<p>hi i'm thinking of applying to Hotchkiss, Exeter, Deerfield, and St. Paul's next year for 10th grade. </p>
<p>Is it harder to get into these schools in 10th grade as opposed to 9th?</p>
<p>How can I study for the SSAT test? Is it hard?</p>
<p>It's harder to get in for 10th, yes, but not as hard as 11th. I suggest you apply to many more schools. Try Choate, Lawrenceville, Taft, Andover... etc. </p>
<p>Try getting a practice SSAT and see how you scored on it.</p>
<p>I've heard that it's about as hard to get into tenth as it is to get into ninth. There's fewer spaces, but there's also fewer applicants. I've also heard that the most competitive applicants apply for ninth grade, while the less competitive students apply for tenth.</p>
<p>You should do a bit more research a pick a few [3 to 4 more] schools that have less competitive admissions [admission rate is 35 - 50%] that you could picture yourself [a happy yourself] attending. Might I suggest Mercersburg Academy? Having just gone through the process, I would say that having a Plan B and a Plan C is essential to your success in the boarding school admissions process. Boarding school didn't work out for me, but luckily a very nice opportunity came up for me in the last moment [I was accepted to a local magnet high school that fit many of my interests quite nicely]. </p>
<p>I would assume that these schools have proportionally [# of applicants -> # accepted] as many applicants for 10th grade as they do for the 9th grade. After one year of high school, many students realize that they would be much better off in a boarding school environment. Most boarding schools should realize this. </p>
<p>Currently, you are in 8th grade? I do not know if you have taken the SAT before, but if you know about the SAT, then you will find that the SSAT is similar [albeit geared towards a younger audience]. The SSAT is not the kind of test that you find in school. For example, the SAT, although many students take it in 11th and 12th grade, does not test you on Calculus, but rather on logic and problem-solving abilities. The SSAT is similar. It will test your problem-solving and understanding [for lack of better word] skills. Perhaps you could call it a cumulative test? </p>
<p>Anyway, you can get a much better picture of what the test is like if you pick up a practice book. Personally, I would not recommend Barron's, but that is just my preference. Princeton Review seems to have worked very well for people on this board. </p>
<p>Generally, my impression of the test was that the mathematics and critical reading sections do not require much preparation. However, the vocabulary and analogies section of the test does require preparation and a bit of memorization as well. Some books are specifically geared towards the vocabulary sections of standardized tests, ex. Word Smart by Princeton Review. You should prepare for the SSAT, but, do not make it the focus of your application. It is by no means the most important part of you application. </p>
<p>My final advice would be to make sure that over the next few months you develop an interesting range of extracurriculars. Participate in the activities that you love; follow your interests. I am sure that over the summer, you will do something interesting [I will not command you to do a certain thing, for at this point 1) I am beginning to feel like a dictator :D, and 2) I do not know what you are interested in].</p>
<p>I believe that is all I have to say.</p>
<p>Anyway, I fear that I am getting quite long-winded and redundant, thus I shall end this post with two succinct words:</p>
<p>*Good Luck. *</p>
<p>~ CT.</p>
<p>Edit: PS: Be sure not to spontaneously internally combust on SSAT testing day. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Jonathan1 describes one of the macrodynamics that generally affect the competitive level of the applicant pool for 10th grade admissions.</p>
<p>Perhaps the biggest dynamic is the microdynamic...meaning what changes take place in YOUR life from one year to the next. We obviously can't speak to that, but people who are deciding whether to wait until 10th grade should consider it. (You, however, are too late to apply to 9th, so the comparison between the competitive levels in your case doesn't serve much use, does it?)</p>
<p>The microdynamics that I refer to include things such as increased maturity; successes (and failures) that may occur as the applicant faces greater challenges and workloads; physical development and the opportunities for athletic achievements; time to bond with a mentor in a specific field -- and being in an environment (HS versus MS) where that's more likely to occur, etc.</p>
<p>Some students may find that their best window of opportunity is coming out of a feeder school. Some may learn that where they excelled at a sport early, puberty didn't do right by them and they're not going to continue to excel...while others benefit from a well-timed growth spurt. Some may find that they were impressive in middle school where there was a focus on rewarding students for organization and big art-class-type assignments in science and social studies classes...while in HS they may find that there's trouble when teachers focus on command over concepts and not whether the model of the water molecule had a neon light and was painted in bright colors.</p>
<p>Some students will make for better applicants by waiting another year. Some students not so much.</p>
<p>What the...., Chaos? Were you just being dead serious? Did you just type that many words and not use the words "spontaneous" "internal" or "combustion?" Are you running a high-grade fever? Everything you said makes great sense...but I'm concerned for you...</p>
<p>
<p>I would assume that these schools have proportionally [# of applicants -> # accepted] as many applicants for 10th grade as they do for the 9th grade. After one year of high school, many students realize that they would be much better off in a boarding school environment. Most boarding schools should realize this.</p>
<p>Currently, you are in 8th grade? I do not know if you have taken the SAT before, but if you know about the SAT, then you will find that the SSAT is similar [albeit geared towards a younger audience]. The SSAT is not the kind of test that you find in school. For example, the SAT, although many students take it in 11th and 12th grade, does not test you on Calculus, but rather on logic and problem-solving abilities. The SSAT is similar. It will test your problem-solving and understanding [for lack of better word] skills. Perhaps you could call it a cumulative test?</p>
<p>Anyway, you can get a much better picture of what the test is like if you pick up a practice book. Personally, I would not recommend Barron's, but that is just my preference. Princeton Review seems to have worked very well for people on this board.</p>
<p>Generally, my impression of the test was that the mathematics and critical reading sections do not require much preparation. However, the vocabulary and analogies section of the test does require preparation and a bit of memorization as well. Some books are specifically geared towards the vocabulary sections of standardized tests, ex. Word Smart by Princeton Review. You should prepare for the SSAT, but, do not make it the focus of your application. It is by no means the most important part of you application.</p>
<p>My final advice would be to make sure that over the next few months you develop an interesting range of extracurriculars. Participate in the activities that you love; follow your interests. I am sure that over the summer, you will do something interesting [I will not command you to do a certain thing, for at this point 1) I am beginning to feel like a dictator , and 2) I do not know what you are interested in].</p>
<p>I believe that is all I have to say.</p>
<p>Anyway, I fear that I am getting quite long-winded and redundant, thus I shall end this post with two succinct words:</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>~ CT.
</p>
<p>heyy, thanks for all the advice. i've researched a lot of the schools olivia mentioned and pretty much love them all. (as of now) I just thought 4 would be good enough and they matched me better. I don't want to dedicate my LIFE in the beginning of next year to applications and don't want to be overwhelmed by applying to tons of schools. One of my main concerns is FA.</p>
<p>I'll take your suggestions to thought and any other input is welcome.</p>
<p>In my city, I'm in eighth grade and pretty much dominate 99.9% of the other kids. I want a highly focused environment that is fun, but serious and will allow me to excel in my two best subjects: science, and math. I'm a serious dancer, cross country runner, and tennis player. I'd like to pursue in crew and squash, but all these things are just simply unavailable at my current school.</p>
<p>Chaos has good advice.</p>
<p>If you are satisfied with your current situation and/or other local options, then just apply to those 4 very competitive boarding schools. However, you should understand that the majority of applicants will be just as bright, hard-working and high achieving as you are. This is difficult to understand when you are used to being on top. There is a chance that you will not gain acceptance into any of these 4 schools. It's not that you aren't qualified; it's just that they have more qualified applicants than they have spots for those applicants. </p>
<p>If you have your heart set on boarding school, then take a look at a few other schools that are improvements over what you have now but are not as competitive as the 4 you selected. It's harder work to identify these schools, but getting the work done can yield you excellent results next March 10th. Good luck!</p>
<p>Burb Parent, you have great insights. I would love to attend any of the four of those boarding schools, but will be fine if I can't. I have other oppurtunities my way as well. Plan B would be to go to a magnet school and Plan C would be to stay at my public school and go to a community colllege in 12th grade which has already been discusses with the school because I will most likely exaust their departments in 11th grade. </p>
<p>Therefore, I think I will stick to applying to four and taking a few crazy chances. Hey, who knows? There's everything to gain and nothing to loose, right?</p>
<p>How advanced are you in math? Science? Perhaps you should make a mini-chances post, so we can get an idea of how "crazy" your chances really are. ;)</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>I'm taking Differential Calculus and Chemistry in 9th grade. So I'm only one year ahead in science and about 3 years ahead in math.</p>
<p>i take Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry now :) & Honors Biology. I'm in 8th grade.</p>
<p>Differential Equations, eh? What [math] sequence do you plan on following over the next year to get you there?</p>
<p>I'd go for it. One of my best friends also wants to apply as a 10th grader next year. You could probably PM her if you want. Her username is janemac. I believe she is going to apply to AESD, Choate, Lawrenceville, Taft, and Middlesex.</p>