<p>6th grade daughter- swims competitively- applying to prestigious prep school coming from another private school. She took her SSAT's- her estimated National percentiles were verbal 80%, math 93% and reading 92%. Her total score was in the 1800s</p>
<p>I spoke to the school yesterday and admissions lady was cordial and nice and said they'd like for her to come in for a day of shadowing and more additional testing and they'd have my admissions coordinator call me to set up appt. </p>
<p>Today, totally different tune and person who called to tell me they were expecting her to score higher in math and were disappointed about her math scoring because her report cards and recommendation letter because the Dean show her as an outstanding student so they want her to come take JUST another math test no shadowing just another test.</p>
<p>So the conversation from today is what threw me into a loop because it has always been yes there are openings to now 'well she'll go into a wait list and you'll know in February for sure'.</p>
<p>Is this how it goes everywhere? I guess that's better than a 'no thank you' but talk about making this more stressful than it already is! Should I call back to get more clarification? Why do I feel so stupid all of the sudden and have no clue what to do or say?</p>
<p>Thanks for listening - I've been reading up on you guys for a while and figured this was time for me to ask a question and I'm sorry it's not a more upbeat one :(</p>
<p>Am I missing something? It sounds like the target school has very high expectations, and your daughter might not get in. They’re giving her a chance to retake the math portion, so she can study up and do her best. My advice is to remain calm and see how it goes, and think about other possiblities if she won’t have the option of remaining at her current school.</p>
<p>Well vocabulary can always be taught and she can catch up- she said the analogies were incredibly difficult to figure out. And I guess they are not looking at nat’l percentiles- just individual scores as they relate to other SSAT takers (she was in the 581-611 range. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t get all that - but thanks for the heads up I’ll re-post in prep school forum :)</p>
<p>Soflomom- you have to look at the independent school percentiles, not the national percentiles. 80th percentile or higher on the independent school scale, as a recruited athlete, should get you into a very competitive private school. Anything lower, and the work might be too difficult. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>I doubt she’s a recruited athlete. Swimming competitively in the 6th grade is great (my kids did it), but isn’t really going to let you jump over many other applicants for 7th grade. Especially with a female. Bodies change, and your top 6th grader might be a whole different athlete after puberty.</p>
<p>Those are excellent scores and surely there is a great school for your daughter.</p>
<p>Ok no she’s not a recruited athlete…I don’t know anyone who recruits for middle school. But was just saying that she’s an athlete- I actually just got off the phone with them and it was the original admissions person to confirm visit day -She said the officer gave me wrong information they have a hold in lower school not middle or high school so she may have been confused after I asked her if responses came out in Feb or if this meant automatic wait list. So it is what it is and it will be what’s meant to be. She’s taking a grade specific test so I’m sure she’ll do great in that. Thanks all!</p>
Yes, you should call back to get clarification. Her math scores were much higher than her verbal scores, so it doesn’t make sense for her to retake only the math section.</p>
<p>I think you can frame this as–After my D was requested to retake the math section, I looked over her previous scores and noticed that her math scores were in the ___ percentile for independent schools. Am I understanding the situation correctly–you would like her to retake the math section but not the other sections?</p>
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<p>You want the best for your daughter, you’ve never been in this situation before, and their second phone call was unexpected because it was such a turnaround from the first. You’re normal!</p>
<p>There’s something wrong with this picture. I cannot imagine a prestigious prep school telling you all this even before the application deadline has passed. Is this some special program she’s applying to?</p>
<p>I would call the school back and clarify. I agree with Hanna, sounds like they are trying to help her get past a weak spot in her application, but if she scored 92% in math–even on national norms, that’s pretty darn respectible. You’d think if they had a problem with her scores it would be with the lowest one, which isn’t math.</p>
<p>@qialah it’s just early admission process- I dove in early to avoid the ‘stress’ HA!</p>
<p>I replied above but from my phone so it got all screwy. About an hour ago I rec’d a follow up call from the original advisor and I talked to her about all of my concerns- she eased my mind- she said they loved her essay, had stellar recommendations, and this is definitely a step in the right direction - so we’ll see. I’ll be definitely be having her review math and verbal just in case.</p>
<p>OP - Yeah, I’d be confused too. I think your D’s scores are fine … especially the Math score! My response might have been something along the lines of “Well, if 93rd percentile isn’t good enough for PrestigiousPrepSchool, then I’m thankful my D won’t be attending there.” (I’m certain you were more diplomatic than that!) Bottom Line: Either the school has had a change of heart, which I doubt, or the second caller had your D confused with another child. JMHO of course.</p>
<p>I have a very good friend who is the admissions director at an independent middle/high school. They do their very best not to send rejection letters to anyone - instead, they “counsel them out” during the process. If at any point in the admissions process she feels that the student is not a good fit for her school she will tell the PARENT (not the kid), “It looks like we might not be the right place for your child. Do you have some other schools you are considering?” The application is never completed, so there’s not a rejection. Last year she only had to send 2 rejection letters.</p>
<p>So either they were counseling you out, or they had the scores mixed up - or as you said they have a “hold” on some grades that are already full with existing students.</p>
<p>I’m very confused. As someone asked earlier, what prestigious prep school is telling anyone they are or are not getting in during November? I’ve been in the prep school world for many years and all of the top schools I know, day and boarding, have common acceptance dates in the spring to allow families to get all of their offers at once.</p>
<p>Are you seeking financial aid? Were they expecting your DD to be a math star? Did they explain that national percentages are not what they consider?</p>
<p>Consider deeply if you want to pay a great deal of money to people who treat your D as if she’s not quite “top drawer.”</p>
<p>I’d be looking at lots of other options. Tell D she’s a terrific kid and that you want her to know about a wide range of possibilities (always a good life habit). As you poke around your region, she may walk onto a campus and just love, love, love it. If they love, love, lover her back then that may be a better match even if the bumper sticker isn’t as well known.</p>
<p>The thing to remember at prep schools (and colleges for that matter) is you’ll never see the admissions officers again. They do their job and produce the strongest class they can and then it’s up to others to love your kid. I wouldn’t hold admissions against any school.</p>
<p>I’m also guessing this isn’t a big name bumper sticker because I’ve never encountered a top school that would give out that info or accept a student in November.</p>