<p>My son applied to 6 schools, was accepted at 2 and waitlisted at 4. He got 85% for a total score on his SSATs. He has been a straight A student at his junior private school for the last 4 years; excellent recommendations. The only missing puzzle piece is that he is not athletic or a "standout" in any extracurricular. We also applied for financial aid (50% of total tuition).
Some people have told me it was the applying for financial aid that put the nail in the coffin at the other 4 schools. BTW, we fell into the DNQ category by SSS. The 2 schools who accepted him did so with no financial aid. Can anybody comment on this? Were his overall SSAT scores too low at a total of 85%? Just think it is "unusual" that he got WLed at so many of the schools.</p>
<p>I think it has more to do with FA than SSAT scores. 85% is good enough for all schools if they like you.</p>
<p>Labbydog, Which schools did you apply to, the top schools? What is DNQ category? It looks as though FA made the difference. How did the interviews go?</p>
<p>If the sss determined that you did not qualify for aid, then I doubt FA had anything to do with the decisions because you were, in essence, a full pay family.</p>
<p>DNQ stands for “does not qualify,” a designation given by SSS when they go over all your tax returns and financial info. IOW, it means they think you should be able to afford a full pay tuition. They take a lot of things into consideration when coming up with this; for example, how many kids do you have, how many tuitions are you already paying, etc.</p>
<p>The interviews went fine; at least I thought they did, but there was a separate parent interview and a separate student interview, so I don’t know what my son said, but he seemed to think they went okay.</p>
<p>Separate interviews are standard. We had them at every school we visited. </p>
<p>I agree with Neato - if you are tagged as DNQ - then it likely didn’t have a bearing.</p>
<p>Here’s what’s happening re: FA and Waitlists - despite the bad economy - the applications to elite schools is growing rapidly and hence the competition. A lot of the students begin to look similar on paper (good scores, good grades, etc.) Then boards like this amplify the situation with students (and sometimes parents) comparing schools and creating an artificial demand that further raises applications to those schools. For every person who posts, there are many others who simply lurk and drink in the information. I kind of find the whole “tier” discussions fuel a certain frenzy among students to “get into one”. Even at MIT the applications rose to an all time high of 16,000. What made things worse at Exeter, I suspect, were national articles about how tuition would be free for families under a certain threshold and 10% of salary above it. That fueled more interest among people who normally wouldn’t think of applying there due to expense.</p>
<p>Now - with shrinking endowments due to the stock market dips (Exeter, for instance, got hit so hard a student told me bagels and juice were temporarily eliminated) the schools are really judging FA with more scrutiny than before. Hence the lack of aid is tied to the SSS report.</p>
<p>Your son’s 85% SSAT score is fine (frankly). What the school’s post in their stats are averages, not absolutes. </p>
<p>You could try calling the schools and seeing if there is any wiggle room. But since the schools have been hit with parents who hide assets (not you - but it’s more common than you think) and because there are now loan programs and payment plans available to parents, it may be a tough sell. Be prepared to explain the circumstances and as if it can be reconsidered. But don’t expect 50% aid if the SSS is a DNQ. That may be out of reach especially since the average budget per student is more than tuition (at Exeter it’s approx $65,000).</p>
<p>Schools will often WL a lot of kids so that they have plenty of choices as families make their choices. So, I’m not surprised by the WLs.
Some schools can/will offer more aid if you ask.</p>
<p>Hey labbydog, I sound like your son - great student, and my SSAT scores were higher (>95) but I don’t have any obvious hook either. I got waitlisted at two of the three schools I applied to and denied the third. It seems to me that those kids that got in either excelled at some sport or are amazing dancers or were the top tuba player in their state - all on top of being a very good student.</p>
<p>The best way to think of this is that there were just so many, many good candidates this year that schools couldn’t take them all.</p>
<p>It isn’t a statement on the relative value of the specific student. If anything, I think the internet and common apps made things worse by making it easier for students to apply to multiple schools, and discussion boards brought about heightened awareness of options (and perceived rankings) driving even more applications to weary Adcom desks.</p>
<p>Your children are the same bright, capable people they were before the application process started. Never allow someone else’s decision be the final word on what your child is capable of. Eventually he/she may have the last laugh.</p>
<p>Remember a lot of world contributors didn’t go to prep school.</p>
<p>For 9th grade entry SSAT score of 85% is good. Even if you had the best SSAT scores, it dosen’t mean you will be accepted to all or any BS you apply. Each school targets an ideal class composition they plan to create and they will only accept applicants based on their target needs. Even if a student is very very good, with high SSAT scores, great EC, sports, there is no guaranttee you will be accepted to any BS you apply. </p>
<p>Typically schools know where your kid is likely to fit in and get accepted. Some schools are aware which other schools you are applying. One of the Dean of Admission also indicted to us, sometimes schools communicate with each other since they have an agreement, so the same student is not offered at all schools. (Few students seem to be an exception and get accepted to 3-4 schools they apply, since they may have a specific activity to offer, that could be sport, dance, diversity etc.). Therefore all school are not going to say “Yes” to every qualified candidate.</p>
<p>Sometimes it is wiser to apply for more then one or two BS, if you can afford it.</p>
<p>If SSS determined your status, “DNQ” for FA, BS has no reason to offer you any FA. FA is reviewed case by case basis, and if SSS determine you can afford it based on your family income, school has no reason to offer you any FA. Not sure how you can justify requesting FA when DNQ has been issued by SSS. If SSS made a mistake, then you should work on getting it corrected.</p>