Chance/evaluate me (hs freshman) + questions

9th → 10th
US permanent resident
First gen immagrant
Rigorous private school (non boarding)
Previous boarding experience
No legacy
Not applying for financial aid

Academics

  • Top 5 in grade
  • All As
  • 2380+ SSAT
  • Taking 3 AP classes in 9th including Calculus BC
  • All 4 other classes are honors
  • 4.0 GPA

Awards

  • Honor Roll
  • Economics award
  • AMC10 distinction
  • ABRSM Grade 7
  • ACA certificate
  • USACO gold
  • IEYI China 2020 SIlver

EC

  • Community service
  • Computer club leader
  • Passionate about computers (multiple personal projects)
  • Expand: engaged in open source software and has projects with 500+ downloads
  • Varsity soccer, club soccer (not state level)
  • Business experience
  • Kayaking in the summers

What I go into detail about me:

  • Computers → how it has been a key for me to discover the world and how it has shown my curiosity and adaptability over and over again. My projects also show my initiative.
  • Business → communication, how I am ambitious and seek new opportunities. I also talk about facing adversity and challenging what’s impossible

Rec Letters
Strong-medium, likely strong but I cannot be sure (new teachers in high school that I do not yet know super well)
Very strong EC letter (computing)

Schools
Exeter, Lville, Milton, Loomis, Taft, Episcopal HS, Blair, Hill

Questions

  1. What is it like to go to an elite boarding school without a strong family background?
  2. While I am not looking to increase my college app chances, will I be put at a disadvantage applying with others that might be legacy/donors?
  3. What is the environment in these schools like behind closed doors? Drugs, alcohol etc.

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