<p>Hi I'm applying to some very competitive schools such as St. Pauls, Phillips Academy, Hotchkiss and some others. Here are my SSAT scores.</p>
<p>Math-52% (695)
Verbal-91%(749,I think thts what I got :P)
Reading-99% (782)
Total-93% (2226)</p>
<p>This score is above every average except for Andovers which it meets but I'm worried my low math score will take me out of the running. My parents are urging me to retake the test but I would prefer not to and I was wondering if some of u guys got into these schools with a low score in one category but high in the others. Any feedback is good, thanks.</p>
<p>the ssat score are only 1 part of the application, i suggest retaking it and waiting until after to add schools. Overall, you should be able to get in if you have a good amount of EC’s and you do a great interview</p>
<p>@futureandover97,
EC’s mean extracurriculars. And to be honest, you should retake the SSAT. Not because of your reading and verbal, those were excellent. But your math score is 52% which is not acceptable for top boarding schools. I have heard many times on this board that most top schools want all sections in the 80’s at least, so you should focus on bringing up your math score. I had the same problem as you a month ago. I got a 59% on the math section, but I got a tutor and brought it up to a 78%. And btw I’ve heard that top schools don’t care about your total score, they just care about each individual section. Good luck!</p>
<p>From my experience, an above average SSAT score isn’t everything. I got a 99% SSAT score, but I was still flat-out rejected from PEA, even with multiple EC’s, all A’s, etcetc. I think where I went wrong was my interview, though. It was my first time and looking back now, I probably did very poorly.</p>
<p>Well it was my first interview and she was like “exeters really hard to get into” I’m like ohhh Mann. Haha but my principal and teachers were really supportive wit the recs and I based my app around wanting to be a pediatrician and how I volunteer at CCBDD and am passionate about it and they said they wanted an essay to tell them who u really are and I guess I did really good on that that’s what they told mr in my acceptance letter at least xD I’m like “okay then:D”</p>
<p>Are you applying for this year or the next? If it’s next then you’ll have to retake them. They’re only valid if the date you took them on falls within your school year, the schoolyear that you apply. (Like an applicant for the 9th grade has to already be an 8th grader when he/she takes the test)</p>
<p>If you’re applying this year, then you shouldn’t rely on getting in to any of these schools. Applying late means you max get a waitlist spot and they don’t even go to their waitlist every year. </p>
<p>So your chances of getting in as a late applicant are even smaller than the already small chance of getting in a regular applicant.</p>
<p>BUT if you were to retake it, and get the math grade up 15 or 20 percentage points, then I’m sure you’d be a little bit safer. You don’t want to be worried about the SSAT for ages like I was.</p>