<p>OMG, like this is a chances thread on CC! (Hyperventilates…)
I’ll try to express my self as best as I can. This is a long post - bear with me. :D</p>
<p>Cumulative GPA: 4.0
SSAT: Will be taken in November.
Applying to: Mercersburg - Year two invitation. Was unable to take SSAT previously due to deadline. </p>
<p>Courses (Grade 9)
Algebra II Honors
World History Honors
English I Honors
Biology Honors
Earth Science Honors
Pre-Calculus Honors * EPGY (Next month)
AP AB & BC Calculus Self Studying
Multivariable Calculus* - EPGY
AP Physics B Self Studying
French Self Study
Computer Applications I
Computer Applications II
PE</p>
<p>ECs:
MathCounts - Team Captian
C\C++ Programming Experience
Projected Co-Founder of: Mu Alpha Theta, [General] Science Club, Poetry Club
Projected Member of: FBLA, Student Council
Projected being I have talked with the teachers about forming, plans, what we will do, etc.,
(Will take) AMC 10 - Aiming for AIME
Spend most of my time doing math and science
Violin: 4 Years - Will audition for the All-State Orchestra in March.
I write excellent formal essays :p</p>
<p>My Passions:</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I come from an uncompetitive, brand new school. Not many oppurtunities are offered here; therefore I am taking it upon myself to pursue my passions, and hence the self-studying and distance learning.</p>
<p>Thank you all very much for your time and input. I am new to this whole admissions process, so please tell me the areas in which I can improve. What more can I do?
What other schools do you suggest I look into applying?</p>
<p>Once again, thank you very much. I highly appreciate it.</p>
<p>Assuming you’re are not a “Ted Kazinski” or however it’s spelled, you probably will have no trouble getting in. May I suggest, you chill just a bit, I’d hate to see you become an automaton. Good Luck!</p>
<p>You certainly sound like a very promising candidate for Mercersburg. No wonder they sent you 2 invitations! If you love the boarding life, you should apply to a few other schools that offer the academics, ec’s and social life you want just because admissions can be tricky. Go to <a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5B/url%5D”>www.boardingschoolreview.com</a> and find schools that interest you. Almost all the schools post their Course of Studies on their website. Find a few more schools that are strong in math & computer science and apply to them as well. </p>
<p>Someone from Mercersburg posted on this board. You might to pm that person to ask what he/she thinks.</p>
<p>If you live somewhat close to Mercersburg, you might want to take a look at other MAPL schools like Blair, Hill, Lawrenceville and Peddie. Exeter has the reputation of being very strong in math, but it is taught in a very different way. Good luck!</p>
<p>Excellent.
Thank you very much. I’ll start researching other schools. I’m actually quite far away from Mercersburg; about 600 miles. I will try to contact someone from Mercersburg. If you are reading this, PM me.
Philips Exeter Academy. The name makes me drool Take a look at those math courses!
It only seems like a dream at this point… I shall apply nevertheless.</p>
<p>You have Exeter written all over you. If i were you I would buy a SAT prep book ( 10 real SATS–the old version would do just fine), try a practice test cold turkey, see where you can improve your score, do a TIMED practice test (math and verbal), go to sleep for a week and then do a second Timed Practice test. If on this second practice test you are in the 1500 range (you should be) apply to Exeter, Groton and Peddie all of which have exceptionally fine mathematics programmes. Also apply to Canada/USA Mathcamp for this summer and SSP for the summer after that. Mathcamp has a pretty tough qualifying test, if they let you in you would be sufficiently well prepared to apply to anywhere you may wish to go. Good Luck</p>
<p>Might I suggest you take a look at Andover? I think it fits your needs quite well with our physics (best in America) and computer science departments (second best in America at a recent competition). And our math department is quite phenomenal as well, although I might have to admit that Exeter is the mathematically superior of the Phillips Academies, although by a smaller margin then some may realize. Contact me if you require details.</p>
<p>One issue I’m noticing in your stats are a lack of concrete achievements to back up your passions. In violin for example, you mentioned you have received no formal instruction…</p>
<p>I’m also a little confused in regards to your math schedule. Are you going to be doing multi-variable calculus in the same year as Algebra 2…? Perhaps you can clarify a little bit. </p>
<p>I think you have a very good shot and these schools and good luck to you!</p>
<p>Chaos Theory – As you develop your list of schools, please remember to keep it balanced with reaches, matches and safeties. Very competitive schools with low acceptance rates have more qualified applicants than they have places for them. If you are able to put together a balanced list of schools you love, you should find yourself in a happy position on March 10th (acceptance letter date).</p>
<p>I don’t know where I’d be without you guys. Thank you so much.
I am on block scheduling; </p>
<p>One semester Algebra II
One Quarter Pre-Calculus
Year Round - BC Calculus
Towards end of year - Multivariable.
Hope that cleared some things up. </p>
<p>Awesome! I’m looking into Choate Rosemary Hall, Andover, Exeter Academy, Mercersburg Academy… please find me some ‘safeties.’ I am not very knowledgable in this area, and I simply cannot put together a list based upon class size or APs offered. I believe personal experience should be taken into account.
Sorry if it seems a bit lopsided - I love computer science, definitely, but it’s not something thats going to make or break. I am more math and science oriented.
And for violin; I don’t think theres a teacher crazy enough to take me. ;)</p>
<p>Just a little note of caution from one fellow mathematician to another: I hope you have had significant grounding in precalculus topics before you attempt to self-study BC calc. I don’t think one should attempt it with only Algebra 1 and Geometry under one’s belt (although perhaps you have had more experience than your schedule admits). Good luck in your endeavors!</p>
<p>I’m study from Schaum’s Outline of Beginning Calculus atm, and I’ll move up to Calculus when I feel I’ve got the topics down. And as for Geometry and Algebra I - I’ve studied from AoPS Volume I if that has any significance. It covers topics through Algebra II. Right now, I’m having no problems with the limits, derivates, secants, etc., But I’ve only gone so far. Perhaps the Trig. identities shall pose a problem. We shall see… I will definitely heed your word of caution. Thank you.</p>
<p>By the way, are you an AoPSer? I would assume it.</p>
<p>Oh alright good job. As long as you’ve done some good supplemental stuff I’m sure you’ll be in good shape. I don’t think Trig identities will be that hard for you.</p>
<p>I’ve actually retired from competitive mathematics to focus on other things at Andover, but I’m sure we know some of the same people. AoPS is phenomenal and I’m glad your making use of it. Try the comp prep courses when the time comes, they really do the trick.</p>
<p>Best of luck in your prep school search. And I highly recommend Andover, I think you would be quite happy here. Let me know if you have any questions.</p>
<p>The Problem with Schaum is that it gives you a lot of practice with problems but not a lot of theory and even less intellectual excitement. Go to the math camp site and see how glowingly kids exactly like you (my daughter being one of them) speak of the place.</p>
<p>I cannot advise you on which schools would be right for you. You can order a free directory of boarding schools from The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). I think it’s <a href=“http://www.schools.com%5B/url%5D”>www.schools.com</a> . If there are any boarding schools close to where you live, you might want to see if they have any open houses this fall or if there is a boarding school fair close to where you live. Aside from academics, some factors to look at include size, % boarding, Sat. classes or not, religious requirements or not, dress code, social life, college matriculation, proximity to a town, diversity, importance of athletics and/or the arts and so on. It will become your home away from home, so you want to love being there. Aside from TABS, you can also search at <a href=“http://www.petersons.com%5B/url%5D”>www.petersons.com</a> and, of course, <a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5B/url%5D”>www.boardingschoolreview.com</a> . Good luck!</p>
<p>Lawrenceville has an excellent mathmatics department. In the very rare case that a student runs out of classes to take, they have sent kids to take math classes down the road at Princeton.</p>
<p>I have composed a rough lift of schools:
Exeter Academy - It took the tour and fell it love. I would stay day and night here.
Andover - Ditto.
Mercersburg - I have a relatively better chance of getting into this school. It also have good academics and a beautiful campus to top it off. Yay!
Berkshire - Amazing campus. QED.
Lawrenceville - Math.
Hotchkiss
Deerfield Academy
Westminister - Very nice campus, excellent acadmics.
Choate Rosemary Hall - Excellent academics.</p>
<p>You guys being so experienced, can you sort out my Reaches, Matches, and Safeties (if any) ?
I thank you once again.</p>
<p>In your particular case I would not play the game of Reach/match/safety. There are specific resons why you fell for Exeter. Therefor do Exeter with Andover as an alternate and Lawrenceville as a backup.</p>
<p>I just realized how many mistakes I had made in my earlier post. Excuse my grammar and mispellings, wrong words, etc., I typed it up three times and each time I had to log in and I lost my message -_-" Got a bit frenzied there the fourth time.</p>
<p>QED is Latin for “Quod erat demonstrandum”, which usually signifies the end of a mathematical proof. Or, you could just use it to prove your point. :p</p>
<p>Therefore in order to save time and perhaps spend extra attention, would you narrow my list down to Exeter, Andover, Mercersburg, and Lawrenceville?</p>
Take a look at those math courses!