<p>Hello everyone, as you can probably see, this is my first post. I have a year or so until I will (hopefully) be applying to 9th grade. Since around 4th grade, I have been trying to do things that I love, but that will also stand out in the application process. I haven’t really succeded, but I feel like I’m doing better now and am on the right track.
Anyway, I have a question for all you current boarders/applyers/prep school veterans. If you could start back a few years before you were applying and do one or two things to improve any aspect of applying, what would that be? I would really appreciate any other helpful hints, tips, websites of interest, etc. Thank you so much in advanced, I really do appreciate any help!</p>
<p>There is so much I wish I did.
I wish I spent more time preparing a CD to send in. I’m a musician, and if you are going to send a CD in you really need to be on top of it.
I wish I had spent more time on my essays. While my essays turned out to be very good, (in my opinion) I wish I hadn’t started them as late as I did. However, all of them seem very good so I’m not too worried.
I wish I hadn’t started studying for the SSAT in August. I started studying in August and by October, I didn’t do as well. (84%) However, I retook it and got a 93%, so I’m not as worried.
I wish I had explored some of my other interests. My school is small, so we don’t have some extracurriculars that other schools have. I’m really interested in trying Debate, but I never did.
I wish I started running Track sooner. I had been running a few years before I started Track, so I wish I started sooner.
I wish I had done some sort of summer school so I could be further along in Math. I’m in Algebra 1, and I wish I could be taking Geometry. </p>
<p>But, you say you’ve been worrying about the application process since fourth grade? That’s really early! I started earlier than most people, (beginning of seventh grade) but fourth grade is insanely early. What grade are you in now?</p>
<p>Lol… I wasn’t worrying, just wondering! My parents have a very stereotypical mind-set on boarding school, so I’ve been trying to crack it. I’m in 6th grade right now, and it’s funny becuase I just signed up for some online class today so I can be in advanced math. I think I start the online Algebra 1 class in a week or so. I had to BEG and BEG my guidance counselor to let me take the class!</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh, by the way, what instrument do you play and for how long have you played it?</p>
<p>ALgebra 1 in sixth grade will look good. That will help you with the application process. Just remember not to get too emotionally attached in the process. I got very emotionally attached to the idea of boarding school in seventh grade, and I felt very nervous all the time. Every time I got a mediocre test grade, I would freak out b.c I thought, “this isn’t good enough for…” So, don’t stress yourself out. At least you will have time to think about where you want to apply and why you want to apply. Good luck!</p>
<p>So obvious it’s almost moot to state it, but READ. READ everything. Read widely. If you started with fiction, as most kids do, try some biographies, some history, sciences, even periodicals in fields that have some interest to you (WIRED, NAT GEO, USNews, etc.). We learn all that good SSAT stuff like vocabulary and comprehension–not to mention decent written expression for ourselves–by engaging challenging texts.</p>
<p>Oh, and talk to people about what you are reading.</p>
<p>Yah, that’s something I really have to do. I have like a pretty high reading level (in something called lexile level) for my age, which is 1400 or something… but I don’t read at ALL. Only when I HAVE to, so I guess now I have to. Thank you for replying, even if it’s an obvious point, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded.</p>
<p>I wish I was good at sports =(</p>
<p>I would build up on the extracurriculars, enter competitions and get awards and stuff. I used to do alot of it but stopped in 7th grade (and alot of extracurriculars too) because we moved to another city and if I could go back, I would’ve demanded that I continued every single one of those.</p>
<p>The blog from the head of Andover admissions (Jane Fried) is full of info, see their website. This month’s article is “advice on how to get ready” and reading is key, as PrepintheSouth points out. Another suggestion is to find something that is motivating and interesting to you; a club, hobby, sport or community service activity, and work hard to develop that interest. Prep schools (and colleges) want to see a passionate, committed person who can not only handle the work but contribute something unique to the community. Best of luck and good for you for thinking about this ahead of time.</p>
<p>Good advice and I’m going to reiterate; READ! You don’t have to read War & Peace but anything that captures you. Geez louise there are so many cool books out there. Turn off that vegetable box.</p>
<p>i would look at more schools, probably video the tours or something, so i would remember what i saw more, and ask students to tell me their true opinions of the school. i also wouldve shadowed at the school i was going to go to if boarding schoool didnt work out</p>
<p>@overnadover98,
I sing, play the piano, recorder, trumpet, and handbells. However, I only sang in my CD. I had only like 3 weeks to prepare something, so I was pretty hard pressed to finish it. If you’re an athlete, you can send in a video of you playing, or you can email the coaches. Maybe you can get recruited.</p>
<p>Woah! Vivsisters and Aurelie426, someone was up passed their bed time, lol. </p>
<p>@ifax28
Wow, you do alot! Would you happen to know if you can get recruited even if you don’t play for your school? I play lacrosse close by since my school doesn’t offer it (only soccer, volleyball, track, and basketball), so just wanted to know.</p>
<p>@2prepMom
Thank You! I’ll have to go check out the blog.</p>
<p>There are many things…
First and foremost, I wish I prepared for my SSAT ahead of time. I decided to apply somewhat last minute and I didn’t prepare to well for the SSAT. I feel that my SSAT score is what is going to ruin my chances the most. </p>
<p>I wish I had spent more time on my essays, but that shouldn’t worry you too much. </p>
<p>And finally, extra curricular activities! I understand it may take you a while to find what you really love. I didn’t realize how much I loved piano until last year, even though I was playing for a while.</p>
<p>I am applying now and I definitely wish I started my essays as soon as the questions were released instead of freaking out about my SSAT prep. Just don’t worry about the process–be yourself, and that will be reflected in your SSAT scores, essays, and extracurricular activities. Regarding ECs: Don’t do something because it will look good to a school–do it for yourself. :)</p>
<p>I will try to describe from a parent’s perspective what my child did and what he could have done better.</p>
<p>What was done well:
Played one sport year round for over 4 years; Another in spring for school team; skiing
Got all As in 8th grade first trimester & 7th grade
95+ percentile on SSAT in Oct '10 (took May '10 test for practice; 150+ point improvement by practicing in the summer)
1800+ on 7th grade SAT for CTY
Started working on essays in October
Participated in a community service organization in 6th, 7th and 8th
Involved in student government
Practice interviews</p>
<p>What could have been better:
Thinking very hard about this. I would have liked more initiative/organization, but I think we as parents took a lot of worry of his shoulders. I would have liked him to be more receptive to our comments and suggestions. But he worked hard and we liked that.</p>
<p>We will see if all this was enough or we should have done anything different.</p>
<p>I wish I prepared for my SSAT’s more… I got a 70% and I feel like thats what is going to ruin me! :(</p>