So I took the SSAT early November, and the scores came out today. They were pretty bad to say the least and was wondering if this would kill/decrease my chances for acceptances at top prep schools like Deerfield or Choate.
*These scores are Grade 9 female"
V - 700 (63rd)
Q - 770 (84th)
R - 700 (74th)
Overall - 2170 (78th)
All my practice test have indicated that I would be scoring 99th percentile on the reading, so it was quite a shocker when I got the scores back. Verbal was sort of what I expected, so was Math. I am currently a freshman, so that could have lowered my percentiles. However, I am quite upset at my scores, especially in Reading. Any tips to improve the reading?
Also, have I completely “Annihilated” my chances of getting into the top prep schools? I do have the option of retaking the test in December but I am unsure if I can raise my score to the 85th percentile. If there’re any comments or advice you have, please leave them below.
Thanks
@tokyoxc I don’t think these scores kill your chances, in speaking with many people in admission we’ve come to realize that SSAT are 1 of the measurements but not the only thing they look at. Also you still have at least 2 tests to bring up your grades and many schools will superscore your SSATs. Our DS didn’t have the greatest results neither on the November test and like you he was down a bit but we’ve shown him that he has 2 more chances and anything is possible don’t give up…
Kill? No. Decrease? That’s below the mean for those schools, so without hooks and if needing FA, it certainly is not in your favor. Applying for grade 10 or grade 9? If the latter, be sure you are being scored against that peer group.
If you were my kid, I’d advise you to apply to some less selective schools. What is it about Choate and Deerfield that you find so appealing? There are plenty of schools that can give you a top flight education and prepare you well for even the most rigorous colleges.
Also, your scores are far from “terrible”. There are plenty of people who love to have them. And yes, your percentiles are affected by your class year (and I’m pretty sure gender as well).
@Altras I’m pretty sure I’ve got the hook of being from an underrepresented international country. Choate has created a scholarship specifically for citizens of the country I’m from, and most of the other schools have about 3-5 people from my county, and are looking to increase the numbers, because it’s a lot less than the Chinese or Korean population. Also, I need about 20-30% FA, if that helps. Also, I’ve been studying for almost a month now to take the December SSAT, and in the worst case scenarios, I’ll be taking the January. + with some schools, I may also take her February SSAT.
@tokyoxc: Are you referring to the Murata US-Japan Scholars Program? If so, that is a very competitive one-year study-abroad program for Japanese students, most of whom attended a Choate summer program prior to being considered (Choate recommends attending a summer session first). Japanese citizens who are currently attending a school in Japan are automatically considered for this scholarship but, to win one, you will be evaluated against some stiff Japanese competition. Also, Murata scholars who successfully complete the one-year stint and who are interested in continuing at Choate must apply from scratch as any new applicant:
If you are not competitive for a Murata, your application will be in the general (overrepresented) “Asian” and “female” buckets, again with some stiff competition, but definitely not a hook as there is no shortage of Japanese applicants.
I concur with @SevenDad’s advice to lengthen your list and include some less competitive schools if attending a U.S. boarding school is your goal. Because you are applying for tenth grade and you need FA, you are competing for fewer slots than ninth and asking to be funded for one of those few, so your application needs to clearly demonstrate why a school needs you and would be willing to pay to get you. That’s a tough hurdle for anyone. Certainly, you can apply to these two schools, but if you can tell us why these two are so attractive to you, perhaps we can suggest other schools to add to your list.
@ChoatieMom Even though my username suggests I’m Japanese, I’m actually not from Japan, and am not competing for the Murata Scholar’s Progam. I think the scholarship I’m looking at is from a third party associated with Choate? Also, Deerfield and Choate are just two of the several schools I’ll be applying to. Other schools that you may consider “not as competitive” would be Mercersburg, Governor’s, Tabor, and Taft (still very competitive?) so I do have a relatively large net of schools. I guess you can’t judge my “chances” or my shot at these schools w/o other factors like grades, teacher recs, ecs, and all. Besides my SSAT score, I think all he other bits of my app are pretty good, though I haven’t started on my essays. If you have any more extensive advice that requires other information, could I PM you, because I’m afraid I’m giving out too much info to the public? I feel like a nuisance lol…
Thank you for taking the time to write a lengthy explanation on that Japanese scholarship though!
@CaliMex Of course, I don’t consider those schools as “safeties.” I’m just saying that they are the schools which are NOT as selective as Deerfield or Choate. Obviously they are still very good and prestigious schools, just not as much as SPS and elite top tiers. That’s why I wrote “(still very competitive).”
A 700 in verbal is in the 63rd percentile?! This test has become very competitive. Back in the late 2000s, a score above 700 in each section would be up in the 90th percentile.
@YoungThriver I guess so. I was reading through a few threads from the late 2000s and many of the people seemed to be in the 80’s - 90’s with my scores. But it could also just be that I’m taking the test against 10th graders. Kinda sucks but at least I had another chance (yesterday), and crossing my fingers I did well!
I’m a 10th grade applicant as well and I took the test yesterday. I’ll say that yesterday’s test was an easy one. Had I not procrastinated, I probably would have scored in the 99th percentile. I regret that so much. I think you did well on yesterday’s test since it was your second time taking it and it was an easy one too.
Hopefully you scored as well as you wanted too. Good luck!
My advice is to not limit yourself to these “top” schools, as @SevenDad said. Broaden your search parameters and look for a school that really fits your character and can give you what you want out of your boarding school experience. Best of luck!
