72nd Percentile on SSAT's

Hello –
I’m curious as to your thoughts on my chances of getting into the following schools. I want to be a day student. The schools are Hun, Peddie, Pennington and Lawrenceville. I have straight A’s, won a character award for my school, have strong extra curricular activities and have several community service accomplishments. I am also an athlete and play both for my school team and a well regarded club team.

My SSAT scores seem to me to be my only weak point. They are 2094 and place me in the 72nd percentile.
Oh – I’m applying for 9th grade. Your thoughts would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance.

Could you be a bit more specific about "strong extra curricular activities? Have you won anything for them?
Yes, the SSAT could pose a problem. Have you considered retaking them?

You sound like a strong candidate! Have you reached out to the coaches in your sport? I would urge you to do that, it can be helpful. I do not know the average SSATs at the schools you are considering, but your score is not a bad one. Very best of luck!

Honestly what matters for you is how strongly those schools recruit athletes. In the league my son plays in its is fairly well known that some schools (well regarded on this site) will take very strong athletes with 30% ssat. Other schools in the same league will not bend their academic criteria at all. I am not super familiar with the schools you list so I don’t know if those schools will bend academic criteria for a very strong athlete.

I have spoken to two of the four coaches. One was extremely encouraging. But I am not sure if she is that way to all applicants.

I guess I just really am struggling with the idea that my future could be held back due to one test. I guess I should have spent time prepping, and I just didn’t. I learned that lesson for college.

Thanks for the replies.

I am going to guess Lawrenceville is going to be the one that’ll give you problems unless the coach is pulling for you. It’s tougher to get in as a day student than as a boarder, and although you look like as good applicant, the day pool is a very tough one. With that said, I have been surprised at both who got in and who didn’t in the day pool.

Hun and Pennington are likely to be yes. Both are essentially day schools with a small boarding cohort, and you are likely to be a good candidate.

I also think you will be okay at Peddie.

I am assuming you don’t need FA (or need very little. ) it always helps if the coach wants you, so reach out for sure if you are a strong player on one of the elite teams in the area. (Less so if you are playing run of the mill club.)

Your SSAT score is within the range for HUN,PEDDIE and PENNINGTON, slightly lower for Lawrenceville. But again the sports activity probably will make you a great applicant for that school too. Good luck

Thank you for your input!

I just want to say I hope this was real
Reflection and not said in a grumpy, tongue in cheek way. SO much of life is like this and if your parents haven’t prepared you for that then this is a great lesson for many things later in life, not just college. There will be many times when you don’t get a second chance and when things aren’t really fair. It is much better to realize that/learn it at 14.

Good luck. It seems like some of the more knowledgeable posters think you have a strong chance.

with all of your well roundedness you should be just fine with that score. These schools consider the fact that the more well rounded kids do more than hit books all day and therefore may have less than perfect test scores. Your class grades already prove you are a serious candidate. Stay in close contact with the coaches and the admissions officer so that you remain top of mind.

Thanks for the feedback, it was a real comment and heartfelt. I really did learn a lesson. I hope those who think I have a good shot are right. M 10 can’t get here soon enough.