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Greetings fellow posters! I am Brad C. from the Dallas area in Texas (if I told you what city, you wouldn'y know it anyway ). I am 13 years old and am going to the eighth grade. I attend a law academy (part of the magnet program) and I was at the top of my seventh grade class (rank: 2nd). I was wondering about my chances of getting into a prep school, such as the Philips Academy schools, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield, etc. I also wated to know which is the best, and in what areas. I am said when I was younger that I wanted to go to Harvard, and to this day every time my mother tells someone about me, she mentions that, although I would like to attend an Ivy (okay, Harvard ). A few of my stats are:
-Ranked 2nd in seventh grade class (I was experiencing some personal problems, such as multiple deaths in the family)
-Student council (I will most likely be president next year)
-All available Pre-Honors/Pre AP classes (Math, Language Arts, and I don't know if this is considered PH/Pre-AP, but I take Spanish instead of Reading)
-Math club (Well, it's not really a club, but I was in all of the math competitions my school participated in)
-UIL (University Interscholastic League- various competitions, ranging from acadmeics, music, athletics. I participated in about 5 academic events)
-National Spelling Bee
-95 or above in all classes, except Math (only #1 got that one )
-I don't know about other classes, but I do know that I have the highest G.P.A. in Texas History
-Yearbook staff
-Perfect score on stae standardized tests (TAKS, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills)
-There are others, and I'll post them later if i can think of them...

I may not go to one of the best schools in the nation, play any sports, or have any outstanding accomplishments, like writing a book, I don't take college level classes, but I am very ambitious, and I am a perfectionist (I know I'm not perfect, but that type of attitude seems to keep me sane). I really want to get the best education I can, and have been distinguished from my peers because of that fact. I don't come from a high income family, but we get by. Oh, by the way, I am an African-American male. I am really passionate about achieving my goals, and I really think it would not only be a great personal experience to go to one of these schools, but it might give me somewhat of an advantage over some oof my peers. I do not exactly feel comfortable in the type of school setting I am in now, and I think I could relate to others who have similar goals as I do. Please give me feedback on your advice/ideas and suggestions. I know this is a college forum, but I think that I could obtain very helpful feedback from others who have already gone through this. I am also open to feedback about interviews, the whole application process, SSATs, and increasing my chances. I would like to thank you in advance for helping me to better my self in order o benifit the world. Again, my sincerest appreciation goes out to all off you!

Update: I'm in 8th grade now. My 1st six weeks grades may be far from my usually straight A's. I didn't take my teachers seriously when they said 8th grade standards would be higher, because teachers say that every year. I know I can make it 2nd six weeks. IPC Pre-AP is really getting me. It's like a real AP class. Anyway, I've made a contact at Harvard who seems to think H could be a possibility for me. We're going to stay in contact, and he'll help me out. It's getting closer to app time, and I'm trying to narrow down my list. SO far it's St. Mark's School of Texas (the best in TX), Andover, Exeter, and i wnat to choose another of the TSAO. ANy suggestions would be helpful. I plan on meeting w/ my ocunselor ASAP. Thanks, again!

By Limon (Limon) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 12:54 pm: Edit

Go for Exeter.

By Tubby (Tubby) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 01:44 pm: Edit

you probably have a much better chance going to Harvard if you stay in texas and keeping your grades up. if it is education you want, go for the preps.

By Celebrian23 (Celebrian23) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 09:48 pm: Edit

i agree with that poster above me, you feel all high and mighty being ranked 2, but at a prep, you'll be lucky to round out the top 25%, you don't get As in prep schools, and you've got to work your butt off to get Bs. If the ivies are what your shooting for, stay in Texas, if you want a superb education, shoot for phillips exeter,becuase at a prep school, what is usually considered extraordinary is only ordinary

By Phillipsexeter (Phillipsexeter) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 10:49 pm: Edit

i'm with limon, exeter is pritty sweet! But i guess i'm biased. good luck with whatever you do.

-Phillipsexeter

By Yazzie269 (Yazzie269) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 04:20 pm: Edit

It looks like you're really into academics, but I don't see any sports! Ive heard a lot of schools have turned down so called "perfect students" because they are well-rounded enough.

By Yazzie269 (Yazzie269) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 04:22 pm: Edit

sorry! in the above post I meant not well rounded enough.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 04:30 pm: Edit

if you're aiming for harvard, you're much better off attending your local HS and being the top student there and being president of one or two clubs.

i couldn't agree more with what celebrian23 said. most kids find themselves having to work their tails off to get a B (i didn't believe this at first but found out it was true when i got there). i was ranked 1/316 coming out of a suburban public school but didn't even manage to get in the upper 25% at the prep.

also, if you want to hold office in clubs, in most cases, you've got to be among the best, if not the best, in the field you're joining (ie., you have to be a top debater in the school to be president of debate club but it's hard to do that since most members are excellent debaters to begin with ...that's partly why they joined the club). there's A LOT of competition, especially in schools like Andover and Exeter...trust me, i was in debate, and every year for the past several decades, it was a known fact that the president of our debate club (along with our newspaper editor-in-chief) always end up in HYP type schools but mostly HYP themselves. they are always exceptional people.

however, if you want to take the risk of jeopardizing your chances at harvard, i think (based on the info you provided thus far) that you have a good chance of getting into the top preps. this will change depending on your SSATs, essays, teacher recs, and interviews.

btw, you are qualified to begin with but your being an african-american male will work in your favor. i was an admissions tour guide and was let in on some of the insiders' info. i know that the admissions office is always looking for african-americans but african-american males in particular. last year, only 3 african-american males enrolled at the prep school i went to (milton) so they're constantly looking for african-american male applicants. andover and exeter are also actively trying to reach out to minority groups (at exeter, they appointed a black guy as head of admissions partly to intensify their minority recruitment efforts)...have you considered applying through one of the minority civic organizations that try to place inner-city kids into the preps- like "A Better Chance"? www.abetterchance.org . this way, you get to apply free of charge.

so basically, this is what your app. file will look like? please revise/add info as necessary:

Type of School:
Cumulative GPA (unweighted): ??/4.0
Last Year's Rank: 2/??
Current Rank (if available):
Courseload (choose one): easy, average, rigorous, highly rigorous, most rigorous
SSATs: ??
Other testing info: TAKS, 99th percentile

EXTRACURRICULARS:
-Instruments (provide years practiced, hours of practice per week, membership to a band, leadership positions, if any):

-sports (you said none so we'll leave this blank)

-community service/job/volunteer positions (hours per week, title, years of commitment):

-summer experiences (# hours per week, hours in total):

-hobbies:

-clubs:
yearbook (provide years of commitment, hours per week, leadership title)

A. student council (you said you're likely to be president next school year? how is that possible if you're in 8th grade and seeking to transfer out of your school for next year?)...anyway, please provide years of commitment, hours per week, leadership title.

B. math (years of commitment, hours per week, leadership)

C. UIL (years of commitment, hours per week, leadership)

awards:
-participation in National Spelling Bee (provide year of involvement, possibly your final standing at nationals)
anything else?

best of luck and keep us updated!