<p>A lot of people i have talked to on this board and in reality say that the SSAT just shows the school if your schol grades are relative to your SSAT score. If you receive a horrible score does it hinder and if you recieve a 99% does it help? People just say that if the SSAT score is within range that's all they look at. Is that fact or fiction?</p>
<p>High SSAT scores and average grades could indicate a lazy student. Low SSAT and good or excellent grades could indicate an easy grading school or a school with a non-challenging curriculum, or a kid who does not test well. </p>
<p>If you are a kid without any hooks and you need FA, and you're applying to elite preps, you'd better have high SSATs and an excellent application.</p>
<p>If you have hooks then your SSATs become less important.</p>
<p>If you are serious about any particular schools, ask them about the value they place on SSATs and grades. It varies by school.</p>
<p>what are hooks? can you explain this term to me?</p>
<p>They're things that "hook" you so that, when they start reeling in new students, you're hooked by something and are likely to get pulled in.</p>
<p>A hook can be a number of things. Being a legacy -- or child of an alumnus -- is a hook. Having parents prepared to donate $500,000 is a hook. Being the stud lacrosse player for your school can be a hook. Having a recording contract for a major record label is a hook. Being a URM (underrepresented minority) who is full pay is probably a hook.</p>
<p>Great grades and great SSAT scores are NOT hooks. But it's possible that if you add that to a residence in North Dakota, you've got a hook.</p>
<p>In short, a hook is an element of your application that is distinctive and valued and in high demand.</p>
<p>D'yer-Also-being a URM without money, but with potential is a big hook at the well-endowed schools, particularly at the Ten Scholols.</p>
<p>And, let's not forget faculty kids and siblings.</p>
<p>If you get a 99% score and are applying to a school with an average score of 65%, I think your application will be given extra consideration. If you get a 99% score and are applying to a school with an average score of 92%, I don't think you will be given extra consideration. I think grades carry more weight than the ssat score. If a "horrible score" is in the bottom quarter of accepted students, then I suspect that the applicant would need other strengths to bolster the application.</p>
<p>True but if you apply to a school that averages 65 with a 99 percent chances are its a safety for you. Many schools will not accept kids who are applying as a safety, so it may not work as a hook at the same time.</p>
<p>I think that schools really vary with regard to how much weight they put on the SSAT scores. When S#2 just interviewed at a local prep they basically said that they look more at grades and strength of schedule and only really look at the SSAT if it looks like a red flag to them</p>
<p>My son's top choices at this point all have SSAT averages about 20-40 points lower that his. Not because he thinks he can get it, but because he loves the schools and the programs and their philosphies.
How do you get the schools to know that, if they assume that because your SSAT score is higher that they are your safety.</p>
<p>Linda S -- I suspect, but don't know, that schools in the top 40 or so (but not the top 12 or so) have a wide range of ssat scores. I think this is because there are a number of applicants and their families who seek the most competitive schools or nothing. I think you were the one who pointed out that there are few schools with an ssat average in the 80s. If your son loves the schools and shows his love, I doubt that they will think they are safeties. </p>
<p>If a school is his top choice, he can let the school know that. He can "show his love" in his application and by contacting the coaches and teachers involved in the activities he loves.</p>
<p>OP -- Please note that I am giving opinions. I don't think anyone can give you the facts because I also think (opinion) that there are no hard and fast rules about how schools view ssat scores. It can vary by school, by applicant pool and by applicant.</p>
<p>Yes, I am the one that noticed few schools have averages in the mid-low 80's Interestingly, when the schools come to my son's school for "information sessions" the kids will ask about SSAT scores. The few "top" schools that actually come to these will of course state their scores. Milton touted thier 90+%. The ones that I have seen to be in the 50's say they don't really put a lot of weight into the scores.
We will definately let his top choice know.<br>
THANKS!</p>
<p>If you're applying for FA, I would also make sure the FA people understand that allocating money to your son will be efficient...otherwise you may get admitted, but see that the FA is spent on other applicants, because even though the school is willing to take the risk of non-matriculation, the FA office may be more reticent about tying up precious FA resources with your child during the decision-period when those dollars could be used on another student they assume is more likely to matriculate.</p>