As has been mentioned many times, the representation here on cc is heavily slanted toward private + $ (including being heavily coached re: testing and privately represented in terms of admissions) but that’s not a true snapshot of process or placements in BSs. Look at the BS data, not the CC data because the CC data isn’t comprehensive. There are plenty of kids with high scores and slick resumes who do not get offered a spot. As has been stated above, the BSs (and colleges) want diversity. Some schools identify with slick; others do not. But they do know the difference. This is another area in which “fit” comes in. In terms of private vs public, Andover, for instance, takes approx 50% from public school. So take heart, a LOT of kids don’t have private this, that and the other. Remember: schools have multiple niches to fill. It is true, however, that applicants who need FA are at a statistical disadvantage. That said, the person who drew our attention to the process received full financial aid from one of THE most revered and frequently named schools on this forum, and she did that with low to average test scores. (And, no, she isn’t an ORM or URM.) Breathe deep.
I am in the exact same situation - the educational consultant wasn’t for boarding school it was for a semester school. My mom was worried about making the right choice for the next few years and the consultant discussed with me about boarding schools. I go to a public high school with 1200 students and didn’t want or felt like I needed an EC. I by no means think that everyone needs one to get into a school, if you are a good fit the school should want to have you.
I do, however, think that the schools can use an EC as an advantage ex. calling to see how likely you are to go. I agree that it’s probably a more on the edge thing to see if they should admit me, and it freaked out a little because it was one of my two top choices. My EC only told them I was considering applying and sent them my PSAT scores, all the other work I handled myself.
If it makes anyone feel better, we went thru process twice. First time with secondary school employee representing our child. Second time, coming from LPS with guidance counselor who (honestly) never laid eyes on or spoke to my kid.
Results first time around: 5 or 6 wait lists, 1 admit.
Results 2nd time around: 4 admits, 3 wait lists. Admits included HADES school.
The only advantage we had from secondary school rep was that we knew a day or two before 3/10 to be prepared for WL. It was an upside because we could prep our kid for disappointment.
I honestly don’t think having a EC or a
Secondary school rep is going to be a huge advantage from an admissions standpoint.
Don’t get discouraged. You have 4 days. Hopefully, you get what you want. If not, regroup and figure out plan for next year and beyond. Every day I thank god for those wait lists the first time around. Our kid is happier than ever imagined. I do really think that AOs know when a kid is a good fit. Trust their decision.
@jmtabb: pay no attention to the Chances forum. Stay away from there!! It stressed me out reading about the endless array of ECs, sports, and awards that some of those kids listed. I began to think my kid didn’t have a chance – she was a NE public school, limited ECs, no sports, no Consultant, etc. She received one rejection, a few wait lists and a handful of acceptances to great schools, including the one she really liked best. Keep breathing, Enjoy your weekend, and best of luck to your family!
I remember the morning we started researching boarding school for my child who is now a freshman. The night before, DD asked if we could think about applying. It was a Saturday morning and I was sitting in the chair that looks out to our field (we live very rurally) and I was sipping a cup of coffee and looking at these very bright and shiny schools online. I found an application to one of these schools just to get a sense of how it would feel for my child to fill one of these out and I saw the page that asks the student to fill out their EC’s. At that moment, I could tell that we were not living like the average applicant that applies to these schools. There was a whole page dedicated to listing your many Extra Curricular activities and accomplishments. I remember thinking, wow- this will be interesting.
At that time, my DD had no EC’s to speak of. She simply went to school and came home every day. Granted, she was on the soccer/XC team and the basketball team after school that met 4 days a week but this was an ‘everybody’ makes the team school sport that’s primary goal was to promote sportsmanship, not win championships.
Other than that, and I am not kidding, she walked her dog. She would go on these long, long walks in nature with her dog. Community service was something she saw her parents and grandparents do and she admired, but no, she had not made big committments to service at age 13. Her summer were filled with incredible adventures with cousins and extended family and sailing but, no summer camps that honed her EC skills…
The application asked about goals and who you admired and why you are who you are and I thought these were questions that DD probably hadn’t asked herself yet in any vocal way but she would be interested in having it swirl around in her head. But goals? And how do we turn walking the dog into an EC?
Just then, no joke, DD comes waltzing into the room very confidently. I quickly lowered the screen on my computer and asked her what’s up. She said, “I have a goal this summer” I thought to myself, “well, this might be handy”. What’s your goal, (Insert DD’s nickname here)? She pointed out to the maple just outside the window and said, “I am going to climb that tree all the way to the top, I’ve got it figured out how to get to that one big branch that will take me almost there and then I am going to pull myself up to the very top from there.”
Mmm… walking dogs and climbing trees…
She did end up applying to schools and was admitted to most on her list, including a Hades but the point is, she only wrote about what she knew. She did not fill those lines after lines with EC’s that barely existed because she did not really have any. And clearly that was ok. There is room for kids who don’t conquer the world between last period of school and dinnertime. For the record, had we lived closer to EC activities, she would have certainly engaged in a different way and had a different childhood. We didn’t ‘keep’ her from full afternoons, they just weren’t particularly available to her and she has younger siblings who weren’t going to spend their childhood in a car driving her to and from tuba lessons an hour away.
I looked back at my earlier posts and saw that I was so concerned about the EC issue and many veterans from here helped me to see that this is simply not an issue to dwell over. Be true to you child. Help your child be true to him/herself. That will go a long way.
When her admits came and after revisits, she chose the right school for herself. We had been advised by a dear friend to let her lead the process of ultimately picking the school to attend. It was a little hard to keep quiet. I was in favor of the school she is now attending (not the Hades, which was wonderful too) but tried hard not to show it. And I am glad I did. Her commitment to getting through the hard times this year (her amazing dog she would walk afterschool every day died unexpectedly in early November 3,000 miles away from his trusty companion, which left her (and our) heart broken) was in direct proportion to how much of this decision was truly hers. The school has done a remarkable job, as so many of these schools do.
So no, EC’s are not everything. They are extra.
Oh, and her school had no school rep or any real knowledge of BS and the process. Hope this is helpful……
What a wonderful post @freshlook. Refreshing indeed.
In one year she has come a long way from this simple life-at the moment she is in NYC visiting a friend and her goal was to travel down herself and figure out how to get from port authority to her friends apartment on the subway. Last year it was climbing a tree, this year it was the bus to the shuttle to the #6…
@freshlook Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful story. Very sorry about your dog.
I imagine many people have no access to either ECs - ExtraCurriculars nor Education Consultants.
@freshlook, not only was your post refreshing but I would bet a bundle that the Admissions Officers at the boarding schools found your daughter refreshing as well. For the most part, we’re talking about 13 and 14 year olds applying here. The AOs see so many kids each year and I bet they get good at sniffing out genuine interest and ability. They know which ones are packaged and prodded by adults.