<p>Disclaimer: This is my (a 9th grader's) interpretation of a complex study. I may be wrong. (Qualifications: re-applicant, have been lurking this forum ever since November of 2011).</p>
<p>As the Choate deadline waits for us, I thought it'd be very helpful for applicants and parents (if they have the time) to look at this study done by psychologists and admissions at Choate:</p>
<p>Title: "Are SSATs Enough"</p>
<p>The study focuses on predicting <em>academic</em> success (measured through GPA and teacher reports) at Choate. It talks about the development and use of the Self Assessment; but also mentions many other things. I would summarize it (I've understood it fairly well -- aside from some statistical jargon -- but I'd think I'm a biased party), but I have to finish the Choate Essays. However, here are things that may be potentially helpful/comforting:</p>
<p>SSAT Verbal Scores have not been very helpful in academic success; out of the remaining two sections, (Reading and Quantitative), the Quantitative section has been more useful in predicting success.</p>
<p>The two short answer questions focus on creativity and practicality; the creativity one is judged for creativity (shockingly) and writing (well written, spelling -- again, shocking). The practicality one (the time management one) is judged for writing, how reasonable the the response is (i.e., whether your answer is a good solution to the problem or not), and the rational for your response (i.e., WHY). </p>
<p>(I would quote from the study but it is about thirty pages long, and I don't have the time to search for the lines. That being said, it's up to you to take my advice or not.)</p>
<p>Average SSAT/GPA scores for admitted applicants <a href="taken%20from%20chart%20on%20page%2027/32">Possibly outdated</a>:
Math -- 728.79, SD 66.98
Reading -- 688.25, SD 72.93
Verbal -- 710.88, SD 62.54
GPA -- 3.69, SD 0.41</p>
<p>Things that they look at (NOT for) (stated in article, not explicitly -- [Interpreted])
Practicality
Creativity
Analytical Skills
Academic Intrinsic/extrinsic Motivation
Academic Locus of control (whether you believe events are based on luck or on one's actions)
Self - Efficacy (measures of ability to complete tasks and goals)
Academic Self Awareness</p>
<p>These things are also measured in the interview:</p>
<p>" On the basis of the results from Study 1, we made the decision to introduce selected
measures from the PACE Battery into Choate’s admission process. To minimize the associated costs and to avoid the need for proctoring, we included only self-assessments; they were presented to applicants as an “optional addition” to their application packages. [In addition, during candidates’ evaluations, the Choate admissions office representatives rated their perceptions of the creative and
practical abilities of the interviewees], based on the interviewees’ answers in the admission application to two short essay questions that were developed by Choate staff in concordance with the WICS theory to elicit a creative or practical response; the representatives used a scale ranging from 1 (high) to 3 (low), mimicking, at low cost, the performance measures used in Study 1. Like many measures in the admission process, this tool was used in an effort to either distinguish a
candidate, positively or negatively, or to corroborate with other evidence in the application whether it be the interview, other writing samples or the confidential teacher recommendations. All participation in this research was voluntary."</p>
<p>*My bold-ing / brackets.</p>
<p>I would provide a summary/analysis, but I have essays to write (and I am aware that I'm (a) working with very little time and (b) wasting my time by writing this).</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>