My child had COVID the day she took the SSAT and got a 51%. We found out that night she was sick. We had to travel 4 hours one way for her to take it as there were no SSAT test from home dates left. She’s got exceptional transcripts, recommendations and a couple other unique and attractive elements that make her a rarer profile. She is seeking FA. Should I contact the interviewers from the schools requiring testing and tell them what happened?
I think it depends on what you plan to tell them. Either she was already feeling sick, but you took her anyway to a testing center where she could have exposed other kids, or that she wasn’t feeling sick but tested positive later that night, in which case her performance would not have been affected. I would avoid that conversation and just not submit the scores.
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Are the schools where she is applying test optional (or “TO”)? If so, maybe you don’t have to submit the scores or any explanation.
If the schools aren’t all TO, is there time to do one last examination?
If the answer to both questions is no, I agree with @maybeboardingmom: the explanation may raise additional questions.
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Did you know that she had COVID or was sick beforehand?
The school’s would’ve probably understood that COVID hindered her from taking the test…but she took it anyhow and exposed dozens of other people.
You’ll either have to proceed with her current score or essentially admit that she went into public with COVID symptoms, and neither seems like a good look.
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Let’s not be too harsh on OP. Maybe she was okay when they left home, and only felt sick during the test. Anyways, if OP has reasonable explanation, she certainly can talk to the AO.
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additionally, as noted above, she could go TO if that’s possible.
Thanks everyone, for the replies, I appreciate your feedback. She seemed tired that day but that was expected due to being up later than normal the night before, because we had to travel out-of-state for this. So, she wasn’t at her best that AM, which I figured would happen as she is a kid who needs lots of sleep. Later in the day, she developed a light cough and started losing her voice. I never would’ve taken her to the testing that AM if we would’ve known she was coming down with Covid. She wore a mask the whole time. What happens if we don’t submit any scores? She’s applying to many schools but there are 3, I believe, who are not TO. Thank you all again!
Hard to answer without knowing more about daughter, schools and other aspects of her candidacy. Not too worried about perception of infecting the world. On other hand, still does not mean the excuse will do much.
51 may still be ok but I understand your frustration.
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Try to find a way for her to sit again for the test.
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Does she have a PSAT or SAT score that you could show? Some schools will accept an alternate test this year.
My daughter took her SSAT at home from her computer.
Maybe you can schedule another test for your daughter to take at home?
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A similar thing happened with Kiddo2, though his was a non covid virus. Fortunately, we had previous scores to submit, but it was a bummer because he was hoping to improve. Is there any way she can test again? I don’t think the “she got sick that night” argument is going to hold much weight in the admission office.
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I don’t think you would get the results in time if you took it again, even if it was the day you posted this. Mine took about a week and a half to get back to me, and I think most schools only have an extended deadline for transcripts but not test scores. Your child has good grades (she will probably need to be taking higher level courses to back this up, since they use SSAT for a benchmark) and recommendations so if the non TO schools aren’t your top choice you should be fine I guess. Good luck
Most schools accept test scores after the application deadline.
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Oh, I only saw them saying they accepted past the deadline for transcripts. Thanks