Country Fair 2023: Secondary School Applications: Mistakes to Avoid

By Adamson Steiner ’24

Article from the Country Fair 2023 Hearth Issue

As the serenity of fall dawns on Eaglebrook’s bucolic campus, a new leaf of opportunity turns over. Like a placid calm before the storm, fitful winds graze over the beautiful nature of Deerfield, Massachusetts, carrying ambient but ambivalent weather along with exciting yet turbulent times for the class of ’24. As a member of this amazing class, I am all too familiar with this uncertainty: the uncertainty of secondary school applications.

What do you feel when you hear these three words? Excitement? Uneasiness Impending doom? Hopefully the former, but we have all felt all three of these before. Secondary school applications are scary! However, it is important to remember that this stage of our lives is merely a small part of our future. A frequent mistake many Sixth Formers make is to apply exclusively to ultra selective schools for the sole purpose of their prestige. Not only does this lead to a highly uneven school list and therefore more uncertainty, but it also precludes prospective students from applying to schools they truly like.

When asked, Eaglebrook’s Director of Secondary School Advising and Enrollment Management, Mr. Christo- pher Loftus, affirmed that shooting too high with an unbalanced list and not giving lesser-known schools a chance is the most common mistake made by secondary school applicants. Instead of looking at schools like a scorecard, ask yourself if you will be truly happy at the schools you are applying to and if you believe they are genuinely a good fit for you. It is okay to apply to ultra selective schools, but make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. My top choice is not only because of its prestige and world-class academics but also because of its highly diverse, equitable, and inclusive atmosphere, studious yet casual culture akin to a top college, and fan- tastic outreach programs. It also has an amazing student newspaper. However, I still acknowledge that I cannot rely on getting into such a selective school, so I am applying to less selective schools as well. In fact, nearly my entire family got rejected from my top choice, and I seek to change that.

Another common mistake prospective students make when applying to secondary schools is stressing scorable factors such as grades, test scores, and sports positions while neglecting less tangible, but often more decisive, areas of their application. While scorable factors are obviously vital, the truth is that it is hard to stand out just by being a top student or athlete, especially at a place with many of those kinds of applicants—hint: Eaglebrook is one of those places. As an admissions officer, Mr. Loftus looks up to “students who can communicate about the elements in their life that they enjoy, students who can demonstrate how they are engaged in their educational community and who they are as human beings.”

To truly stand out amongst the crowd, you must prove that you contribute to the school’s community in a positive way and have something unique to bring to the table. Boarding schools are communities; they want interesting students with different interests, backgrounds, experiences, and talents. Additionally, Mr. Loftus suggests, “Do what you love. Do not be afraid to dream. Try new things. Take chances in your life in the classroom, in sports, in the dorm, and on stage. It is more helpful to describe a few activities and learning experiences in your life that have a strong impact on you as a person instead of listing a large list of clubs/ committees in which you have participated. Quality over Quantity.” In short, you have to dedicate yourself to something you are truly passionate about and think outside the box. In my case, I started the Neurodiverse Affinity Group and did an EBSTalk about neurodiversity.

Also, make sure to be genuine in your interview. This cannot be stressed enough. The interview is often the deciding factor in admissions, as it is usually a school’s only opportunity to meet one-on-one with you. Prepare by researching the school, but do not follow a script. Admissions officers can tell when you have recited your answers, which will lead to you coming across as ingenuine. Do not be afraid to be honest and tell them your weaknesses; it demonstrates openness and a desire for growth.

Finally, have fun. Have fun. Secondary school applications may seem like a daunting, precarious trek, but if you follow your heart and keep up your good work, you will get into the school of your dreams. Listen to the advice of Eaglebrook’s fabulous secondary school advisory; Eaglebrook has some of the best secondary school admissions for a reason. When asked about how to handle application anxiety, Mr. Loftus suggests “taking a deep breath and speaking with others for support.”

Secondary school applications should not be seen as drudgery or even a gateway but as an avenue for self- discovery. When writing your essays, having your interviews, and taking your tours, you will learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible—and have a lot of fun along the way. You will know that you truly like a school when “you are walking around campus and you are smiling and you are not really sure you know why, you just feel good,” Mr. Loftus says. You have a chance of a great future no matter where you end up. My cousin was a top student with straight As and a 98th percentile score on the SSAT but got rejected or waitlisted from all the top schools many of you wish to attend, ending up at a local day school in Cleveland, Ohio; he is a freshman at Stanford this fall. Do not be discouraged, fellow Brookies. Winter is coming, but in the end, the sun always prevails. You got this!