<p>@pulsar: As I often say, there are plenty of public school valedictorians who get into Harvard.</p>
<p>SevenDad, I was responding to the scores that the OP mentioned, which, while good, do not qualify for SET recognition. Just participating in a talent search is not enough to make an applicant to one of these tier one prep schools stand out. That was the point I was trying to make. </p>
<p>LAX, I’m sure you’ll do quite well no matter where you go to high school. I like your positive attitude!</p>
<p>@rellielou: I just wanted that clarification, because IMO, qualifying for SET/a National Level Prize is one of the biggest feathers a prospect can have in their proverbial cap. Less than 500 kids from around the world (not just the US) earn that distinction every year.</p>
<p>SET is even more impressive when it’s in CR. The majority of those 500 kids earn their distinction in math.</p>
<p>neato, you sure know your SETs 
you are quite correct.</p>
<p>i’d say get more volunteer hours (6 looks a little barren to me). don’t get crushed/offended by CC, we honestly don’t know you or your circumstances/life and if exeter’s your dream, go for it! best of luck x</p>
<p>I hate to be harsh but you really need to have an amazing essay and interview.
And if your wondering, there is no way to have an amazing essay/interview, you just do what you think will help you best.</p>
<p>Man I was really mad about SET, like I got a 700 on CR and Math, but by then I was 13 and 1 month, so I needed to get 710 -.-</p>
<p>sorry to be clueless, but what’s SET?</p>
<p>SET is the Study of Exceptional Talent. You have to get a 700 on the SAT in any section in seventh grade to qualify. It’s really a great addition to any resume. I, unfortunately, didn’t get it. I took the SAT in 8th grade and got: 510 math, 550 CR, 610 Writing. Then I took it AGAIN (haha) and I got 490 Math (didn’t study; just really needed CR for JHU CTY), 570 CR, and 620 Writing.</p>
<p>As laxgirl17 notes, SET stands for the “Study of Exceptional Talent”, which is a subsection of Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Both CTY and SET are part of the late Julian Stanley’s legacy to gifted children and their families — by providing resources and guidance to people who might not have them available locally. I think the SET kids are not just 99th percentile, but “one in ten thousand” kids of their peer group.</p>
<p>While some people might not put much stock in “above level” testing results, Dr. Stanley and his team certainly did. They track(ed) the performance of kids who scored above a certain mark and have seen that a much higher percentage of these kids go on to get advanced degrees.</p>
<p>If you can get access to it, the New Yorker article “Nerd Camp” is an entertaining and informative read about the CTY and SET program.</p>
<p>SET did not seem to make a difference in my son’s case. I think the schools all say that you can’t get in with top scores alone…you need something more.</p>
<p>redbluegoldgreen-</p>
<p>I’m a real neophyte when it comes to boarding schools. My son is looking currently, but has not yet decided where to apply. </p>
<p>Can you please be more specific? Did your son apply to Phillips Exeter with the SET credential and get turned down? How well do you think he matched with the school overall? What other schools did he apply to? </p>
<p>thank you-</p>
<p>Rellie</p>
<p>Without identifying schools, he applied to 4 HADES and got into 2 and rejected by two. He has national awards, is a gifted athlete, top SSATs etc. SET alone is not overly impressive. He was also a Jack Kent Cooke scholar. It’s a crapshoot where you end up, with the best of scores/grades/ECs and recs.</p>
<p>@RBGG: I’m really surprised that SET isn’t more of a “hook” in an of itself, given the relative few who qualify.</p>
<p>yep
I am still very surprised to this day.</p>
<p>Crapshoot- absolutely! I know two amazing kids who were turned down by their first choices last year. I guess those schools didn’t need their particular skills. </p>
<p>It sounds like your son has a lot going for him- is he happy with the school he ended up attending?</p>
<p>The week is just starting…so far so good.</p>
<p>About SET’, does anyone know the ratio between math and CR qualified students? I guess it’s probably not 50:50. But 70:30, or what?</p>