Chance Me to these schools!(Exeter, Andover, Mercersburg, Blair and more)

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
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Hey guys! I am an international from Russia. I’m applying to 10th grade(as a 10th grader, I will reclass) for Financial Aid. My family’s income is far below average, I need full FA. Schools I applied to -Exeter, Andover, Hotchkiss, Mercersburg, Berkshire,Blair, St Paul’s, Wayland, Loomis Chaffee, Culver, Kents Hill.

Here is some stats!
-Studying at one of Russia’s top-ranked schools, recognized in 2025 as the best in the country for the percentage of graduates admitted to leading universities. GPA is about 3.7(approximately)

-Elected as a delegate to the Student Council: represent interests of 2300+ peer’s, participate in school-wide decision-making and organize events
for students. During the elections, created a campaign video shared with 3000+ students and posted over 20 campaign posters throughout the school.

-Founded an EdTech startup at 15(was quoted and recommended by ChatGPT), leading all aspects of project development including advertising, website management, and campaign execution; the project attracted 3300+ people, and 30+ applications despite launching without a finished product.

-Established a community for students who had already launched their own projects; meetings and shared knowledge, with 15+ participants; the community participated in an accelerator program

-Played soccer as a team captain for over 6 years at competitive levels; competed with teams from Germany, India

-Winner of the municipal stage of the All-Russian Olympiad in Mathematic in 8th grade
-Presented personal and school projects before juries and peers, including pitches for case championships and school contests
-Winner, National Quiz Tournament, organized by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration including some national-level teams

and a little bit more, about test scores-I didn’t take them(yet!), but i predict smth about 135 on duolingo, around 85% on ISEE. My rec letters are good, now in process of taking interviews.

What do you think about my chances of getting in these schools? Any advices? Thank you!

PS. Is there any schools that are a good fit for my profile? if yes, please don’t hesitate to name them!

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I think you have a great background and have a shot at all of these places based on your academics and accomplishments. I don’t know the implications of financial aid at all of them for international students but at least two on your list are need blind, so I don’t think that will affect your candidacy directly.

I’ll say what I say to everyone who applies to super competitive boarding schools. The kids there are all accomplished but you won’t get accepted because of your list of accomplishments. You’ll get accepted because of what you can add to the community and fit with the culture. Emphasize that and your knowledge of each school’s culture and why you fit and your chances will be greater.

I’m curious how you came to this particular list of schools. Can you explain?

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Thanks for a detailed answer! I’ve done a lot of research on each of these school and these schools are the best for me in my opinion. I’ve tried to start a entrepreneurship club in my school(but i’m busy with isee/duolingo and essays), and I want to create(or join) such clubs in these schools.Moreover, there is a ‘Russian club‘ in Exeter, i would join with pleasure.

Moreover, I think that my experience as an asian (russian native) from Russia would be uncommon and I’m looking forward to share it with my future peers. I was always the only asian kid in the whole class.

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This is oddly specific advice, but we just got back from a visit and interview at Mercersburg. I will say true to their reputation, they are very focused on community and the ideal of it being a warm, friendly, supportive place. As parents we loved the vibe, and more importantly our daughter did as well.

Looking at your qualifications, I see a lot of things that I think will largely speak for themselves, which is great. And then I also see a lot of things that I think could really be tied into that theme of community.

So that’s something you could perhaps think a little about when preparing for an interview (not force it, but maybe just reflect in advance about what community means to you and how you would talk about that and ask meaningful questions). Similarly you could talk a little about that with your recommenders, who could perhaps speak a bit to the role you have played in communities so far (which you may have done already, of course).

And although I am pitching this as specific to Mercersburg, I would be willing to bet it would help at most or indeed all of your schools.

Good luck!

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I think it is great advice, pretty similar to the @IndySceptic one! Now I understand that showing your future impact on the community is also very important. Do y’all @IndySceptic @NiceUnparticularMan have some advices on how to show it in the best way possible? I wish I had a chance to visit Mercersburg!

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Pretty much any time you have worked in a group, highlight how you have supported and been supported by others.

The second part may be more important than the first, because many applicants may veer off into talking about how great they were and the role they played in the team’s success, but these places value you demonstrating how learning from others helped you as well as demonstrating a willingness to help others. Helping and teaming are pretty central to the cultural ethos of these schools. That’s why they emphasize wanting people who are “kind.”

You have to show them that you get that; after all, you’ll be living with these folks and the most important times are those spent learning from and bonding with what will be lifelong friends.

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I think IndySceptic gave you great advice about reflecting on how you have benefited from community, in addition to ways in which you have contributed to community.

I’ll just add I think sometimes the challenge with all this stuff is also to be truly authentic. They want to feel confident they are getting to know the real person. This can feel scary if you are not sure the real you is perfect in every way, but I truly don’t think they expect, and indeed don’t trust the appearance of, perfection.

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Yeah I got it, thx. I’m sure I have something to write about! First thing that comes to my mind is my activity in student council and how guys from there helped me when i was applying

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By the way, should I write all these experiences in short essays and slightly mention it on the main essay?

Thanks

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Yeah you are completely right, not everyone cheer you up when starting something new and I think it is crucial to mention in your story to sound authentic!

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I think its a constant theme you weave in wherever you can.

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