I am a Grade 10 student from Bangladesh. I am reclassing Grade 10 and applying to top-tier US boarding schools for Grade 10 entry. I wanted to share my full profile and get advice on my chances. Please read carefully—I’ve included everything.
*Strong comeback trajectory: regained top ranks in class and excelled in STEM and English after illness.
*Demonstrated determination, self-motivation, and intellectual growth.
STEM & Innovation
Tri-Solution Project: Advanced dual-source energy system combining geothermal + wasted electricity recovery, mountain-attached waterfall turbines, and smart daylight-mirroring buildings. Fully AI-controlled.
Hybrid Fission-Fusion Concept: Highly advanced theoretical nuclear energy system with plasma management, dual fission/fusion core, simulations, calculations, and potential for new element discovery.
Documentation:
79-page technical PDF report
44-page portfolio with diagrams, calculations, coding proofs, and simulations
Coding & Multimedia
Languages: Python, C++, HTML/CSS
Projects:
Cloned Phillips Exeter Academy website
AI-based simulations and apps for energy projects
Multimedia projects: Krita animations, Plotagon videos, AI storytelling
AI voice editing: submitted before/after demonstration to admissions
AI image generation and editing integrated with stories (5–10 min videos shared via YouTube)
Arts & Cultural Depth
Harmonium, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Giti, folk songs, poetry
Homemade creative projects, e.g., bangles
Social Science
Developed Fair Contribution Economy: A Fifth Economic System
Proposes modified capitalist system with government-regulated fair profit sharing
Detailed diagrams and report submitted
Competitions & Leadership
Registered for Earth Prize, leading an international team with students from USA, India, China, Vietnam
Guidance on Tri solution project
Strengthened leadership, collaboration, and project management skills.
Interviews & Admission Interactions
Phillips Exeter Academy: Very positive; interviewer smiled, nodded, praised answers,.
Phillips Academy Andover: Appreciated proactive communication; interviewer praised resilience, self-learning, arts, and leadership; excellent follow-up email after interview
St. Paul’s School: Positive interview; interviewer praised independent project building
Deerfield Academy: Interviewer impressed, engaged, smiled, noted responses, invited emails for questions. And folliw up email.
Hotchkiss School: Praised creativity, engagement, and initiative; encouraged email contact
Emma Willard School:Positive feedback; praised resilience, self-learning, and arts
**Math Teacher: Long-term teacher who observed resilience, creativity, STEM leadership
Headmaster: Observed academic growth, innovation, creativity, and leadership
English Teacher: Observed intellectual growth, writing skills, leadership, cultural depth
All submitted and highly professional, emphasizing both character and achievement.
Additional Notes:
Fully self-made STEM and AI projects
Demonstrated initiative and creativity in arts and home projects
Strong interviews across all target schools
Holistic profile matches exactly what top US boarding schools want
Question to the Reddit Community:
Given my full profile (Grade 10, holistic achievements, advanced STEM + AI + arts projects, leadership experience, positive interviews, professional LORs, low SAT due to age/context), what are my realistic chances for Grade 10 admission at top US boarding schools like:
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Academy Andover
Deerfield Academy
St. Paul’s School
Hotchkiss School
Emma Willard School
Lawrenceville School
I am aware SAT is low, but my profile is highly holistic. Any advice, feedback, or insights would be greatly appreciated!
I have used AI to write the Thread as I am going through the loads of upcoming board exams and Earth Prize Project Submission.
Unfortunately, the odds of acceptance are low for international students, and lower still for those needing a full ride. That said, you won’t get accepted if you don’t apply, so you’ve given it your best shot and what will happen will happen. You sound like a great candidate, and I expect you will be successful wherever you attend.
Which schools will accept a Duolingo score of 110? I think that some schools on your list may require a higher score. I would focus on those schools that won’t exclude you outright because of that score.
I had a context behind the low score. I took the test only one day of preperation. I hardly managed the time because of school test pressure, board exam preparation and frequent meetings with my Earth Prize mentor and team. I have told this to the admission office and hope they will understand. What do you think?
Unfortunately, most applicants are facing similar pressures and all could write a similar excuse for low scores. I don’t know that AOs will see your application differently because of these factors. I would calibrate your target list accordingly.
It also worries me that you think it’s alright to use AI because of the pressures that you face. Students at all of these schools are suspended or expelled each year because they face similar pressures and decide to use AI. You are setting a bad precedent for yourself if you think that you can excuse AI use.
Bad move. If you apply anywhere else, don’t do this. You’ve basically told the AO that applying to their school is a low priority for you. Don’t make excuses.
Actually, the schools really mean a lot to me. And this is not an excuse, it is a real context. I just requested them that to see over my file considering other documents as well as a score don’t reflect myself or any person. Will it still harm me?
I mean that maybe only I who took that in grade 10. Because all most all students in my country attend the SAT exam after grade 12 for University admission in abroad. And for sure, I didn’t claim it in my admission file because it seems over self defence to me. Yeah it’s true that I took it early in my country context. But lol in the global frame I am really lagged behind. And now I start fearing about my test scores.
One thing that’s important to AOs is that students take responsibility and accountability for their choices. This is especially important in a BS context, where you will need to organize your personal and academic time yourself as well as address issues as they come up. In that context, making an excuse for a score or grade is a bad look.
“Explaining” this is probably not a good look. You need to own it. If it were to come up, you’d be better off saying you had overestimated yourself and learned a valuable lesson.
Have you considered applying to United World College as well?
Actually when I learned about UWC, it was pretty late and the application deadline was finished. So I can’t apply.
BTW, will my context have a significant bad impact over my application? I was really busy with my board exam preperation, school work and my international competition.
It’s important to understand that most candidates are prioritizing these applications despite their other commitments. If you want to get into these schools, you’ll likely also have to prioritize completing these applications at the highest level possible. AOs can’t weight different applications based on the subjective level of effort that each candidate is including unless there’s extreme personal hardship (e.g., cancer, homelessness, foster care). AOs assume that all candidates are putting their full effort into the application, so it’s important for you to put your full effort into these applications.
Actually I also had a severe prolonged illness from grade 7-9 that even required treatment from abroad (India). And now in grade 10, When I recovered, I am started caring about all of my projects including ECAs and academics. And now I am showing come back continuously in all aspects. Maybe my teachers also mentioned it in their LORs. Actually I may be derailed from my track for a while, while managing all responsibilities after that hardship. But the application process means a lot for me that I never miss a single update and email and my free time spend hours in it. Now it seems harder to me to get in because of the lower test score.
I really want to know that whether I have any real chance to get in despite the low scores…..I’ll be very thankful for your valuable suggestions also…….
I sympathize but the basic truth is no one here can really answer that question in any sort of reliable way. People can explain the process, and talk a bit about what sorts of things these schools will consider. But without being in the room when they discuss your application, we can’t really predict how that discussion will end in your case.
So all you can do is submit your applications and see what happens. And we’ll find out how those discussions at these schools ended up going for you if and when you tell us.
Again, I understand this is not a satisfying answer, but at least it is an honest one. Like you, we can only wait and see what happens.