How much to AO’s look at SSAT scores for admission? If you think you did okay on the SSAT but all of your other aspects (interview, candidate profile, recommendation…etc) are good, will that still give you a chance at higher rate boarding schools.
It is one variable, and it is the one that can be compared against all applicants. Typically, they want to see scores at or above a certain level as that signals a certain ability in math and english, a level required to succeed at that school.
There are reasons a lower score might be acceptable, a common one being that the applicant is not a native speaker. At the end of the day, every school wants all of its students to succeed, and this is one of the data points they use to determine that.
It’s hard to not think of this as a competition in which you try to accumulate the most “points”, but that’s not what this is – it’s about creating a class of kids who will thrive in a particular environment.
Thanks!
After hearing from several parents who went through the process last year, I believe the SSAT counts a great deal. Not even all A’s will count as much…I actually think grades and teacher recommendations are as an important view into one’s commitment and character. But when you are a Director of Admissions and receive 2000 applications, what do you do? I know kids who are multiple repeats in school (two attended JB’s), lower grades, with high SSAT scores that get in. I may be wrong (or just negative), but I think schools want those stats - there is an incentive for them to take higher SSAT scores. Maybe they increase ranking and get more alumni dollars by posting higher SSAT scores? Likewise, people on CC have posted about correlation between SSAT scores and SAT scores.
I think you have to be at a certain level, or your application will go into the circular file. Unless, you are a legacy or an impact athlete - or have some other quality or stat that they want. You can get some validation for this opinion by reading a previous post @ an AO from a school whose dissertation was on admission criteria.
Even though many schools market themselves as seeking a “well rounded” student, “balanced and kind” student, of “citizen of the world”, the results thread on CC proves otherwise. Sorry to sound negative, but it’s how we feel. It’s especially hard this week as kids we know are working hard on their essays…I hear from the backseat of my car “Why bother with all these essays when they are just going to look at my scores”. From what I hear @ the variability in the SSAT content and results (read posts about yesterday’s test) I don’t think it’s a very fair benchmark.
My heart goes out to you great kids who have been working so hard to get into school. I believe that what ever happens, it will work out for the best - seek out the “best fit” not the “best school”. Wisdom from an old golfer.
Schools also like to brag about how many high-scoring kids they reject each year. It is NOT just about scores. (Though FA and merit $ is used by some schools to boost their stats.)