<p>Okay so I’m in 7th grade and am planning on applying to a few BS for 2012, I was reading some posts and some people have amazing grades (straight A’s and one B in all Honors courses!) Now I’m definitely not stupid, I’ve only gotten 1 B on my report card this year (all gifted courses), but I don’t have many ECs. I do TONS of performing arts, I’m signed to a talent&modeling agency/am in a magnet school for musical theatre/get a good amount of leads/and I participate in dance and voice lessons. I’m getting a little nervous because a lot of people have all these amazing awards, National Junior’s Honor Society, plus they speak 3 languages, have really high SSAT scores, and have grades like mine and are worried about getting into schools! Now, don’t get me wrong, I know boarding schools are tough to get into but I feel way under-qualified compared to these people. Do most boarding school kids have stats like these, or are these people not very common. I think I have a “hook” being that I’m Jamaican/White, but I’d need my whole tuition covered by FA. What do you think, are there many kids “like me” at BS, or are most these exceptional students like the ones I mentioned above?</p>
<p>Also I’m hoping to get into Cate or Choate as my #1 choices, but I’m also applying/interviewing to Walnut Hill, Idyllwild, Hotchkiss, and maybe Andover or Exeter just to see if I could make it.</p>
<p>Jamaican? Well, that can be a hook. Anyways, it’s good that you’re getting lessons for your passion-which I assume to be dancing and theater? No, you are NOT under-qualified. You have good grades, and what seem to be good extracurriculars. Now, about the plays that you wrote…are they published? Were they ever preformed? If they were, than that’s REALLY good! Don’t worry TheatreGeek, you are definately not under-qualified.</p>
<p>I’m not going to say that the scores and the grades don’t matter-they do - but showing hard work, independent mindedness, and a desire to explore is also important. It sounds like you’ve got a lot of the qualities the schools are looking for. Those qualities should take you a long way.</p>
<p>You seem perfectly qualified! Your passion for music and theater is an extracuricular, and it looks like you put a lot of energy into it which shows dedication! Your grades are fine, and yes scores matter but they arn’t the only thing that matter. You definitely stand strong as an applicant, don’t worry!</p>
<p>Are you a US citizen or a Jamaican citizen? If you are a Jamaican citizen, then you should know that it is very difficult to get financial aid if you are not a US citizen. You might want to start a new post asking information about getting financial aid for international citizens at the schools that interest you.</p>
<p>Thanks guys and to answer your question circlemidnight they were both performed, but not published. Thanks to all who replied, I’m feeling much calmer now</p>
<p>You’re not under-qualified. Everyone has different interests, that’s all. (: You’re obviously super passionate, which is AWESOME. Also, I’m so jealous of you, I LOVE musical theatre. (: Trust me, with good grades and involvement in a core interest (for you, performing arts), you’re bound to go places! Best of luck (:</p>
<p>Yep - be yourself. Actually - being a theatre geek may be more rare than being a math nerd. Schools “balance” the class to include a variety of interests. They’re looking for passion and depth - not a specific set of EC’s. </p>
<p>Stop worrying and do the best you can. Belief in self is the first hurdle - and the most important.</p>
<p>The schools spend millions on their Theatre / Arts facilities and want them utilized on a continuous basis. As once stated here on CC, who wants to teach a class of little Einsteins? Good luck!</p>
<p>Choate’s theater program is amazingg!!! The entire student body (which cannot be said for most schools) supports and goes to every production. This year we had three plays and one musical including: Dracula, The Crucible and Guys and Dolls. Throughout the year many students write their own plays, cast students and then get to put on their plays in one of the three theaters we have here! Plus you can do SPF which is the Student Play Writing festival which is during the spring instead of a sport. You get to write a play, cast your cast and basically get to do the whole thing on your own (of course with great support from the theater faculty) and then all of the SPF plays are preformed for 3 nights in a row. This past year there were 2 student made movies lasting over 20 minutes as well as lots of senior recitals where seniors can put together a collection of music that they would like to preform. During the spring term those students get to preform on a sunday afternoon in the chapel for all of those who care to attend. I could just go on and on about all of the opportunities in the arts department at Choate!</p>
<p>Geez! I feel so underqualified. I have nothing but passion haha. I’m a HS student (upcoming sophmore) who’d apply for repeat soph/junior…My school does 1 play a year and its musical- I can’t sing haha so thats kinda out. Then I don’t have a ride to EC because I don’t have a license and were about a half hour from the community college which offers Film courses. I sooooo want to go into film but its hard where I’m at… not to mention my schools film studies is considered a blowoff class and you can only take it senior year. You are definitely a hugely respected candidate. Good luck(:</p>
You are definitely a hugely respected candidate. Good luck(:</p>