Hi everyone, I’m applying for prep school for the 2026-2027 school year. Could anyone give me a brief overview of what matters the most? I don’t think my essays were the best as I was on a tight time scrunch. However, I think my grades, interviews, and ecs, are all really good. Could anyone give me some advice? Thank you for reading, and for those of you applying, I hope you get accepted!
I think there is so little for schools to go by, with younger teens, that the essays definitely do matter. When I was on a prep school board, we looked at it as a way to determine how well someone writes and whether they would be a likable add to the school. On the bright side for you, that’s a pretty low bar; Can you write and would you be a positive add to the school… NBD.
Also going to depend on the level of school(s) and their priorities - and as OP says, writing quality, which is also tied to what year (age/level appropriateness of writing) - but also how content “matches” school wants/needs
So just passing on what I have heard from various sources at this point, but I think at a high level essays always matter in the sense they are read and included as part of the discussion about whether the applicant would be a good fit for the school, and how they as an individual would contribute to the school community.
But while that overall discussion is critical, essays are just part of a bigger mix in that discussion. For sure your interview is a big part of that too, and very likely your recommendations, possibly some of your activities . . . they are looking at these fit questions from a lot of different directions.
That probably sounds a little scary, but I don’t think it should be too scary (easy for me to say as a parent, I know, but I still believe it). The basic point is you are who you are, and the school is in fact trying to get to know that real person through various different means and perspectives.
And I think that means you don’t have to worry too much about this one particular thing being time pressured. All those different things they will likely consider were built up over years, and they will all contribute to that discussion.
And in that context, whatever your essays do to help them build a fuller picture will be helpful. And I suspect you did do some helpful things in those essays even with a time crunch. If you are like many kids, you can be a harsh critic of your own work. But as long as they were authentic to you, it will be helping them have the discussion they want to have, which is really all you can ask.
Just like college applications, candidate evaluations by boarding school admission committees are often holistic ones. As you may well know already, they consider your interview, essays, middle school grades, activities, and how you can contribute to the community in terms of individual talents. I tend to feel that your interview would carry more weight than your essays, because essays can be written/edited by adults or AI, but interviews cannot be faked. If I were you, I’d keep in touch with your interviewer - send an e-mail, thank them again, etc., to help refresh their memory and reiterate your interest. Good luck!
thank you for the advice
how do I reiterate my interest?