I got my SSAT scores back today and needless to say they’re not where I wanted them to be. (My verbal dropped a full 10 percent from last time :(( :(( :((.) I am applying to HADES schools. I don’t have a hook but I would say I am a strong candidate otherwise: My grades are As; I’m 100 percent confident that my recommendations are stellar even though they’re blind (I’m the kid in class who the teachers always love); and I excel in the performing arts. (I also have a recommendation from my teacher saying I’ve got tremendous potential for a career as a classical musician.) I’ve got plenty of community service, my interviews were awesome, etc. I’m white, female and from an over-represented area. I’ve applied to one of these schools as a day student and am asking for partial FA at all of them. Do I even have a shot with these SSAT scores? Part of me is wondering if I may have a better shot at the day school because they’re pulling from a smaller pool and may therefore be more forgiving about SSATs? A few of the schools are actually accepting February, but I don’t know how much I can raise them in that time. Do you have a low SSAT success story to share?
Do you know if your schools superscore? How low is low? 75% or 12%? Big difference.
81 percent reading, 84 percent verbal, and 71 percent math. Those are my best from two tests. I know at least one of the schools superscores; another says it looks at all of the scores. Unfortunately, now I have to send my last scores, too, which reflect a much lower math but an equally higher verbal.
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I don’t think anyone would say those scores are the end of the world or automatically disqualify you.
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I think every experienced parent, and some of the kids, on CC would tell you that no matter your scores and grades, only applying to HADES scores is a mistake unless you are ok with no BS option.
HADES schools (not scores)
Those are NOT low scores.
Most schools (even HADES schools) have kids with lower scores.
If you aren’t admitted, it won’t be because of your scores. It could be because their orchestra or band needed kids who played a different instrument than you right now. Or because this year they are short on lacrosse players. You may never know. But it won’t be because of your scores.
Thank you. Yes, this definitely makes sense! I looked through last year’s stats and there are definitely some amazing candidates getting turned away. I know it’s a reach for me in any case, but I just wasn’t sure if the scores meant a hard no at this point if I can’t manage to get them up. I have a great public school option in my town, luckily. I’d rather go to prep school but I know I’d be happy there, too.
@MaylaSunshine Both my verbal and math scores dropped around 20 points. Your fine
@MaylaSunshine I just had my Andover interview and I did ask her about how significant the ssat is in the admissions process. It’s important but there are so many other things that are more important. She said that there are kids who have been admitted with scores in the 50th percentile and are thriving at Andover.
Send them both scores as they do superscore.
Also, if your willing to go through that process again, Exeter and Andover accept February test scores.
By “just” do you mean today??? Because that would be a CRAZY coincidence.
Yes, I think I’m going to give them another go although I’m not very excited about it, obviously.
Yah, today
LOL I was there today too. :))
lol :))
I don’t have muh of an ssat success story but according to both my tour guide and interviewer, there are many students who had mediocre scores and are currently thriving at Andover. Of course, they’re a small number of kids compared to the general population but you have to think of how they conviced the admissions officers to admit them.
Ime, scores are seen in the context of the student. They may assume that a kid from a poor district with low scores just didn’t have as strong a foundation but, based on other factors, could get up to speed and do well. Ditto for someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language – it could be assumed that as their language skills improved, they’d do fine.
The score alone is just one piece of the puzzle. Don’t sweat it.
I know I’m a little late to the party here, but I think schools may train tour guides to say certain things about SSAT scores in order to not intimidate the applicant. Almost every tour I’ve ever been on has said the same thing, “Oh, I’m not sure exactly what I got, I don’t remember to be totally honest” :-? “Either way, that doesn’t really matter, our admission committee tends to look at a more wholistic view of the student… anyways, have you seen how fresh cut that grass is???”
I don’t see myself forgetting just a year later… it was so exciting to do well.
@Coppii welcome back to the party. FWIW - kiddo is a tour guide and is often asked @ SSAT scores, but not sure what the answer is…also is asked about own SSAT scores (“what were your scores?”)…Really? Most recently they were a 74, 76, 85 (double bogies on some and one lost ball).
One funny story - earlier in the year the English teacher had the students doing some vocab testing. One boy in class didn’t do so well and, laughingly, told the class something like “Hey - they told me I needed an 85 to get in here but obviously I didn’t” 
Interesting @Golfgr8 Thanks for the inisght!!
I would never ask a tour guide what their SSAT scores were. Seems invasive and unrelated to my own kid. The fact that another child got in with X score means very little. One of our tour guides was a hockey playing girl. She did not get in for great scores, she got in because she is a hockey ninja. So her scores would have no bearing on my own child’s application.
FWIW @dogsmama1997 - those were not the SSAT scores, but the most recent golf scores :)]
But on another, more relevant, note let’s consider the situation of having a low SSAT score, or being worried about what it may reflect. I am not a big fan of the SSAT, but I do like some measures of ability/skill/knowledge.
You want to have the “right fit”. As we used to hear on that great TV show of the 1960’s Lost In Space, “Danger, Will Robinson”. IF you want to go to a “competitive” school you will be in a competitive arena. Also, for you kiddies out there who tell us on CC that you took the SSAT 5 times to get into the 90’s: You will not have multiple chances to take tests in BS. Please don’t focus so much on the score. If the AC doesn’t think you can handle the rigor of the school, it’s a blessing. Now, let’s be honest, are you and/or your parents OK with being not at the top of your class? Even people with high SSAT’s can find themselves no longer in the top quarter of the class. Everyone is smart, everyone is an achiever, everyone has some talent/sport/hook…Most of the boarding schools frequently mentioned on CC kind of self-select for a high level of achievement. Yes, there are some “chill” places and if that is what you want, you should go for it! There are many different types of schools and, frankly, you kids and parents are blessed to have the freedom and opportunity to have a choice of your education.
Now back to knowing your score…
That is why in golf we have a handicap system. I know that if I go out and play with some 6 HCP golfer, I will get “shanked” and lose the $20 in my pocket - also, more importantly, it won’t be fun for me. Works both ways - it may be a bit slow playing if I am out there with a newby 36 HCPer…but I am always fun, no matter the HCPer. Now, if I play with some dishonest person who claims their HC is 28 but actually is a 12 HCP - that’s not very fair and we have a name for those folks. ^#(^ you know who you are!