<p>My daughter took the SSAT last fall and used the Princeton Review book to study on her own. I think it was most useful in familiarizing her with the format of the test. She memorized the list of vocabulary words in the review book and said that only one showed up on the test. She was in the 89th percentile overall. </p>
<p>As with the SAT, the best preparation for the verbal part is to read. There is an essay and I think she told me the prep book said to support your thesis with examples from classic literature. You'd have a difficult time doing that if you hadn't done much reading in school or on your own. Reading also builds your vocabulary.</p>
<p>I used the Princeton Review book and I got a 92 overall. I agree with lefthandofdog because literally only one or two words from the book showed up on the test. It really helped in learning the format of the test. The essay part is basically just to see how well you write on command (nonhomework). It was really easy thought but I didn't back it up with classic literature because that's what the book said (I knew everyone else would :)) So I did mine with personal experiences and not-so-common inventions and how they revolutionized the world. I would definetely recommend using the book so as to learn the format of the test because 25/40 minutes may seem like alot at the time but it goes by so quickly during the actual test!</p>
<p>Golden, I'm not sure what you mean. If you have not completed the interview process, I would get that done asap. Have you visited any/ all the campuses?</p>
<p>I'm a high school sophomore currently applying from Canada to Exeter, Taft, Hotchkiss, and some State U Honors Program. As a sophomore, I have the advantage of a greater aptitude in tests (I heard the SSAT is EXTREMELY easy, SAT went pretty well) as well as greater confidence in interviews. At least that's what the Canadian Exeter Alumni told me. His wife actually went to Andover (can you believe that?) Narrative essays went well as well, hopefully Exeter has a sense of humour. Any mid-high school applicants (present or former) went through experiences similar to mine? If so, how did the application go? (Btw, the Hotchkiss guy was a funny guy, telling great anecdotes about his time at Hotchkiss. It was more like a conversation than an interview. Taft, I have an interview with the school in two days.) Yep, and how are you grade schoolers doing with your apps? (Lol, so tiny and confused).</p>
<p>Don't underestimate the SSAT, trust me its not that easy. On every other standarized tests I've taken in my entire life I've gotten 99 percentile and above. On the SSAT I got a 92, because you're no longer competiting with average and below average students but with other strong, highly intelligent perp school applicants.</p>
<p>So how hard do you think kids work at top prep schools? I was shocked to look closely at college placements. The number one feeder into top colleges had more than half of their class of 133 go to a top 10 school last year. Are they pressure factories? Andover and Exeter have a broader range of colleges than SPS and Groton, are they less intense or more comprtitive as some say?</p>
<p>SSAT- harder than you think....vocab is hard, my D got 97 on reading, 96 on math, 60 on vocab - 93 overall.....some of her classmates, who 99 percentile elsewear, got like 75th and 82.....</p>
<p>probably. I'll take your word for it. All I know is that the SAT will be the real challenge awaiting students on the other side of their high school career. Then the GRE, MCAT, LSAT, blah blah. Good luck with your applications though. Mine was sent a long time ago before January 15 and I'm anxious to hear from my schools. I've noticed that some people on this thread are parents of applicants. I applaud your dedication. I had to work myself to find and apply to US Boarding Schools. My parents have that ideal image of me becoming a doctor, but however, I have different passions.</p>
<p>Sorry for going off topic... but who has had an interview with Exeter? I had one with Mr. Michael Gary (head of admissions). When you were interviewed, did they ask about your grades? Not like, "what's your strongest/weakest subject" but more like "How are you doing in school? A's? B's?"</p>
<p>I had an interview with Exeter. The only academic thing he asked was what school I went to, and what my current school is all about. I guess he found more important my ability to discern good judgement (he read an essay excerpt and asked me to respond on the spot, killed that) and basically speak comfortably about other "trivial" issues like the Exeter-Andover rivalry.</p>
<p>Wow, he was tough on you. Did you get Mr. Gary?
When he interviewed me (in Hong Kong), it was more or less a basic conversation. Asked about interests, hobbies, GRADES ("How are your grades at school?"), etc etc. It was pretty relaxed. But prior to the interview, I was sweating bullets. I also had to fill in a form for him (stuff to do with courses I take at school, extracurriculars, what I did this past summer, siblings, etc). He would refer to this sheet to formulate questions to ask me. He also wrote notes on the sheet, probably about me.</p>
<p>I killed one question. He asked which other schools I was applying for (the statistic there is 60% of their applicants also go for Andover, and 30 or 40% (I forget; this was in November) also go for St. Pauls) and I said Choate and Lawrenceville. He asked, "Aww why not Andover?" And i was like O_O uh...</p>
<p>I think I did quite okay on the interview overall. It was on the day after the Exeter reception in Hong Kong, and there were about five students there, all totally silent (except for me.. kind of sad. Now I understand why people are said to dislike Asian audiences) with no questions. Needless to say, Mr. Gary could remember me pretty well.</p>
<p>What else are you all applying to? And for what grade?</p>
<p>Actually, it was quite casual, very relaxed. He nailed the essence of the interview, he didn't ask real trivial questions like "What's your grades." Infact, he didn't even ask the most important question of all, "Why do you want to go to Exeter?" I forgot what my interview guy was, but I can tell he was trying to discern my personality through many odd questions. I just stayed cool. My basic advantage was my huge knowledge about Exeter, I seemed to know a lot of aspects and philosophy of the school. Like Harkness, debates, dorm stuff blah. I'm also applying to Hotchkiss and Taft. I'm applying for grade 11.</p>
<p>jthecanadian, who did u have ur interview with at Hotchkiss and Taft? What did they ask u? I had mine during the summer, and everything went well...</p>
<p>Someplace in Ontario. Yeh, I did have an alumni as an interview, and his wife actually went to Andover. She does interviews with the Andoverin kids (haha, I'd never apply there). I also had an interview with Hotchkiss. The guy at Hotchkiss asked basic questions like "why do you want here" or "what stuff you do outside of school." Yet, he was very very mirthful, always joking about the pussillanimous of Taft and the strong hockey team of Hotchkiss (can't confirm that). Also talked about about the most random topics, like how fast I drive on the highway (he claimed to have peaked 120 mi/h on the way to Connecticut). I had a preliminary interview with Taft (my real one is tomorrow with the school) and the Taft guy contrastedly made fun of Hotchkiss. He was a teacher a UCC and well, said a lot about school architecture. </p>
<p>Oh that's cool Sunny, you're from Vietnam. Are you Vietnamese?</p>
<p>jthecanadian, why did you decide to apply to American boarding schools. Did you apply to any Canadian ones like the Upper Canadian College (or something like that)?</p>
<p>Yeh about that...Upper Canada College is the most prestigious school in Canada. However, this school is a fly compared to Exeter and Hotchkiss, Taft, etc. Besides, if I wanna go to college in the US, it'd be a wise thing to first accomodate myself with US Schools.</p>