How to be an “interesting” student for Boarding schools? How can I get a sense of my chances? What they (Admissions Officers) most admire or desire? What they’re looking for?
yssarm: You realize you are asking for the “secret formula” to elite boarding school admissions, right?
Even if there was such a “formula”, no one could really tell you what it was unless he/she is an admissions officer at the school. Everything else is just someone’s opinion. Someone who may or may not have any association with the school at all.
And what if someone describes this secret formula to getting admitted to PEA (or PA, or any other super selective school)? What if that formula includes some component that you don’t have or will never have? Would you give up?
In general with the very selective schools, assume your chances are not good. This is a safe assumption given the admit rates are in the mid to low teens for the most selective US boarding schools. So that means more than 80% of applicants do not get in. Do you think you have a more compelling story than 80% of the applicants to schools like PA and PEA? Then you probably have a better than average (an extremely low average, btw) shot.
I don’t think anyone can answer your question to the degree that you desire, btw. I advise spending time researching the schools (meaning, look for and read the many EXISTING threads on the topic) on this this forum and other resources.
- Be able to handle the work. Demonstrated academic success and good test taking skills
- Maturity. Do things successfully on your own and talk about it well
- Community mindedness. Community service. Start a non-profit, for example
- Have a passion that makes you stand out, a sport, an instrument, art, etc.
- Interview well
- Come from an under-represented region, ethic group or country
Of the folks who have most of the above, about half get in (my guess)
Interesting may mean different.
If you can show how different you are from other applicants, you may look like an interesting applicant. But remember if your SSAT scores & GPA are far below average, you may look interesting but not appealing. Academics always comes first when applying to stellar boarding schools.