Prep School Grades: Lost In Translation

davida1
Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:20:24 +0000

You should definitely speak with your college counselor! It’s strange that you seem so confused about how your academic performance will be evaluated. At Andover, aren’t your peers talking about the college admissions process and where they stand? It’s a very competitive place and from what I know about Andover there are many students that are incredibly stressed out about getting into a top school, and they probably discuss this. You should NOT be confused about where you stand even if you are a rising junior.

I can help you out though…

In terms of getting into the Ivies or Stanford/Duke from places like Andover/Exeter with grades that put you around the 66th/75th percentile (I’m not saying that’s where you stand; you are probably closer to around the 80th percentile from what I know about Andover’s grading system; correct me if I’m wrong) it tends to be more about hooks. Hooks include incredible abilities in a certain area – i.e. impactful science research, music w/ national recognition (state is less impressive) or equivalent ability, significant entrepeneurship or inventions, URM status, major advocacy work that demontrates passion or compassion, etc. OR legacy, big donor, recruited varsity athlete, or celebrity child status…This is true with all top prep schools.

Some of the top 10-20% that are really involved in high level math/science end up at MIT (and rarely Caltech) - these schools don’t care about hooks as much.

For people without hooks and strong but nothing spectacular to standout with EC’s and grades that put them in the top 66/75th percentile, what can get you into to top schools (including the Ivies) are great essays, recs, and test scores (across the board with SAT’s being most important) and the RIGOR of your courseload (number of AP’s and AP scores).

Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, and Princeton will be tough for you

Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth are possibilities

Looking at the info you’ve provided you are in good shape for places like U Penn, Georgetown, Duke, Cornell, etc. - you will probably get into one of those (I would encourage Early Decision).

U Chicago, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Middlebury, WUSTL, etc. will be easier and you will probably get into several of these level schools.

Places like Tulane U, USC, NYU, Boston College, etc. will be a lock (very small chance you won’t get into schools at this level).