Grades: A+ in ELA, Social studies, science, math, Chinese, religion, and band.
Grades: A in Physical Ed.
Accomplishments/Awards:
HK Debate Open (British parliament): Novice team Grand Champion, Novice 3rd best speaker out of 38 novice speakers.
Several online debate team semi-finalist (2)/finalist (1)/champion (2) + 2nd best novice speaker, 4th U16 speaker (there was no U14 or novice category for that competition lol)
Access Exeter summer program
*Grades from Exeter Summer: Honors in 2 classes, Satisfactory in 1 class, Honors in both 2.5 week terms of swimming.
BACKGROUND: Asian (Not Asian American), Korean-Chinese background from Hong Kong.
Thank you so much if you reviewed this “portfolio”
I am hoping to be waitlisted from all schools and am not expecting any acceptances. I’m an international student, and the international pool is so small—so there’s no guarantee at all that I’m going to even be waitlisted.
While you are an excellent candidate, all of these schools are difficult to get into. There is so much more to you than the snippet of your life statistics you’ve posted here.
If you don’t get in, it’ll be because of some institutional priority (that none of us can know about) or some perception that you will not fit/thrive (again, we don’t know about your essays, rec’s, interviews).
You list is very prestige laden, and if your application seems more prestige conscious than genuinely academically interested, this could hurt you. None of these schools would be regarded as a “safety”.
You seem to be an accomplished swimmer. That will likely be a big part of your application.
I echo the previous comment about prestige, and suggest that you consider replacing one or two schools on your list (such as Groton) with a school that has more of a swimming tradition (such as Peddie).
You appear to be an outstanding candidate for admission to all of your listed schools, although universal acceptance is a rarity.
Curious as to which summer course at Exeter you received an assessment of “satisfactory” and in which courses you earned “honors”.
There is no obvious weakness in your profile. Once qualified academically, the two biggest hurdles are affordability and maturity of the student. Appears that you have satisfied both of these concerns.
Love your profile and love your list of schools, but adding a safety or two based on your interests (such as swimming) is a good idea.
I got honors for “youth leadership” & “the art and science of creating real change” satisfactory for “My Voice Matters” Unfortunately, I think the substitute who had to cover because the main teacher had COVID during the summer camp liked me, but the main teacher didn’t really know me very well after she got back… :')
I was thinking about adding the hill school as my safety because my friend is there, although I heard it is hard to get into. The problem is my parents’ friends who have children currently attending Andover and Exeter right now. (I have no alumni or connections within the school to rely on, haha) They really want me to go, but it is highly unlikely that I will get in.
:') My parents are kind of “go to HYPS” parents (they like the prestige)
I replied to Publisher about the schools I am applying to a few minutes ago. The “safety” schools I am unsure about applying to are the Hill School and Newark Academy (my counselor suggested Newark because previous students interested in swimming have gone there.)
I am torn between Groton’s debate team and Peddie/Newark’s swim team.
If you care about debate, pick Hotchkiss. Their debate coaches are phenomenal, the tradition in debate there is fantastic, and the school funds/cares a lot about it.
Congratulations on your acceptances to both Andover & to Exeter !!!
Which school did you select ?
P.S. Just read in another thread that you selected Exeter. Great choice ! Outstanding school in a wonderful location.
My thought as to why you were wait-listed by SPS, Groton, and Lawrenceville is that those schools felt that Exeter was your top choice & that you were likely to be admitted to Exeter.
have a wonderful day!
