<p>looks like a nice variety…something that my list lacks… best of luck</p>
<p>everyone should apply to 9-10 schools if they want to go BS and not just HADES
i didn’t do it ( and thank god i got into my #1 choice) but if i didn’t get in i would have regretted it immensely.
you should also take a practice SSAT to get a feel for where you need work and then focus on that area. SSATs are unpredictable, i took one in Dec and got a 88% which i found easier then my practice test, and i took another on in Jan and i got a 97 and i found that the test was a lot more difficult then my practice test. i must also note that i did not prep for the SSATs this is because I took them as a Sophomore so i had learned everything on the test in school already and vocab is very strong. if you are taking it as a 8th or 9th grader i would recommend prepping for the test.</p>
<p>the system should look something like this
3 reach
4 match
3 safeties </p>
<p>obviously you can distribute the schools differently you can add a super reach like A/E or Deerfield
(please you need to evaluate yourself honestly before applying to schools)</p>
<ul>
<li>note how strong your school is (i had a 2.9 GPA [unweighted] but my day school is comparable to HADES)</li>
<li>also include any hooks that you have: if you dance, play an instrument, great painter ETC contact the teacher in that department and write him and email, talking about yourself, and could he describe the schools program is this particular thing in depth. if you are an athlete don’t be fooled all schools actively recruit for all sports (some more so than others) use it to your advantage contact the coach with your resume and such. if you live near to the school go and see the game and write to the coach about how you liked how they played note outstanding plays players, key points in the game, ETC. also if live nearby ask him/her to come and see you play, if you live far away send them a game tape or a link to video of you at like youtube or other video hosting sites. unfortunately other than the game tapes it only works for Fall/winter sports. if you play lax or a spring sport still email the coach with your resume and send them a game tape or highlight reel. also try to find a program thats rebuilding or trying to raise to the next level as they are the most likely to give favorable looks to athletes.</li>
<li>when you in for your interview note a few things that you like in particular not like " the campus is beautiful" but i really like blank class i think its such a great idea to have a class like that. i love how there is vertical boarding( intermixed grades). ETC find something specfic.</li>
</ul>
<p>here’s an example</p>
<p>reach: Hotchkiss, l’ville, Middlesex
match: Taft, Governer’s, Loomis, NMH
Safety: Brooks, Kimball Union, Pomfret</p>
<p>hope this helps</p>
<p>That is tremendously helpful!Thank you!
Congrats on getting into such a great school</p>
<p>thanks a lot
polodolly i hope you get into an equally or better school</p>
<p>haha thanks fingers crossed…but I have 2 wait until next year = (</p>
<p>Thanks! I have alot of reaserch to still do , so my list hasn’t been finalized yet … :)</p>
<p>This is entirely unrelated but this is one of my favorite videos of all time. Seriously, I can watch it over and over(and over and over…) : [YouTube</a> - Pride & Prejudice - Harry Potter Style](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sge5pUSJIRY]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sge5pUSJIRY)</p>
<p>Omg that was so cute and yet funny… i love Harry Potter</p>
<p>I am curious why not Wilbraham&Monson academy? i am not really looking to go to school there just wodering why you dont like it?</p>
<p>It’s local rep is - to say the least- less than stellar. well not for the majority, but it’s really just not all that good and pretty meh and ew in general (IMHO)</p>
<p>ok good to know thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Blue, Can you recommend some classics books to read that you found most useful?</p>
<p>Any of you have a list of HADES level rigorous day schoos list/ranking?</p>
<p>I think Blue is offline now, but I’ll take a jab at answering! :)</p>
<p>The term ‘useful’ is really loosely defined-- do you mean useful as in upping your writing/literacy level? Helping out on your SSATs? For mentioning during interviews? Useful as doorstoppers? Aaanyway…!</p>
<p>The Sherlock Holmes collection, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Huckleberry Finn were all books I enjoyed reading. (TKAM…not so much, but it’s pretty much loved by everyone else, so!) They were very helpful in terms of nudging your literacy levels, open-mindedness, and logic along. Don’t read classics for the sake of sticking them on your application under the question ‘What books have you read and why?’ though. Schools see RIGHT through that.</p>
<p>As for a site of statistics…[Matriculation</a> Stats](<a href=“http://matriculationstats.org/]Matriculation”>http://matriculationstats.org/) <— Majorly helpful in terms of college matriculation rates, and created by one of our own awesomely awesome CC parents, Lvillegrad.</p>
<p>sorry let me add too
- for whom the bell tolls etc ( anything by hemmingway)
- 1984
- all quiet on the western front
- gatsby
- death of a salesman
- hard times</p>
<p>I applied last year, and am currently a new sophomore at Choate.</p>
<p>I applied to four schools in total, which to some may not seem like many, but to me already was a huge time commitment. The number of schools you apply to really depends on how ‘necessary’ boarding school is for you. I was fine with staying at my old high school, so I only applied to schools I knew would be worth leaving for, to me. All of them were reaches. Again, let me stress the time commitment - the entire application process, in addition to your school workload, extracurricular activities, and social life, is a lot to deal with. So be prepared for that. Do not add schools to apply to just to reach a certain number. LIKE the schools you are applying to, because each additional application is just more days spent working.</p>
<p>Choate is very welcoming to new sophomores, that is true. However, no matter how welcoming a school may be, it is definitely MUCH HARDER for a new sophomore to adjust than a new freshman would. However, that does not mean you should apply as a repeat. Repeat freshmen tend to be younger for their original grade, so the age gap is not visibly apparent at all when they repeat. Some applicants are asked to repeat because of sports, that their sport skills would be more of an asset to the school as a 4-year student. Do not repeat simply because you think it’d ‘be easier to get in’.</p>
<p>Start your essays early. DO NOT leave them for the end. Sending off an essay you’re not entirely satisfied with is a horrible feeling.</p>
<p>Also, the entire “HADES” acronym is utter bull. A good school is a good school, and there are lots of good schools out there. This site puts too much focus on prestige. Really, it’s not worth anyone’s time to be stressing out over how well known your school is, or how ‘respected’ the school is on CC. When you actually get out there, to the schools, to the rest of your life, it’s not going to matter at all.</p>
<p>Oh, and with all this, the most important thing is to just stay happy. Take the applications seriously, but don’t let them consume your life. Everything usually ends up better when you’ve got a good attitude.</p>
<p>well said
10char</p>
<p>intrigue choate is my top choice rite now. hows the campus, food, and etyc</p>
<p>Here’s my preliminary list:</p>
<p>MUST-APPLY:
Andover, Middlesex, Peddie, Cranbrook(in order of preference)
Group #1: (choose 3 or 4)
Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Lawrenceville, Choate, SPS, Exeter, Emma, Cate(in order of preference)
Group #2: (choose 2 or 3)
Taft, Loomis, NMH, Westtown, Miss Halls, St.George’s, Governor’s(random order)</p>
<p>I’m an int’l aid applicant. So my list has already been narrowed down to roughly 25 schools. And the “groups” are based on how generous they are to Chinese applicants. I am definitely applying to a lot of schools, but of course no more than 13. </p>
<p>BS is a bonus for me. So I’m only applying to really selective schools. =P</p>
<p>Oh and I witnessed sad rejections on M10 this year. Almost none of the int’l aid applicants survived. So… I know how hard it is and I’m ready for it!</p>
<p>Rad-in-Plaid96:</p>
<p>NO! IT WAS SPS…THAT INTERVIEW WAS MY NIGHTMARE!! I mean, why would they pair up me with an athlete interviewer (my athletic incompetence was so obvious in my app profile)??</p>
<p>gonnastop:</p>
<p>wowwwwww 25 schools??? tons of work for essays!! I left all my essays to the winter break, and it was a HUGE mistake…start early guys!</p>