you’re doing, so don’t feign interest in anything (I’m not saying that you are, but the way that you said that you were adding more extracurriculars to boost your chances kind of came off like that).
Kent is a great school in a great town. The people we met were fantastic. It was my sons first interview, and he was green and nervous and not at all sold on the idea. And they were so very nice. The campus was amazing, and the financial aid offered was extremely generous.
My advice would be to be yourself, and see as many schools as possible and apply to a range of schools.
(We are probably on the insane end of things, but we visited 23 schools, interviewed at 13, applied to 10 and revisited 4. )
Be prepared of course. Do your homework, read the brochure and website, and at least have a basic understanding of what seems exciting about each school as well as a few questions that aren’t pasted right there on the website.
But, at the end of the day, it’s all about fit, and that’s an individual choice between you and the school. Be yourself, and let them see you, warts and all. When my son admitted he would rather run around than read, that his friends were adventurous, and that one of the best things he did all summer was light some fireworks, I almost fell off my chair, thinking “well that was fun, guess it’s back to public school”. But I later learned that the admissions officers appreciated his directness, his passion, and his honesty.
He didn’t get in everywhere (Boo Taft!), but he got in hopefully where it seemed he would be happiest, and be able to contribute the most. And that’s what it’s all about. For us, anyway.
The admissions process is a scary, sometimes overwhelming journey. I applaud you for even considering it, and for having the initiative to push forward on your own steam. Enjoy it, you will learn so much about yourself, and one way or another, you will move forward towards your own individual dreams.
Best wishes. PLD
@Jamerr1 Thanks for the information, again! So helpful, and about extracurriculars I am interested in MUN. The reason I didn’t do it last year was mostly because none of my friends were doing it. This year I am planning on branching out into things I like regardless of what others are doing!