<p>United World College is my first preference, but Exeter and Andover sound great too. I would be applying for my junior year, the 2012-2013 school year, and I’m a sophomore now. I’m a white 15 year old girl.
-I have a GPA of 4.57 on a 5.0 scale (3.66 on a 4.0 scale). I’ve gotten all A’s all my life, save the occasional B or B+ in Math.
-8th grade year, I was Student Body President and Team Captain for the school’s Relay for Life team. (I don’t think this stuff will count, but hey, what have I got to loose for adding it?)
-Last year I was in the French Club and the Drama club.
-This year I’m in the French Club, Drama Club, Rotary Interact Club, and I’m the Class Historian, and working on starting an Art Club. I’m also applying for National Honors Society.
-I taught myself HTML and CSS (web coding languages) when I was around 10 or 11 and now know it fluently. I’m also really into graphic design and webdesign.
-I’ve been independently studying Portuguese for about four years (but I’m nowhere near fluent =/). I hope to travel to Brazil, and someday, all around the world. Ultimate plan = Peace Corps after high school or college.
-I was accepted into New Mexico School for the Arts last year – but I couldn’t go.
-I’ve participated in National Novel Writing Month for the last three years, and reached the 50,000 word goal every time.
-I have a huge passion for writing prose and poetry, and also for visual arts and world culture and language.
-I wanted to volunteer at the library (my dad suggested it earlier this summer), but not sure that I will, considering my schedule’s pretty clogged up already …</p>
<p>Do you think I could get into UWC, Exeter, or Andover? I want this so so so bad.</p>
<p>And if you don’t think I could do it, what do you think I could do to better prepare for the application?</p>
<p>Oh, and I’m from New Mexico. I don’t think this will mean anything for UWC since UWC USA is IN Montezuma, but I was hoping that this might be to my advantage for Andover and Exeter, since I’m assuming they almost <em>never</em> get any applicants from here.</p>
<p>Hey, I’m at a UWC currently, and I think you look pretty good. You seem really passionate which is something that UWC definitely looks for. Definitely highlight the independent studying of language thing- a lot of people in the US don’t speak multiple languages, and the fact that you taught yourself one will impress the admissions officers (UWC is all about diversity and internationalism, and language is a part of that.) I would definitely volunteer this summer if you can, just to beef up your resume. Work hard on your essays, as well, because those are more important for a UWC than for a regular boarding school. Have you taken any standardized tests yet? Anyway, I can’t tell you if you’ll get into a UWC because it’s really iffy on every situation, and acceptance rate is 5-10%, but good luck! Oh, and being from NM won’t hurt you. I have friends in UWC from NM.</p>
<p>I think you have a good chance of getting into Exeter. Though, you want to make sure you have good SSATs and an interview. I would recommend trying to get a leadership position in one of the clubs you are in or enter a writing contest and try to win to show you are passionate. The Exeter English Department can be pretty tough and the Exonian always likes good writers…</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies and great advice, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m not applying to UWC or Andover anymore. Would Exeter place any weight on the fact that I’m choosing not to back myself up with a different school, in case I don’t get in? IE, would they think “Maybe she’s only applying to Exeter because all of the rest of the schools rejected her …”</p>
<p>I ask because it has been bothering me lately. Is it in your favor to apply to more than one school?</p>
<p>Yes, it is in your favor to apply to more than one school If your goal is to get away from your current school. If all you want is a shot at the most prestigious schools, then be my guest. Just realize that with such low admit rates, the odds aren’t good for anyone–even very accomplished smart kids.</p>
<p>I don’t know where this idea came from that an admissions committee would give special weight to kids who are only applying to one school, but it makes almost no sense for the most prestigious schools, who don’t have to worry about their yield as much as less famous schools might. I don’t think it makes sense or sounds like something any school would weigh very heavily, but I’m a teacher, not an admissions officer.</p>
<p>A school needs to admit students in order to fill a class. They need kids with a wide variety of different skills. A school wants to know what you will contribute to the school. The fact that you have an all-or-nothing attitude about the school will probably not lift you above the kid who plays the tuba that the band director desperately needs, or the kid from Utah who is a champion fencer, or the child who is a triple legacy whose family name is on a school building. The fact that you really want to be there is far less compelling to an admissions committee than giving them a good demonstration of what you will offer the school if you do ever get there.</p>
<p>Apply to as many or as few schools as you like–but why not call up the school in question and ask them directly whether or not it matters?</p>