also @stalecookies i think that i can rephrase it as working hard and stuff cause im passing the classes i was failing now(A-ish)
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personally i really cant say that i care as long as it doesnt get weird
UPDATE!: So unfortunately I didn’t get as high as I thought I would in my SSAT, I got in the 87th percentile overall(2247), in verbal I got into the 86th percentile(752), in math I got into the 78th percentile(767), and in the 89th percentile in reading(728)
Also my recommendation forms have been filled out and I think I would rate it at about a 8/10
And I have finished my essays at about 8.5-9/10
Will update for interviews(Next week)
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That’s an excellent score!
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also i am no longer applying for WMA, Im applying for groton
so my schools are:
Safety: Madeira
Mid: Lawrenceville, Hotchkiss
Reach: Andover, Groton
thanks but I was expecting to be in the 90th percentile and up
I caution you on how you have categorized your schools. These are all v. Competitive schools. Perhaps looking for different things at different times. No doubt you are a strong applicant, but I am curious with such a short list how you decided one is a safety vs a reach. I just caution you from being misled or misleading others.
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Ok, but there is no material difference between a score in the 86th percentile and one in the 90th. They are both excellent, and both clear the bar for pretty much any school.
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So I actually decided to categorize them by acceptance rates that I found on the internet:
Andover: 13%
Groton: 12%
Madeira: 40%
Lawrenceville: 19%
Hotchkiss: 18%
I hope gives a good explanation
Oh ok thanks
I am not sure those rates are correct, but regardless acceptance rates do not determine your individual chances. As it really depends on the application pool and how qualified they are for what the school is looking for. So yes, the rates are a factor, but it does not tell the whole story or whether or not it’ll be the story of an individual’s candidacy. These are all competitive schools. (I know the least re: madeira sorry). I have seen many get into your reaches and not your safety and vs versa. I have also seen many not get into any bc in fact they were all reaches for that candidate or not what the schools were looking for that year. Many amazing candidates get surprisingly shut out. I am telling you this to be sure that you really know the schools and figure out what you want for your high school experience bc it seems like you might need to dig a bit deeper to really understand them, the types of students that attend and where you fit into the picture. Eyes wide open. I wish you much success.
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To its great credit, Hotchkiss is one of the rare secondary schools that publishes admissions statistics: apps, admits, and matriculants are disclosed at the top left of page two of its college profile. (Thacher embraces a similar degree of transparency here.)
For '24-'25, Hotchkiss admitted 14.9% of 2,242 applicants. 60% of admits matriculated (= yield). The draw rate (yield/admit rate) was a very respectable 4.0. If you don’t understand the concept of a draw rate, which corrects for “fake, artificially deflated admit rates,” there is a great explanation here; in short, “higher draw rates are generally a sign of higher market position.”
According to the limited available data, only Andover, Groton, Choate, St. Paul’s, Lawrenceville, Exeter, and Thacher (in descending order) had higher draw rates than Hotchkiss in the last cycle. It is among the most selective schools in terms of admit rates, though its yield falls somewhat short of peer institutions. Perhaps this is due to its relatively remote location versus comparable schools, but that’s just a guess.
It’s a wonderful school in a stunning natural setting and definitely a reach for EVERYONE. Consider yourself very fortunate if you are admitted. Wishing you the best!
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Thanks for the clarifications above.
Update on the interviews:
Madeira: Undone
Andover: Done, 7.5/10 interviewer started talking about his experience as an alumni, parent, faculty member, admissions volunteer, said I would be a good addition to the Andover community, I forgot 1 or 2 of my answers, asked questions about courses, clubs, research, mentorship and internship opportunities, he seemed impressed
Lawrenceville: Done, 9/10 interviewer was joking around, interview went smoothly, interview was v. nice
Hotchkiss: Done: 8/10 interviewer was more straight to the point, more brevity, I forgot 1 or 2 of my answers, asked questions about courses, clubs, research, mentorship and internship opportunities, she seemed impressed and gave good answers
My inner data nerd is rather grateful to you for posting the link to that amazing blog re: draw.
Now that the boarding school application process is complete, I need somewhere new to turn my attention. After all, we only have four years to crunch numbers before the crazy starts all. over. again. Cannot believe how consuming this process is. DC learned a lot. As did I.
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Sadly, it starts again late sophomore /early junior year so enjoy 9th grade 
!!!
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I found the college application process to be easier and less stressful than for boarding school, fyi.
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Updates
Madeira: Done, 10/10 interviewer was nice and joking around again, but she seemed a little distracted, asked questions about courses, clubs, research, mentorship and internship opportunities, she seemed impressed and gave good answers, also had a good talk with my parents, we talked for about an hour in total
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Update: Rejected from all except Madeira. Waitlisted for Madeira 