<p>I just got my ssat scores, and I only got a 70th percentile or 2070 overall. I got 710(78%) on the verbal, 680 (59%) on the math, and 680 (66%) on the reading. I was hoping to get at least 80%ile overall, I may retake in January. </p>
<p>I am applying to Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Taft, Berkshire and Pomfret. How much will my overall 70 effect my chances? Did I completely ruin my chances for any of these schools? How much do schools look at the ssat? Will these scores keep me back from acceptances? Should I retake?</p>
<p>You can have a look at the mean (or average) SSAT scores of those who were accepted at the schools last year and will get an idea. While SSAT is not the single deciding factor for admission, it is as equally (if not more) important as other factors such as grades and recs. Deerfield and Hotchkiss are the most selective schools and it would be a good idea to retake the SSAT in January.</p>
<p>You are solidly in the running for pomfret & berkshire. You are also still in the running for deerfield, hotchkiss, taft, but it would help if u had a big hook like being a URM or recruited athlete (i.e. coaches calling u constantly to join their varsity team).</p>
<p>Remember that a school’s average SSAT score is an average of higher & lower scores.</p>
<p>A larger question for u is, even if you are admitted into an uber academically rigorous school w a 70% score, is that really a good academic fit? </p>
<p>My older S walked in cold to take the SSAT and scored at top of the scale. Now he barely sleeps at school to keep up w the academic demands. These schools are SERIOUSLY hard-- no exaggeration. Relative performance in these schools will determine your competitiveness for college admission. I would not put my kids in a school where they are starting in a position of considerable weakness from the get go.</p>
<p>GMTplus7, i’m not worried about being admitted to a school that is too rigourous for me, i wont be admitted if the AOs dont think its a good fit. However, i do see your point. Thank you for your reply.</p>
<p>You can get accepted with the SSAT score that is at the lower end of their average score. But chances with higher score will be bigger. Period. </p>
<p>How many applicants with much lower-than-average will get in to the top schools? It is as few as you imagine.</p>
<p>I believe there is a pool of applicants that are admitted strictly on their academic credentials which requires high grades and high ssat scores. The rest of the applicant pool that is accepted has something to offer in addition to grades and scores. So if your academic record is good from a rigorous score the ssat has less significance. Remember that the ssat percentile rank is comparing you only to the pool of kids who took the test which tends to be higher achieving student. There is still a national percentile rank that compares you to the general population overall and you rank will be much higher. Trust that you will end up where you will thrive.</p>
<p>actually a 70 is very good. This is not a dumb science test, its the SSAT. their average may be in the 90’s but they do get kids lower than in the 90’s and also accept some kids who have lower than a 60. Dont sweat it, as long as you have good grades you should be fine and it doesnt hurt to retake it at all.</p>
<p>not at all, I am a reapplicant and the schools I applied to last year said that they have kids at 30’s and under 60’s. And these were HADES schools. For instance, does it look better to have straight A’s and a low SSAT score, or straight B’s and a 90 percentile. The straight A’s can represent a academic curriculum that is relatively easy, but then again could mean that the student works hard but isn’t a good test taker. The straight B’s can mean a harder academic curriculum but also can mean laziness in the applicant. Its just a stereotype on CC that the only way you can get in is with a high SSAT score unless you have an amazing hook, guessing that your a first time applicant because I believed this last year. But that truly isn’t the case if you show determination and passion in academics that will allow you to be successful at the school. I mean, who is it the AO’s job to judge the applicant based on the SSAT, its just a test that helps them understand if the student will be successful.</p>
<p>Those kids were recruited athletes. There is no way that a regular applicant with regular EC’s is getting into a HADES with a 30 and A’s. </p>
<p>Yes, it is a test that helps them understand if the student will be successful. Do you really think that AO’s will take people that they think will not succeed at their school?
It’s illogical to assume otherwise.</p>
<p>I applied last year too. Reapplying for sophomore year. Don’t make illogical conclusions.</p>
<p>What I meant to say is that the SSAT is not the only thing that will determine if a student will be successful. I should have added that in the end of my sentence. Yes, it is possible for someone to get into a HADES school with a 30. It is not the only deciding factor and you might not even need a hook at all. what if a student has straight A+'s at his school and a Under 50 on his/her SSAT, it shows that the school curriculum might be easy and its not that students fault, who is it the AO’s decision to reject them because of that. Do you think for the past ten years they have flat out rejected anyone under a 50 who isn’t a recruited athlete.Also, people who are current students at the HADES schools usually say they never met someone under an 80 at their school. Sorry for my language, but thats bull. Do you think anyone attending a HADES school is really going to admit they got a 30 on their SSAT, think about it. CC just creates these stereotypes that with a low SSAT score its impossible to get in. A low score may not help, but its not the deciding factor</p>
<p>It is the AO’s decision to reject them because of that. </p>
<p>I just don’t see how you could logically argue that an AO would accept someone that they can see will not succeed there as evidenced by the SSAT score.<br>
By no means am I saying that the SSAT is the end all be all, but I am saying that someone with a 30, without standing out for anything, has a significantly lower chance than someone with a 99.</p>
<p>If someone gets a low SSAT it does not guarantee they will fail at the school, people actually study for these things. Its just a source to help them paint a better picture of the applicant. If an applicant has straight F’s, then yes they will fail. But with all A’s and a low SSAT means nothing. A majority of the testakers have been studying for months and some even years, so really it doesn’t show their true academic ability if they were placed in the school. Im not saying every SSAT winner but the majority, some actually can not study or study for a short period of time and can recieve a good score. Also An AO can reject them because they might have regular Ec’s but there is also the essay’s and interviews</p>
<p>Straight A’s don’t necessarily indicate academic ability either.
SSAT’s though, are as close as you can get to fair playing ground. So if you have high grades and low SSAT’s, then that probably means that the school gives high grades easily, while if it is the opposite, you can assume that the school is a hard grader.</p>
<p>So if one has been getting straight A’s at a very easy school, but didn’t do well on the SSAT, then yes, it is indicative of failure.</p>
<p>SSAT’s dont necessarily indicate academic ability either.
So if one has straight B’s at a very easy school. And did excellent on the SSAT, it shows laziness which can get you rejected.</p>
<p>I agree. However, those B’s could show that the school is one in which it is hard to get good grades in, and thus get this hypothetical person accepted.</p>
<p>Laziness can be quite easily fixed; academic ability cannot be created.</p>