How I Got In

Rejected by 5 schools, accepted by Groton — why the 'fit' narrative is real

I applied to 8 schools with the same stats, the same essays, the same recommendations. Five waitlists, two rejections, and one acceptance — Groton. Looking back, Groton was the only school where I didn't try to be someone else. The 'fit' isn't a cliché — it's the entire game.

How my robotics project became the centerpiece of my application

I built a terrible robot. It couldn't walk straight and its sensor kept falling off. But I documented every failure in a blog, and one admissions officer told me later that the blog — not the robot — was what stood out. They wanted to see how I handled failure, not just success.

Rectory → St. Mark's → Carnegie Mellon: When one acceptance is all you need

I applied to eight schools with a 97th percentile SSAT. Only one accepted me — St. Mark's. At first it stung, but looking back, it was the only place that truly saw me. From Rectory as a wide-eyed 6th grader to leading ASA at St. Mark's through COVID, every stumble taught me something. Now at Carnegie Mellon for Data Science, I can say this: don't chase the ranking. Chase the community that will grow you.

SSAT 99th percentile and still waitlisted — here's what I learned

I thought my SSAT score was my golden ticket. It wasn't. After getting waitlisted at Hotchkiss and two others, I sent a heartfelt follow-up letter — not begging, just sharing what I'd been up to since applying. Two weeks later, I was off the waitlist. Follow-up matters more than anyone tells you.

No consultants, no strategy — just genuine heart and the Loomis writing workshop

I had zero study abroad experience. No consultants, no strategy — just a genuine love for singing, theater, and wrestling. When I visited Loomis, the sunlight on the Connecticut River made me feel belonging. The writing workshop transformed me from a flimsy writer to a published award-winner. I called Loomis home.

Fessenden → Loomis Chaffee: From 11 missing assignments to acceptance

I entered Fessenden as a kid who didn't study at all — 11 missing assignments, C's and D's piled up like fossils. My advisor pushed me to guided study. A brutally honest secondary school counselor meeting in Korea woke me up. One summer at PrepMaster SSAT class, grinding from 9 AM to 6 PM every day, changed everything. I became an A student — and got accepted to Loomis Chaffee. If I want something to happen, I ALWAYS MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SSAT High Score Strategy: From the 30s to 97 — My Score Improvement Story

When I first started SSAT prep, my scores hovered in the 30–40 range. 95+ felt like a distant fantasy. But with Ms. Sehee Han's systematic guidance and a customized strategy, I pushed all the way to 97. Here's exactly how I did it — one section at a time.

Public school in California to St. Mark's: No counseling, just grit — my 4-test SSAT journey

I applied from a tiny public school in California without any secondary school counseling. I took the SSAT four times — once I sat through a nosebleed mid-test. I visited every school in person, wrote my own essays, and let my genuine voice carry me. Here's everything I learned, from October campus visits to surviving the Harkness table.

Fay → Groton: Last campus I visited, first school that felt like home

I toured over ten boarding schools in a single week with my mom. Groton was the last stop — a school I knew the least about because it was so small and selective. But the moment my interview ended, I knew: this is where I belong. Early acceptance, the 'Groton Grind,' becoming a coxswain by accident, and a Chapel Talk that brought everything full circle — here's my story.

Fessenden → Exeter: From 30% on my first SSAT to a perfect score

I thought SSAT would be easy since I'd been studying in the States. My first practice test: 30% overall. I was crushed. Without Ms. Sehee Han and the TAs encouraging me every single day, I would have quit. Weeks later, my scores started climbing — and on my very first real test, I scored a perfect 2400. Admitted to both Exeter and Andover, here's how I got there.

Rumsey Hall → Choate: Four years of pride in my community, two months to go from 28% to 94%

I spent four years at Rumsey Hall, a junior boarding school, and this fall I'm entering Choate as a sophomore. The one lesson I want every applicant to carry: have pride in the community you belong to. That mindset earned me leadership roles, strong recommendations, and a sense of purpose that carried me through everything — including my SSAT journey from the 28th percentile to the 94th.

Recruited by Deerfield and Middlesex: Why athletic fit matters more than rankings

I was recruited by both Deerfield and Middlesex for soccer. People asked why I'd choose Middlesex over a higher-ranked school. Simple: it was the perfect fit for my sport. Between showcases, coach connections, and learning to present myself in interviews, here's what I learned — and why being well-rounded will always beat being just a test score.

SSAT 90+ and finding home at Blair: How community, counselors, and campus visits changed everything

I visited Blair on Family Weekend in 8th grade and knew immediately — this was where I belonged. But my first SSAT score was shockingly low. That wake-up call pushed me to study harder than ever under Ms. Sehee Han. Through late nights memorizing vocabulary, my dorm leadership role (16 selected out of 75), strong counselor relationships, and campus visits across New England, I built an application that was authentically me. Here's everything I learned.

Lawrenceville via SSAT grit and self-discovery: Vocab, reading, and finding my story through service

I started SSAT prep in the summer of 8th grade — math was fine, but vocabulary was endless and reading made no sense to me. I didn't believe the seniors who said they started with low scores and ended up in the top percentiles. Until it happened to me. Here's my exact vocab system, the three reading tips that changed everything, and how I found my authentic voice through volunteer work and interviews.

Culver Academies: From military inspections to the presidential inauguration — how I found a home at the Iron Gate

Born in the States, raised in Korea — I discovered boarding schools by pure luck the summer before 8th grade. Culver became my dream because leadership was a family value. After a grueling new cadet year, riding in President Biden's inauguration parade, and playing four varsity sports, I can say this: Culver wasn't just a school. It was home. And thanks to their full-ride scholarship, I was able to call it mine.

Stevenson: West Coast sun, surf, and why day students made my boarding experience richer than I ever imagined

Everyone thinks boarding school = New England. Stevenson is in Pebble Beach, California — warm sunshine, forests, beaches, 15-minute walks to Seal Rock Beach, weekend shuttles to San Jose and San Francisco. My SSAT score wasn't what I wanted, so I turned to TOEFL and poured my energy into my true passions: running club, donation marathons, student council. My day-student friends became my surfing buddies and soccer teammates. Visiting campuses in person changed everything — and Stevenson became home.

Middlesex and the power of community: Why trusting yourself is the only strategy that works

This past application process was filled with firsts and uncertainty — but also an incredible amount of support and encouragement. The academy wasn't just about SSAT prep; it was a genuine community where everyone shared the same goal. Practice tests every day, TAs who had been through it all, and Ms. Sehee Han who made the difference. My biggest advice: trust the admissions team to make the right choice, but also trust yourself. Build yourself up so you can be proud of who you are. Be yourself — because that's how you truly find your next home.

44% → 93% → 99%: My Andover journey — 50 words a day, 4 passages a day, and the courage to keep going when nothing seemed to change

First practice test: 44%. Last practice test: 93%. Final SSAT: 99%. I went from Rectory junior boarding to Andover with no consultants, just grit — memorizing 50 words every single day and solving 4 reading passages, even on the subway. When my scores wouldn't budge, Ms. Sehee Han kept telling me I was doing well, and my dad said the one who overcomes fear and keeps going is the one who wins. Here's the full story — from 44% to Andover.

Hotchkiss via courage over perfection: Why I showed my flaws in my essays — and talked Christopher Nolan in my interview

Everyone tells you to hide your weaknesses and polish your image. I did the opposite. In my essays, I was honest about my shortcomings and showed how I was working to overcome them. In my Hotchkiss interview, I ended up talking about Christopher Nolan's 'Dark Knight' trilogy. The next day, my interviewer emailed me: 'I really enjoyed our movie conversation.' That's when I knew — schools don't want finished students. They want students who can grow.

St. Paul's, my dream school: Why Stories beat scripts in interviews

I dreamed of studying abroad since I was little but kept postponing. When I finally committed through junior boarding, I went all in: self-studied TOEFL to 111, scored 98% on my very first SSAT with a quirky vocab system, and treated every interview like storytelling — not an exam. My art portfolio, flute audition, and the one mistake I want you to avoid: don't save your essays for winter break.

St. Paul's via persistence: My SSAT journey from 89% to 98% — why it's never too late

My goal was to finish the SSAT in October, but I wasn't ready. October 89%, November 92%, December 93%. When January came with finals and deadlines crashing in, I scored 98%. The lesson? Even if your test stretches into winter, it's never hopeless. Keep pushing — good things come to those who refuse to quit.

Exeter via the long road: 89% → 89% → 97%, and why I never once got nervous in 12 interviews

My dream started at Princeton — not the prep school, the university. A campus visit planted a seed that grew into Exeter. TOEFL self-study to 280+, SSAT from shock (I understood nothing in my first class) to 89% twice in a row, and finally 97% on my last chance. I interviewed at 12 schools without a single moment of nerves. Here's the full story — from the kid who knew zero English vocabulary to Harkness table survivor.

Groton via one insane week: 6,000 words in 7 days, 6 rejections, and the only 'yes' that mattered

I started SSAT prep in November — one week before the test. Crammed 6,000 words in 7 days, studying 10 hours a day. Scored 97%. Then came decisions: Lawrenceville ✗, Middlesex ✗, Taft ✗, Deerfield ✗, Exeter ⊘. Only Groton — my dream school — said yes. One acceptance, and that was all I needed.

Choate via Thanksgiving grit: Verbal 6% → 98%, 4,000 words in a Boston hotel room, and why I never gave up

My first SSAT Verbal diagnostic came back at 6%. Six percent. That summer, I watched classmates hit 95% while I scraped 88%. Everything changed during Thanksgiving break — my mom and I holed up in a small Boston hotel room, and I studied 15 hours a day, hand-making 50 flashcard decks and memorizing 4,000 words. December SSAT: 98%. Accepted to Choate Rosemary Hall.

Choate in 2 months from Beijing: 4 AM club, Christmas in the classroom, and Ms. Sehee Han who said 'You can do it'

I was studying in Beijing when I decided to apply to US boarding schools. I landed at Incheon Airport in November with only two months left. My friends and I created a '4 AM Club' — we woke each other up, studied together through Christmas and New Year's, and turned vocabulary into games. Ms. Sehee Han kept telling me 'You can do it' until I finally believed it myself. At my Choate interview, I discovered my greatest strength was self-confidence — and I said it out loud.

Rectory → St. Andrew's: 5 keys to acceptance — Grades, SSAT, and Leadership

Three years from Rectory junior boarding to St. Andrew's. I identified five keys to my acceptance: grades first, TOEFL early, SSAT from summer, leadership through school activities, and — most importantly — never putting anything off. The SSAT is a fun test. If I can do it, so can you.

Hotchkiss honesty: Why I regret not having a specialty — and why you should develop one now

I got into Hotchkiss, and I should have been ecstatic. But after the acceptance high faded, I was left with one burning regret: I had no standout specialty. I was decent at everything — academics, sports, leadership — but I wasn't truly exceptional at any one thing. Top boarding schools don't just want well-rounded students. They want students who are genuinely remarkable in one area. Here's my honest reflection, and the advice I wish someone had given me years ago.

Bement → Deerfield: 3-school sweep, SSAT 98% first try, and a 40-minute 'chat' that changed everything

I was just a regular 5th grader who had never even dreamed of studying abroad — until my brother went to a junior boarding school and came back raving about it. I ended up at Bement School, which happened to be a 1-minute walk from Deerfield Academy. I fell in love just by eating at their dining hall. First SSAT: 98%. Extracurriculars: Orchestra Head Concert Master, violin, acapella, Lacrosse, fundraising concerts. Accepted to Deerfield, Lawrenceville, AND Milton. Here's everything I learned — from late-night vocab reviews to an interview that felt like catching up with a friend.

Seattle → Minnesota → Middlesex: 4.5 years in America, a violin CD, and why small schools win

I followed my father to Seattle in 3rd grade. Four and a half years later, I had lived in two states, built an art portfolio, recorded a violin CD, and overcome my math weakness through sheer repetition. Middlesex won me over with its small size, its respect for individuality, and its location near my sister in Boston. Here's my story — and why maintaining your summer study gains through the fall is the real key.

NMH and 7 campus tours: From '7 Acts 7 Chapters' to finding my home — and why reading English newspapers changed everything

I toured 7 schools across New England — Brooks, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Pomfret, Loomis, Peddie, and St. George's. Deerfield had the most beautiful 100-year-old buildings. Peddie had the best modern facilities. St. George's sat right on the ocean. But NMH was where I belonged — a school where proactive students find endless opportunities. Here's my journey from reading '7 Acts 7 Chapters' to acceptance, with SSAT prep, campus tours, and the lesson that changed everything.

Peddie via zero consultants: 20 interviews, a Choate Robotics Dean recommendation, and the power of being genuine

No consultants. No shortcuts. I did the entire application process A to Z on my own — over 20 interviews, a recommendation from the Choate Robotics Dean, and a Boeing-sponsored robotics team that wins FRC every year. My first interview was Andover — not because it was my dream school, but because I used it as practice. Safety schools went first too. By the time I sat down with Peddie, I was ready. Here's exactly how I did it — and why 'Be Genuine' is the only interview strategy that works.

Fay → Loomis: Pink blankets, a flashlight, and the courage to believe that effort never betrays you

I used to roll my eyes at clichés like 'hard work pays off.' Then I found myself hiding under my pink fuzzy blanket at Fay School, crying into Spanish vocabulary with a flashlight because phones had to be turned in by 9:30. I didn't believe in myself — but I refused to give up. From those late-night tears to the Loomis Chaffee acceptance letter on March 10, 2020, here's the one thing I want every applicant to know: stop blaming others, stop dwelling on 'what if,' and just run forward.