Hi guys. My SSAT results are out and I am devasted. I scored an overall 2211, 86th percentile. The Reading really threw me off. That poem!!! Verbal was supposed to be my weakest but I always covered it with great Reading and Quantitative scores.
I really, really, really, want to go to Exeter, Concord, Andover, or St.Pauls. I am so good at Math, and yet here I am being haunted and hindered by Reading and Verbal.
I am applying for 10th Grade. Please be honest with me, what are my chances. Anyone you heard getting into these great schools with such a poor Reading score? Don’t tell me Admissions Officers don’t look at just this, please. I already know that. i just want to place my hopes at the right level.
I would say slim for PA and PEA. They just get too many applications from kids with top scores and their averages are all over 90. Cant speak for the other two schools. What else can you tell us about yourself and your application?
for one thing, i’m not quite sure about your tone; perhaps it’s just the writing, but you do come across as slightly conceited? (i’m really not trying to be rude here i swear! call me out on it if you must)
putting that aside, an 86th percentile definitely isn’t bad! provided the rest of your application is good, you’re definitely still in the game!
I think it would be better if you had two strong and one weak. Since you have high math, I think if your application emphasizes math or related then you will be in a better position. Without identifying details, my kid had a perfect score in one section, nearly perfect in second and lowest in third section(80), overall the score was high 90’s. The decision for her/him was to take it again or just leave it. We decided to leave it. But the high score reflected a love of one subject (of which there were many EC’s and passion-nearly every essay was about this). Since your overall number is 86 I would say you aren’t totally out of the running. If you have something else that they are looking for, it should be fine. If you are more of an academic kid who has not yet found your passion ( and who does by 8th grade) it may be more of an issue. Did you interview? An excellent interview could fill in this gap nicely.
“for one thing, i’m not quite sure about your tone; perhaps it’s just the writing, but you do come across as slightly conceited? (i’m really not trying to be rude here i swear! call me out on it if you must)”
Nothing in the original post sounds conceited, IMO. Just saying… nor is the post claiming such pertinent or helpful in any way.
Agree with @doschicos my comment about slim chances is based on two things. 1) the workload at PA, PEA and SPS requires a tremendous about of reading. Not sure about Concord. I think these high-test schools look at these scores as relevant to the potential impact on workload management. Further, 2)10th grade is harder than 9th. You get no fluffy take off (Exeter first term is pass fail for Preps). 10th grade is hit the ground running. I think, and many schools we talked to mentioned this, that 10th grade as a non repeat is the hardest way to enter a rigorous prep school.
If any applicant (myself included) is placing their hopes at the right level, they’ll be assuming that they won’t get in. All of these schools are super competitive, and almost all of the applicants are bright and well-rounded individuals such as yourself. An 86% on the SSAT isn’t the end of times, but it won’t help you. Just as @ Calimex said, try to make up for it with ECs, grades and essays. Good luck!
Oh, thank you so much for all your responses. This has helped me think clearly about everything. This was my first take. Do you think if I take it again this Feb, on the 3rd, it’ll be okay? I know for sure that without a poem with old English I can score way better and improve my scores.
@Happytimes2001, I haven’t. Doing it all starting this weekend all through next week.