What are the chances..

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

<p>…of me getting into Kent, Berkshire, St. Marks, Brooks, St. Paul’s, Deerfield, or Westover?</p>

<p>I am a freshman now and would ideally like to apply as a repeat sophomore for the September of 2010. I am young for my grade now (I’m a september birthday) so I wouldn’t be old if I repeated. I am an okay student this year with mostly b-'s to a-'s in all core classes with the exception of a C+ in my worst class, history, and a C in a 10th grade math class (which after I switched out of). I also have made honor roll. There are no honors classes in my school for freshman year except for math, which I am not taking, but I am in advanced math (equal to many schools honors classes). Next year I will most likely be talking honors english and honors spanish (I love languages and would love to attend a school with a good language program, next year I am also taking Chinese). I go to a very academically rigorous school, one of the best in Massachusetts and the country, but I think that my grades though are sub-par for my overall academic ability. I have won 2 all state writing awards for Massachusetts competing with over 3,000 people, the first time getting and honorable mention and the section a placement in the honors section. I know that I can also get great recommendations. </p>

<p>I am very well rounded and also take three arts classes and am anticipating being a 12 season athlete. I have excelled in photography this year and would have the option of sending in a portfolio of my work. I also have taken a drawing glass, and worked with glass. I also am quite athletic, this year I played freshman soccer (a frustrating placement for my ability because I also played JV scrimmages), JV swimming, and am doing crew outside of school (my school doesn’t offer it). I would like to continue with all sports and photography. </p>

<p>As for my extracurriculars I am a member of a national recognized school newspaper that won the: NSPA’s Pacemaker award which it says is “the Pulitzer Prize of high school journalism”, and I am a photographer. I am also going to be one of 8 senators representing my high school class. </p>

<p>I am socially mature and love to talk to adults, so I do not think the interview would be a problem. I have also not taken the SSAT but I expect to score in the 60-80 range.</p>

<p>I am most worried about my SSAT and grades and was wondering with these letters/numbers do I have a chance at any of these schools?</p>

<p>Something I forgot to add:
I would NEED a pretty large financial aid grant!</p>

2

<p>agree with lonelyviola, some of the schools you listed are great matches for you but some a very high reaches.</p>

3

<p>I wish I could take honors classes, they’re just simply not offered. I also should have done a tighter range in my grades. Most are B+'s (Spanish), A-'s (Math, English, All Arts), B’s (Physics, History, the C+ was one term that slipped). And in the newspaper next year I will be senior photo editor.</p>

4

<p>thank you for your advice, and I totally agree with your analysis. Summer classes are something I am looking into doing, and for doing something that really stands out, any suggestions?</p>

5

<p>well… I have volunteered with a group at my school that raises money for a secondary school in Tanzania, and I love that. I am looking at summer classes at a local university (I live in the boston area so there are many to choose from) but I was wondering what would be the best classes to take? Classes I struggled with this year? eg History, Physics?</p>

6

<p>thanks for your advice again, I will see what I can do! and Kent was a great reach suggestion, I had an uncle that went there and loved it. </p>

<p>P.S. nice to see another viola player, I used to play, continued for 6 years but unfortunately quit. I guess it’s not to late to start up again…</p>

7

<p>In a best case scenario, if you scored in the 80s for your SSAT, with your extra curriculars, I could see the following happening.</p>

<p>Westover: Accepted (Low Safety)
Berkshire: Accepted (Mid Safety)
Kent: Accepted (Mid Safety)
St. Marks: Accepted (Match)
Brooks: Accepted (Match)
Deerfield: Waitlist (Reach)
St. Paul’s: Waitlist (Reach)</p>

<p>Your grades are your low point, and that is what will hurt your chances in the long run.</p>

8

<p>yeah, i think the elephant in the room are your grades. if you can’t pull them up, look into academic out- of- school classes? but you really do need to get mostly a’s for st. paul’s.
ssat scores are important, but they are not as critical as they seem. i scored a 75 average (math brought it down) and still got into sps. its a solid score, but i know ppl who have scored higher and didn’t get in…its uncertain</p>

9

<p>SSAT’s aren’t everything. Try to bump your grades up.</p>

10

<p>yea, your ssat really doesn’t matter…
but i think that you should work harder this coming school year so your grades go up a little.
but your ec’s sound great, and just as long as your essays and interviews are good, i’m sure you’ll have a good chance!</p>