Hi, I was wondering if there were any boarding schools that don’t require SSAT. He has a very good transcript; scored more than 99 percentile in two national exams, but didn’t quite get a good score on the ssat, in fact he got a very bad score that he doesn’t want to take the test again.
I would also like to mention that he is a student from Africa.
I do not know of any boarding schools that do not require either the SSAT or the ISEE.
What is his actual SSAT score. Then I can recommend some schools that might be of interest to you & your son.
He got 51%ile. He is an 11th grader, and I don’t think he can score that again.
If you can, maybe you could give me names of schools you are sure he will get accepted to and schools he might. Thank you for your time.
I don’t think this would apply to your situation, but there are a number of schools that don’t require SSAT/ISEE if you have a current nueropsych with educational testing.
Not sure of acceptance, but I think that the Culver Academies in Indiana would be worth investigating.
Of course, if you are seeking financial aid, then it might be more of a challenge. Nevertheless, Culver Academies is a wealthy school which awards lots of financial aid.
Although the boys side is military, it is coed.
Try the <65% SSAT schools on this list. He may also want to apply to the 65-75% list.
https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/top-twenty-schools-listing/highest-average-ssat
There are some wonderful schools there. Even though they’re not schools for kids with learning disabilities, some on the <65% list have a lot of great, smart kids with minor LDs, meaning there will be a lot of support for an international student. If he’s looking for a traditional New England boarding school experience I’d recommend Lawrence Academy, Kimball Union, the Gunnery, or Brooks. Also New Hampton, which doesn’t show up on this list, presumably because they don’t report their SSAT scores. If he’s interested in all boys Avon old Farms or Trinity-Pawling.
That’s not to say the other schools on this list aren’t good. I just happen to know more about the NE schools.
ETA: Please remind him that the SSAT population is self-selected and have him look at the projected national percentiles if they’re available to him as an international student. I remember my kids’ projected national scores as being substantially higher than their actual percentiles for test-takers. IOW, his 51% is only where he places among kids applying to private schools, since those are the only kids who take the SSAT, and that’s a very competitive group.
@Sue22: What a great, helpful post !
A significant factor will be whether or not the family is seeking financial aid.
Here’s another piece you may find useful.
https://mytutor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/201617_SSAT_full_book2.pdf
As you can see, there are many schools worth investigating that take kids in the 50% SSAT range. Add Proctor to my list above.
For 11th grade, many/most schools accept SAT, ACT or PSAT.
Honestly, although he sounds like a very bright kid it might be to his advantage to attend a less competitive boarding school. Junior year is very intense and even a lot of Americans find the switch to boarding to be a big adjustment. He might be better off at a school where he can excel.
ETA: Just saw from Publisher’s comment (and the OP’s) that he’s a current 11th grader. I agree that admission for just 12th would be tough.
Why is he interested in American boarding schools? By 12th grade a lot of kids have one foot out the door and a lot of the year is spent either obsessing over colleges or looking back on the students’ years at the boarding school.
If he is currently in the 11th grade, then he may have to repeat as many boarding schools do not accept applications for just 12th grade. Or he should wait until he graduates high school & applies as a PG (post graduate) which is a one year program typically, but not always, used by athletes.
Thanks @Sue22 for the “my tutor” link, I found that to be very helpful! We’ve already been through the process with my current 9th grader, but I am already looking ahead for my current 7th grader. The 7th grader is not a good standardized test taker, so I’m starting early with some practice work and strategies.
Dear @Sue22, wouldn’t it be a lot easier for him if he would apply to a college from a boarding school in the US than here, since college is probably his main goal.
If you say his chances would be more or less the same, could you help me with the process of applying to college, cause he is my first kid and I don’t have any experience in this kind of things.
Thank you
Is there a United World College committee in your country?
There is nothing like that in my country.
If you are interested in an all boys’ school, add salisbury to the list. Many kids come as repeat sophomores and juniors, and for a relatively small school (~310), there is a large and diverse international population. I think my son hosted a boy from Thailand who was coming as a senior or PG this year. Salisbury has a lot to offer kids all over the academic spectrum and the learning center has a great reputation. They also offer a PG program though I think it is generally athletes who do a PG year.
I know a kid who had less than 50% on his SSAT and is now at Stanford after 4 years at a BS that took a chance on him. But the question is whether the test score is representative of the student’s ability or if there is an explanation (LD, poor sending school, etc.)
Fully agree that, regardless of scores, for an international student in 11th, ability to pay is important to know as we make recommendations for you. 12th for one year is almost impossible.
@gardenstatelegal : No everyone wants to know the name of the boarding school referred to your post #16 above.
@gardenstategal : could you please tell me the name of the bs, so that my son could apply before its late.
I would be needing a lot of FA as I am a single mother trying to get what’s best for my kids.
What country are you from?