International applicant from Saudi Arabia applying for Grade 10 and requiring financial aid.
Academics
- Grade 8 GPA: 95.06/100
- Grade 9 GPA: 94.25/100
- Grade 10 GPA currently projected around 97+/100
- Preparing for the SSAT and aiming for the 95th percentile or higher
Research
- Conducted an in vitro biomedical research project investigating the regenerative potential of a local medicinal plant on human periodontal ligament cells
- Selected among the top 1,000 student research papers in Saudi Arabia through a national research competition
- Currently working toward publication
- Developing a second regenerative medicine project involving a novel therapeutic platform designed to enhance periodontal tissue healing and regeneration
Mathematics & Science
- Advanced through multiple stages of the Saudi Mathematics Olympiad
- Completed 70 hours of Human Anatomy & Physiology training
- Completed 60 hours in a Future Physician program
- Certified in Research Ethics through a program associated with KACST
Leadership & Technology
- Built and managed a multi-server network infrastructure serving more than 200 users
- Responsible for administration, maintenance, and user support across the network
Athletics
- Captain of a youth volleyball team in Taif, Saudi Arabia
Recognition
- Qualified for a regional student research exhibition through the gifted education program in Saudi Arabia
Recommendations
- Recommendations from school leadership, mathematics and English teachers
- Research recommendation from the PhD supervisor overseeing my biomedical research project
Future Goals
My long-term goal is to pursue biomedical research and contribute to regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Based on this profile, what would you estimate my chances are at:
- Phillips Academy Andover
- Phillips Exeter Academy
- Choate Rosemary Hall
- Lawrenceville School
- Hotchkiss School
- St. Paul’s School
I would appreciate honest feedback, especially regarding the strongest and weakest parts of my application
So in terms of what you told us, nothing seems off track to me so far.
Realistically, though, we can’t really know what those GPAs mean in the context of your school, and you also don’t have your last grades or SSAT yet.
But the biggest unknown is really whether you will come across as a good fit for their school community. This is why they do interviews, and also the exact details of your recommendations and essays may matter as well. That amount of uncertainty is of course unnerving, but it is what it is, and as strangers on the Internet we are really not in a position to try to reduce it. You just have to apply, do the best to represent your authentic self during the process, and see what happens.
3 Likes
These are long shots for everyone.
Don’t sweat the SSAT so much. If you’re above 80th percentile, that’s enough. Then relax and work on your essays instead.
Yes, essays matter. Please don’t post them here. (Someone did a few years back. Painful reading, too.) Definitely write them yourself, the AO’s read enough of these to know when something isn’t genuine. (Someone else posted a few years back that their dad went and substituted all the kid’s essays with one he had written, except for the application to the 1 school the parents didn’t like - joke’s on them, that’s the only school the kid was accepted at.)
Interviews matter. But really, they’re just trying to get an impression you, and whether you’re pleasant to be around, or just annoying.
For your letters of recommendation, make sure to give the people information about you (or resume), plus a little about where you are applying and why.
Volleyball is a one season sport, I think. Look at where you are applying and see if there are options in the non-volleyball season that you’d like. This could be another sport that you’d be interested in trying. Some schools have other options for fulfilling the athletic requirement, but this will vary by school. (← Research this for your interviews!)
While you mention leadership, you don’t mention much on service. Perhaps you should emphasis your service a little more. Schools like to see that you will contribute to the community.
3 Likes
These are a long shot for anyone. Especially international applicants entering 10th grade and requiring financial aid. The good thing is that it looks like you are getting amazing opportunities in your current situation.
For a school with a slightly higher admit rate and an outstanding medical research program, look into Western Reserve.
1 Like
My D30 visited, actually got to sit in on one of those medical research labs and do some of the lab work, and ultimately applied to WRA. We were all very favorable on it. It really feels like a Northeastern Liberal Arts College and surrounding college town were picked up and then dropped into that chunk of Ohio.
Which if you look at the history of the Western Reserve generally, and then WRA specifically, is very close to what actually happened.
She ended up at Culver, which is another fantastic Midwest boarding school with an extremely attractive campus and setting, including because she was given a great merit offer. But I would have had zero problem if she had ended up at WRA instead.
1 Like
What is your school’s history of sending students to these schools? Are there current students at any of these schools who could tell you a bit more about the process?
As others have said, I would encourage you to cast a wider net if you’re set on Boarding School. (Have you considered King’s Academy in Jordan?) Otherwise it sounds like your current school is offering great opportunities, so you may want to stay.
1 Like