(Updated) Chance me for Exeter, Andover, Lawrenceville (applying for more but didn't want to list them)

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Demographic:

African American (Mixed girl) from a mid sized middle school, ….. Will need FA; Am taking the ISEE

Grades:

3.7-4.0 gpa average from 7-8 grade; 6th grade grades were eh… (A+ - Bs)

Testing:

My testing is eh… I am making sure it goes up though :grinning_face:

Awards:

Magna cum laude for the NLE (2024-2025) and bronze for “la grand concours” National French exam (2022-2025)

Was accepted into Cornell debate program (2025)

1rst and 4th place at debate (2024-2025)

Top Speaker and 3rd speaker at Debate tournaments

Have competed and will continue to compete in the National Circuit (2024- Present)

Not a lot :slightly_frowning_face:

extracurricular activities:

  • Soccer (6th-8th), Squash, Tennis

  • Musical (6th - Present)

  • (ILP) 7th grade WV leadership journey; Costa rica (service trip)

  • Literary magazine submission (6th grade - Present)

  • 5th grade class collective walk for Water Fundraiser (raised $11,395)

  • Awards; Magna cum laude for the NLE; bronze for the National French exam

  • Member of Allies club; Drive for people in need; Pauls Place

  • Leadership: Founder of Library club in 5th grade; Created Reading Competition

  • Model UN (two years) Conference this spring

  • Admissions Ambassador

  • Fine arts captain ; Organized events for the school wide Musical

  • Debate Team (Varsity level) and rapidly improving; Will start Debate club for my format if the school does not have it!

  • Soccer (5 years)

  • Swimming (5th-6th)

  • Squash Since I was 10 (3-4+ hours per week); Going to nats

  • Volunteered at the library; organizing books, putting them away, labeling them and ordering books for my school

  • Ballet/Dance; Performed in the Nutcracker at the Hippodrome; (On pointe)

  • Engaged in entrepreneurial activities; Interested in starting businesses

  • Accepted into Cornell Debate program; taught by Cornell professors

  • I wrote a book!

  • Typed over 7,000+ words for a reading competition

Recs:

To be honest, I’m not sure what they will say. The person who I choose will say nice things though, as I see her every day at school.

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Any tips to improve ISEE scores and improve my application?

2

Andover, Exeter and Lawrenceville are steep climbs.

Why do you want to go there? Need a really good answer that’s unique for each school. If you’re not specific, your chances are microscopic.

What are you great at? Is it debate? Something else? You need to lean in on what would make accretive to each school’s community.

What grade are you going for? Are you applying for 10th or are you willing to consider reclassing for 9th. Bigger entry point.

If you’re not super-confident about your tests, apply to some test-optional schools that are also great. Milton comes to mind, but do a search and see what others may be interesting to you. In any case a broad list is a better strategy because all of these independent boarding schools see a ton of applications. Since it’s a self-selecting pool, those applicants are all great.

Do you have a good Local Public School option? Some would argue that you’re better off being a star there than middle or lower third at a GLADCHEMMS.

Study up on all of these places and go to as many online and local events as possible. It matters and will allow you to give a more compelling case as to why you’re a good fit for their school.

Good Luck.

3

Thank you so much! Answers:

Andover: Big community; Diverse; DEI

Exeter: So many courses; has courses that Focuses on what I want to be when I grow up; Has Harness; Big community

Lawrenceville: Harkness!; lovely campus; I can envision myself there (I don’t know why); Larger community; Diverse

I have been told I’m pretty good at Dance; I mean I compare myself to others (not good for me) and I am in an environment where everybody is better than me (their good at everything). When I compete though I may be one of the top.

I am applying to 9th grade. I am the youngest in my grade right now.

I will improve my test scores. I spend a lot of time prepping and I will continue to do so. I will look into some of those schools though. I also am applying to a lot more but I didn’t want to add them as they take up too much space. I am applying to 6-7 schools.

I live in an area where the schools are HORRIBLE so I go to a private school. I would say the private day schools are very good here. They just don’t have what I want and feel I need to thrive. Harkness for an example is something the schools don’t have. Additionally I am looking for a diverse community and a large student body. These are things the Day schools don’t offer. I feel that the point of going to these schools is to get better :slight_smile: . I don’t want to be the star, I want to work my way up to be something greater.

I will be sure to to all the events I can!

Thank you so much for the tips! I really appreciate you!

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