<p>What is the deal??? Some say it doesn't count for much. But, when students get below an 85, some parents on this board constantely tell us we shoulf reconsider the schools we want to apply to. What are they meant to gauge? The academic readiness of a student? If you are above the specific average for a school, is that a good sign that you have a base level of preparation and readiness for the school? Feel free to discuss anything else, but please don't make this a chancing thread.</p>
<p>The SSAT’s scores can vary, just as SAT scores can vary. For example, in the November version of the SSAT you could get a 90% but in the December version of it you could get a 95%. 3-5 percentile points shouldn’t be worried about.</p>
<p>So if you’re close to 85ish, or above, I’d say that’s very good. I think the SSATs are supposed to gauge your logic and, yes, academic readiness.</p>
<p>I am not an AO; I don’t know exactly what they’re meant to gauge. It’s just my guess.</p>
<p>As I am one of “those” parents, I’ll bite.</p>
<p>First, I’ll relate what more than one AO at more than one super selective school told me last year regarding my daughter’s SSAT scores (99% across the board): “Well, with scores like that, we know she can do the work.” So I take that to mean they feel there is some correlation between high scores and readiness for the rigor of one of these super selective BSs.</p>
<p>I also heard versions of “We like to see scores in the mid to high 80s” and “Anything in the high 80s and the scores are a non-issue.” I take these statements to mean, “Up in that range and it’s not going to hurt your application chances.” That is to say, a lower score IS going to hurt your chances.</p>
<p>Now, on to my personal POV on the scores and why I am in the “cast a wider, deeper net” camp.</p>
<p>To put it very bluntly, I think most first-time applicant families are quite deluded about exactly how difficult it is to get admitted to one of the super selective schools.</p>
<p>I’ll try to explain it in terms of what our family experienced last year: My daughter was a very strong applicant. She absolutely crushed the SSAT and had 7th grade SAT scores equal to those of college bound seniors at many of the BSs frequently discussed here. She had commensurate grades and pretty good ECs. Yet she was flat out rejected by Choate. </p>
<p>This is a kid who submitted her apps on time, had parents who supported the process 100%, had zero anxiety before, after, and during the SSATs, and who had face-to-face on-campus interviews at 8 different schools. My point is, if she can get rejected, so can you.</p>
<p>By applying exclusively to schools with admit rates in the teens (some in the low teens), you have to be awfully confident that there is something about your application that is going to put you into top part of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>Does that make sense?</p>
<p>It makes sense, only if BS is the “be all end all”, and to at least to me, it isn’t. I have options at home and while it would be wonderful to go to one of the most selective schools, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t. I feel like I am a fairly competitive applicant, I think I wrote fairly strong essays and I am extremely dedicated to my EC’s. And while my stats don’t stack up to SevenDaughter’s, I’m certainely in an acceptable rangr. In no way do I expect to be accepted to my schoold, but if I do not try for the schools that make me excited inside, then what’s the point?</p>
<p>PA"</p>
<p>Although the Andover admissions committee has no minimum grade or score requirements for acceptance, the average Andover student maintained an “A” average at his or her previous school and scored in the 93rd percentile on the SSATs.</p>
<p>Here’s my take, when schools say that SSATs aren’t that important, I take it to mean that they aren’t that important as long as they are high enough. Now here’s the rub…“high enough” can mean different things for different applicants. I think they expect different scores based on all kinds of applicant factors. AOs have to make all kinds of assumptions because when you think about it, they only know what you and your recommenders tell them, which is another reason that their decisions should not be taken personally.</p>
<p>@AmericanNigerian: You’re lucky to have good options locally, as did/does my daughter. But after reading some threads here, I get the feeling that more than a few kids are in “boarding school or bust” mode. Am I alone in getting that feeling?</p>
<p>If this is the case, and the student is only applying to the most selective schools…they must be feeling very lucky. Kids with even stronger stats than my daughter get rejected every year.</p>
<p>You make a good point about only trying for the schools that make you excited. I have never advocated any student applying to a school that he/she would not be happy attending, have I? </p>
<p>However, I do think MANY students who post here confine their initial “worth considering” set to a very narrow set of the most famous, most selective schools. Before they even know if they are a good fit in terms of aptitude and attitude.</p>
<p>It’s the “I’m only applying to the most selective schools because they are the only schools worth going to.” attitude that I’ve tried to lobby against. Because there are plenty of great schools out there that are doing a great job of educating and life-changing that don’t fit into any acronym…at least not any of the ones that get thrown around here. And yeah, I do think kids are missing out on at least looking down roads less traveled.</p>
<p>I invite every applicant to consider exactly what gets them excited about the schools to which they are applying. Really be honest with yourself about that.</p>
<p>SevenDad, did your family apply for financial aid? For Choate, I mean.</p>
<p>While I agree that SSAT scores, grades, etc. are a pivotal part of a student’s application, I truly believe that they take many other components of your application in to consideration as well. I recently spoke to an AO (during my interview) about “What they look for in a student”. He said that while credentials are very important, it’s definitely not the only that thing that they look at. He said, verbatim (well, it is for the most part), “We typically don’t really care for students who are “perfect” on paper, but lack substance. We would hate to have a student whose credentials were solid, but were just “extremely bland and unoriginal” in their essays, short answers, or in person.” They look at the whole person, and what they may have to offer outside of their credentials. Although he didn’t say this, I know for a fact that they really look at “fit”. The “perfect” student on paper, may not be the right fit for that particular school.</p>
<p>Yes, exactly starkali…I too believe the schools don’t just look at scores/grades, there has go to be more “pieces to complete the pie”.</p>
<p>And SevenDad, again I enjoy your posts, while my child has always been an A student plays sports, many EC’s her SSAT’s were not in the 90’s. When we first started looking at BS’s we had only heard of a few of most talked about schools but quickly learned to cast our “net” in the right direction towards some of “The lesser known gems”. My daughter found some wonderful schools that interested her and she was able to visit and interview with last Fall. So yes, there are many other great schools out there than just those top five everyone keeps harping on.</p>
<p>Oh, so thank you SevenDad, hopefully your posts will help others think out side of the box.</p>
<p>I am not averse for shooting for the established stars particularly in this economy. Some families are simply not willing to shell out $40,000/year for just any private school (just because it’s on a log of independent private schools). Each family and child have their own concept of ‘return on investment’ (balance sheet) for a high school education and for some the choice is Exeter/Andover or their local large and excellent suburban public school. And for a particular student with a given set of talents this may be a rationale choice.</p>