<p>I was just wondering how much other stuff counts if you got a pretty solid SSAT score. I'm sure a good number of people have great scores. So are the admissions officers now looking for a 'hook'? I've noticed that many members on this board describe their hooks as a sport. What if you're a well-rounded person who's hook is being passionate for learing in general? I mean, this is high school. What if the appilcants don't know their true passion or hook since they spent their childhood years simply out playing (no sport in particular)? What I'm trying to ask is if it seems okay to have a well rounded solid academic and athletic record and be in the misdst of finding a 'hook'. Is this a big turn-off for admissions officers?</p>
<p>I don't think it is a turn-off. A hook is a bonus, not a must-have. Try to work that into your essays, how you're grateful to have a wonderful childhood full of exploration and learning, self-guided, developing at your own pace through play, rather than sharply focused at a single thing. Give examples of experiances that meant a lot to you. Include that you're hoping to develop more serious and focused passions in high school, especially with the resources that prep school can provide, and list things that you think you would want to pursue. That could make a wonderful and personal essay.</p>
<p>first off, a solid ssat score doesn't matter too much. mine was, mm, less than ideal, but i got into exeter fine. i guess you could say i am a "well-rounded person who's hook is being passionate for learning in general," which i think is important. (and, i didn't really have any kind of hook. in fact, being korean-american from new jersey with a sub-par ssat score, looking for fa, i didn't think my chances were good.) admissions considers attitude and personality very important. so, if by well-rounded you mean good enough to make a jv sport, play in some musical groups, get decent grades, "contribute to the school", and join a few clubs, i think you are in good shape.</p>
<p>Don't overlook the importance of your recomendations. IMO, they are super important. Maybe your passion can be found in a long term EC or winning at the reginal or state level science fair. Again imo and not to minimize the ssat, I think they are not as important as grades, interviews, recs, and some long term committment to something. SSAT will not save you with mediocre recs, or mediocre grades, SSAT's will not make up for bad interviews such as being arrogant or some other off the wall disposition.</p>
<p>Prepparent, how much weight do you consider SSATs to have? There's so much back and forth about this, I'm just wondering what you think. A lot of the time, it seems like SSATs don't give anything if you don't do well, they just subtract things if you don't do well.</p>
<p>prettyckitty, I don't think an SSAT can sink you however, recommendations, poor/mediocre grades, lack of anything outside of school, poor performance at an interview can end your prospects of acceptance. Sure, if you do very poorly on the ssat, it may sink you. Think about it, you have read from students from andover and exeter and they both tell you the ssat was not important for their successful admission. See #3. I do not have a crystal ball but, from the experience of CC over the last 3 or so years, people have been rejected who had ssat scores in the 90's. </p>
<p>Pretyckitty, my perception of you goes well beyond your 99's. I see you having a successful go with the application process. Your ability to assist other students on CC and in the manner that you do bodes well for you.</p>
<p>Thank you, prepparent, that's very kind of you. I would expect that many schools reject students with high-ninties SSAT scores, as well they should. SSAT scores, in reality, don't say very much about a person. But sometimes it seems very frustrating that some of the most important things, like teacher recomendations, are in another person's hands. And then of course the fact that you can do everything "right" (high SSATs and grades, excellent recomendations, even a hook) and still get rejected. It makes you want to grab onto concrete numbers, which is why I think many people get attached to SSAT scores.</p>
<p>prettyckitty, OK you have those concrete numbers, now begin to formulate the rest of your game plan. You may have noticed that on the teacher recs forms that many of the questions are check boxes that the teacher will fit you into a ranking system. Yes some are subjective but others are not. They also will have a chance to write something about you, hopefully and I'm sure they will write something good for you. How is your relationship with your English, Math, and Language teachers?</p>
<p>Do any of you belong to the Nat'l Junior honor society, of Latin honor society? How about a sport you may have a particular passion for, this can explain why you may have less EC's than most. You may have put alot of time into a particular sport, or instrument. maybe you're an accomplished oboe player. It sure would be helpful to have a passion outside of the class room. I'm assuming you have a passion for learning.</p>
<p>I'm also getting recomendations from my science teacher.
My English teacher thinks exceptionally highly of me. I'm the top-ranked student in her class.
My science teacher--very good relationship, for the time he has known me.
My foreign language teacher thinks the world of me, but I am only asking her to write one letter, because as she is not a native English speaker (born in France), it is a more dubious project for her than for my other teachers. Also, she is a bit prone to losing things and forgetting.
My mathematics teacher likes me, but I am not top-ranked in her class (high-honors class).
My personal and special interest recomenders all think highly of me.</p>
<p>My bad, I missed the Science Teacher rec. I notice you live i Berkeley, very nice. I grew up not far from Berkeley. What type of school do you attend?</p>
<p>I attend public school.</p>
<p>Are personal recommendations mandatory for Andover and Exeter? Will they give you a significant boost in admissions if you don't have a particular extracurricular passion, or an extracurricular that you have participated in for a long time?</p>
<p>do you mean if you do have a particular passion? Many of the students come to the table with passions that are exhibited by their EC's. Remember, they are building communities. The last thing a community needs is all high scoring SSAT's, where's the diversity in that. Yes, it is my opinion that you have to have some long term commitment outside the class room. There are a plethora of top students who do amazing things outside of the class room. These are what bs schools look for.</p>
<p>Tommister many schools have an additional recommendation. If you do have an outside interest, you can use this rec with someone of authority that may know your body of work. I do not recommend sending more then the school ask's for</p>
<p>I believe they are mandatory for Andover, but it is a "personal" recomendation. That means it does not have to be a particular skill or talent, but you overall as a person. I think that they are also mandatory for Exeter, but I believe for that it is a "special interest" (a particular talent or activity) form. I don't have the papers with me, so I'm not sure.
Whether or not they are mandatory, it is always good to have a recomendation that didn't come from an academic teacher. I have a few (three, which is more than perhaps I should) but I made sure that they were from people who not only knew me well, so they can write specific things, but know me in different aspects. For example, one is a former writing tutor (worked with me recently, and is a family friend), another is my fencing instructor, and another is a teacher I work for/assist in her classroom with her students. This way there will not be a lot of repetition.</p>
<p>prettyckitty, the fencing instructor or the teacher you assist will be ideal. It gives the school's a chance to see a different side of you (not academics). With D#1 she used her long time volleyball coach. D#2 is going to use her scout leader. It is our belief that showing a more humanistic side outside of academics is the way to go on this particular rec. Hey, you have plenty to brag with regard to academics on your application. Give the school's a fresh perspective of you outside of the class room. Something that demonstrates both leadership and time commitment (long term)(passion) and character would probably do the trick.</p>
<p>Interesting note, the school my daughter chose did not offer volleyball. She chose her volleyball coach more as a mentor than as a volleyball coach. In addition she was her 5th grade teacher. I guess the point is that she had a long term relationship with her on many different levels.</p>
<p>Okay, so do you think that a teacher who taught me in 4th and 5th grade that I've still kept a pretty close realtionship with would be a good one for the personal recommendation? For the special interest one I could do one of my basketball coaches, but since teams have just been announced I've only known them for a few weeks. I could do my guitar teacher, but since I've just recently moved back to where I live currently, I've only been taking lessons from him for a few months. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I'd suggest looking at the personal recommendatoin and examining the different questions they ask. If they ask about your ability to bounce back, or resiliency, or your energy level, then ask people who know you best in the majority of those areas.</p>
<p>Hmm, I may be wrong but my recollection is that the personal recommendations are pretty much opened ended. However, olivia 567 makes a good point. Tommeister, you want to have someone who has know you for some time. Someone who can attest to your character and shed light about you. If our old teacher fits the bill, go for it. Of course the math, english, science and or language teacher recs must be current teachers.</p>
<p>Tom -- When you first came to this forum, I think you said that you helped edit/write something with your father. Is that correct? Didn't you also say that there was someone who is an active Exeter alum who thought you should look at Exeter? The alum could be helpful if he knows you well. If he is a generous donor to the school, they might pay additional attention to his recommendation. Was there an editor or someone in publishing you worked with on the article/book? Didn't you live in the UK? A recommendation from someone there might get attention if it is favorable. Just some thoughts...</p>