<p>I still believe that the SSAT tests a single facet of one's intelligence - ability to test.
Albert Einstein failed miserably in school, yet he is still universally regarded as a creative and mathematical genius.</p>
<p>The SSATs are a common denominator academics wise, but like most - if not all - boarding schools say, and emphasize, "It is only one aspect of an applicant we consider". Say you're applying to Andover, Exeter, and Deerfield... I think that if you have good grades (meaning A-/A+), good EC's, good recs, hold a good interview, write clever essays, but obtain an SSAT score of 73%, then you're giving them something to think long and hard about.</p>
<p>Rjm, I think that if you're under 70% your chances of getting into the TSAO's are pretty slim, unless you're a gifted football player, and have some other solid hooks (like you'd be the 5th gen. to attend, you're of Native ethnicity that is homeschooled etc.) than I don't think it's something worth setting your sites on. And remember, don't try to make yourself fit the school, make the SCHOOL fit you. I'm not saying you should black mail the Dean of Admissions or anything saying "If you don't accept me, the wifey dies at 5 today", I'm saying that it's in your best interest and happiness to find a school that isn't as academically demanding (not being the type of person to test in the 99th percentile doesn't make you lesser by ANY means, remember that!), with an excellent sports program, but is still just as top-notch an experience and education. I can't name some off the top of my head, but they're out there! Browse through the threads and type in some relevant keywords and I'm sure you'll find some.</p>
<p>Sorry, this common mistake really bugs me! </p>
<p>Einstein definitely did not fail at high school. Einstein was born on 14 March in Ulm, in Germany, in 1879. The next year, his family moved to Munich. At the age of 7, he started school in Munich. At the age of 9, he entered the Luitpold-Gymnasium. By the age of 12 he was studying calculus. Now this was very advanced, because the students would normally study calculus when they were 15 years old. He was very good at the sciences. But, because the 19th-century German education system was very harsh and regimented, he didn't really develop his non-mathematical skills (such as history, languages, music and geography). In fact, it was his mother, not his school, who encouraged him to study the violin - and he did quite well at that as well.</p>
<p>In 1895, he sat the entrance examinations to get into the prestigious Federal Polytechnic School (or Academy) in Zurich, Switzerland. He was 16, two years younger than his fellow applicants. He did outstandingly well in physics and mathematics, but failed the non-science subjects, doing especially badly in French - so he was not accepted. So in that same year, he continued his studies at the Canton school in Aargau (also called Aarau). He studied well, and this time, he passed the entry exams into the Federal Polytechnic School.</p>
<p>So the next year, he finally started studying at the Federal Polytechnic in Zurich (even though he was now one year younger than most of his fellow students). Also in the year 1896, even though he was only 16 years old, he wrote a brilliant essay that led directly to his later work in relativity.</p>
<p>So he definitely did not fail his high school, and definitely was not a poor student.</p>
<p>YES YOU CAN GET INTO TOP SCHOOLS WITH A LOW SSAT SCORE. (I currently go to Exeter)
I have a friend here who got either a 40 or a 60 percentile on his SSATs, and he still got in. (But then again, he's an amazing swimmer.)
I have read way too many comments on here saying NO you will definitely NOT get in, but that really isn't true. Sure, it might help you in your application if you score in the 99th percentile, but getting a low score doesn't necessarily kick you out.
It might lower your chances, yes.
But it won't completely put you out of the running.</p>
<p>Ok, you see alot of debate surrounding this. If the OP is still reading... You have to have some amazing hooks OR a legitimate reason for a low SSAT score. All of the people you are applying against are at least above average in all of their areas of comparison.(By areas of comparison I mean the areas that the schools compare the applicants)
A 93% mean IS NOT an average mean. None of the students that are accepted are "AVERAGE". I promise you, being average is the death of a student applying. </p>
<p>WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SSAT:
-Can the student keep up?
-Are these perfect 99 grades really that impressive? IF they are the top student at the school why do they have a 50% SSAT? SOME SCHOOLS ARE THAT BAD!
-Is the student a good test taker?
-Can they prepare for tests and does their work on a 25 minute timed essay impress us? Is that wonderful essay they wrote us COMPLETELY different then the 25 minute essay that they recieved no help on? Did they ask their parents to write them or something? Did they just put alot of effort into it?</p>
<p>My prediction is you will not get in if your SSAT is a reflection of your ability as a student(Meaning you are an average test taker and your score is a measure of how you are as a student) OR you don't have some amazing hooks. I would say these hooks would make up for it:
-Making an Olympic team or a U19 Team in a major sport
-Winning a national contest(I am in the final round of a Mu Alpha Theta presentation and that is what I want my hook to be)
-Very High SAT/ACT/PSAT score to make up for your SSAT
-Some sort of project that you can show them, and I would say something along the lines of an eagle scout project?
-Being a member of a prestigious organization(A volunteer/service one... I am becoming a member of MENSA just for applications actually... Look into something like that)</p>
<p>You are trying to beat some of the top of the top. If your 50-70% SSAT is in national percentiles then it will be a 35-60% SSAT percentile.</p>
<p>THE BEST COMPARISON I CAN GIVE:
An average SAT is 1511 out of 2400. A 50% on the SSAT(SSAT percentiles) is equal to a 1511(Average score in 2008). Pretend you are applying to an Ivy with a 1511... Ivy average scores are normally the top 8-10%... This would be like a 90-92% SSAT(Andover is a 93% average, Exeter is near that also...). Top 10-8% is a 2100 or higher total score. You are applying with a 1511 to a school that averages 2100 or higher(Most are higher by 100 points).</p>
<p>Schools look at the total applicant with test scores being a part of the evaluation. The top schools look at a range of scores in line with their reputation for rigor. If your SSAT is on the low range for a school of your interest, be sure to focus on putting together a great application. The interview is another way to distinguish yourself. Choosing a boarding school is a long, taxing and competitive process. The SSAT is only one way to shine.</p>
<p>I think you are underestimating the kids who take the ssat. </p>
<p>"If your 50-70% SSAT is in national percentiles then it will be a 35-60% SSAT percentile."</p>
<p>I doubt it would be that high. A 60% ssat percentile is probably in the mid to high 90's as a national rank. Senay's 96 national was equal to 72 ssat. National and ssat percentiles don't start to get close to one another until you get in the 95-99 range on the ssat side. </p>
<p>Because, generally speaking, only the highly motivated, bright students even take the ssat what the test does is redistribute that top 10% of all kids.</p>
<p>I can tell you that when my son took the ssat the last October and had his issues with the bubble sheet (!), his 51% ssat in math was still 96% nationally. What this says is that even an average ssat taker is still in the top 5% nationally. There is a HUGE gap between national and ssat ranks. I'd say that to get in the 70's nationally, you'd have to have an ssat %tile in the single digits! </p>
<p>SSAT test takers are in a very small pond with nothing but the biggest fish.</p>
<p>Thanks for the Einstein history--that was interesting! I've always heard that he failed school but was skeptical about it, so now I'm glad I know the real story.</p>
<p>And I agree with you about the percentiles. I work with a lot of kids so I see a lot of score reports. Also, every year I have parents who come in with their kids grades which are great, and their national percentile tests from public school in the 80's or 90's and think that he will score the same on the SSAT. It's hard since when I see an 85% nationally, it is usually an SSAT in the 40's or 50's, as you say. That means we are looking at a whole different list of schools that the parents initially thought.</p>
<p>But I do have low scoring clients at top schools: A 45% at Peddie, a high 50's at Choate, and lots and lots of kids with 70's in all the top schools.</p>
<p>Just to be clear on a "hook," it does not have to be "Making an Olympic team or a U19 Team in a major sport"
or one of the other over the top hooks mentioned. It can be as simple as geography - where you are from. It can be your ethnic background, it can be the fact that THIS YEAR, the school needs an underwater tuba player and that's your passion. Next year, they won't need one and that is not a hook...
It could be a talent - athletically or otherwise. It could be you love to debate and they are trying to build their debate team. There are many things that can be hooks that are not, as I said, "over the top" that help.<br>
It could also be that you're a great kid who they feel will make an impact on the school community. Don't underestimate that - it comes through with recommendations and the interview.</p>
<p>I think they tell alot more about your character than many other things... And your ability to write where you are by yourself. No parents can help you on that one...</p>
<p>I was told by a friend that her 99 national went to a 91 SSAT. She told me that I should cut my nationals by 10% to get my SSAT. Or find somebody with my scaled score and ask them their percentile.</p>
<p>Newyorker22, I appreciate your contributions. It would be fair to add, though, that the kids you work with will have other factors in their favor. They're likely to be full pay candidates, who come from good private and public schools in the New York area. A 70 with "A"s from Greenwich Country Day has other resources to vouch for him than a 70 with "A"s from a public school which has never sent anyone to a top private school. Both candidates might get in, of course.</p>
<p>I recommend that any applicant who wants to attend boarding school should not apply only to Andover, Exeter, Choate, Deerfield, and Hotchkiss. Whether you scored 40% or 99%, these schools aren't a shoo in for anyone. If your parents say, "Only the best, if you're going to go away from home," I'd say it's worth your while to try to persuade them to allow you to apply to a few schools outside the golden circle. Use the common application for the extra schools, to make the process less onerous. Offer to pay for the application fees with money saved up from babysitting and shoveling snow, for example. If they see you investing time and care in the process of applying to boarding school, they may at least allow you to consider the extra schools at revisit days (if you get in.) </p>
<p>As we've visited schools, I've realized that many of the smaller schools have wonderful facilities, and offer real opportunities to students to shine.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How much do the admissions people look into the SSAT essays?
[/quote]
More than one person has said they believe they simply "compare" them to your submitted essays to be sure you didn't get too much help on those. </p>
<p>Periwinkle - I completely agree. "the best" is so different for every student. To apply simply to get into "the best" is potentially doing a disservice to the student, if it's not the right school.</p>
<p>Thanks Linda. I did pretty bad on my SSAT essay and didn't get enough time to finish, so I rushed and my a couple of mistakes. Should I explain that to the admissions officers or retake the SSAT to do better?</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on retaking the SSAT? </p>
<p>My 9th grade son got a 70% this year and a 72% last year. I don't know that retaking the test will make that big of a difference in his score. He seems to be pretty consistent. Unless he really does a ton of prep work for the retake I'm afraid it won't really help and may hurt him.</p>
<p>He is looking at NMH, St. Pauls, Deerfield, Kent, Loomis Chaffee, Exeter and maybe one more. I think he has a good range from really a stretch to probably a good fit.</p>
<p>His only hook would be the eagle scout project and he lives in Wisconsin, just kidding with the Wisconsin thing.</p>
<p>We live in a very small town and the school is marginal, hence his desire for a prep school. I'm afraid his high honor roll does not really compare to a highly competitive school.</p>
<p>I have the same problem too except i have scored a 91. I would say try again if you can but if you cannot, find other schools that are more realistic. Still, keep your hopes high and maybe apply to exeter and see what happens. You guys seem to know a lot about these scores and I just received my scores today. I am applying to andover, exeter, hotchkiss, st.paul, deerfield and choate. Does 91% guaruntee a good chance of me getting in to any of them? I already paid for the next test (NO REFUNDS!!!!) but should I still send this score? HELP!</p>
<p>Exeter, Deerfield and SPS are stretches for EVERYONE, even with 99%.</p>
<p>That said, with 70's, you do usually need the "hooks" for EDS, which you may have to get the additional looks. Who knows. Eagle Scout is great, as is being from WI. </p>
<p>cmao - no need to re-take with a 91%. Anything over mid 80's puts you in the game at EVERY school. NO SCORE GUARANTEES you a good chance of getting in. You need an entire great application. It puts you in the game.</p>
<p>lollipopluvr - about the essay - I don't know, I think they understand that it's timed and you could run out of time. You could mention it, I imagine it couldn't hurt.</p>
<p>Scotland45, while your son's scores might not be good enough for a school like St. Pauls, Deerfield, or Exeter, they are still very good scores and put him in contention for the rest of the schools.</p>
<p>Does anyone know what SSAT scores would be good for the Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT?</p>