How to get into a prestigious preparatory boarding school such as Phillips Academy of Andover

Are you interested in sending your son/daughter to a prestigious preparatory high school such as Phillips Academy or Northfield Mount Hermon. Well these simple steps can greatly increase your child's chances in getting accepted into one of the best high schools in the nation. In addition, these steps may also increase your child's chances in landing one of the many scholarships available.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Focus on the numbers. SSAT and GPA are heavily factored in the admissions process. Obviously, the higher these are, the greater your chances. Do what you can to ensure that these are as high as possible, including, if necessary, the use of tutors. But, this is not the ends all be all.

2. Before applying get your child into honors programs, summer and after school activities. This takes some advanced planning as participation in these programs/activities can't all be done overnight. But make sure that these programs and activities are of interest to your child because schools such as Phillips can sense when a child is genuinely passionate about something (e.g. for example in the personal essay your child will have to explain why they chose the activity they chose and what significance that activity plays in their life).

3. Get your child involved in things that provide him/her with the opportunity to obtain awards and other honors. Make sure to list them on the application as this will help your child distinguish him/herself from all the other applicants who fall into similar categories (e.g. all the other soccer players).

4. Community Service. Get your child involved in some sort of community service activity, whether it is singing in the church choir or handing out free lunches to the homeless. This shows that he/she is not selfish, that they are compassionate and have a more global perspective.

5. Apply.

6. Interview with an Alumni. Be sure to ask questions. Assess whether or not you think the school will be a good fit for your child (i.e. he/she could see him/herself going there). Relax, take a deep breath. You'll do fine.

Tips & Warnings

• Note regarding the activities/programs requirement: 3 activities is really the max because it is important for your child to get in depth and intimately impassioned about the subject matter.

• A sample combination of activities: Soccer, ballet and French Language lessons. This shows someone that is good at sports, the arts and languages.