<p>AliJ... great post. I have followed this thread with interest but have sat in the background fighting the urge to post. Alas, I have given in. None of these posters can honestly say they have ever sat in on one of the meetings of an admiissions office at any of the schools mentioned here. To say that they have any real good way to decide what your chances are is misleading at best. As with colleges so much depends on factors outside your control. Do they need a cello player in their orchestra? Since you are fairly local, is your town represented well in the class you are applying for? How well did you click with the interviewer? Things that no one here can answer. They all will count for more than an ssat score. On the other hand, there is credibility in assuming (and it is just an assumption) that there may be some absolute minimum for SSAT score to gain admission. All you can do is know that you gave it your best shot and at the end of the day, gaining admission or not will not change the essence of who you are. Knowing that you tried and perservered will!</p>
<p>"Knowing that you tried and perservered will!" very well said...
My D decided that she wanted to apply to BS in Oct, before that we did not even know what SSAT was.. and it took a helpful cousin to send the books over for her to study... She decided to apply to "Top 10" schools... her Jan SSAT scores came in after the applications (71%) and she was devastated..</p>
<p>But you know what, I am so very proud of her, she put her heart into it, and continues to do things to improve her chances... if she gets in GREAT, if not.. then she knows better and will be prepared for the next SSAT or whatever she decides to do.</p>
<p>Same holds true for this kid from Groton.. can you imagine how many kids graduate from College and still dont know what they want to do... at least here is some one who is "thinking" I will take that as a win for her</p>
<p>Not totally true karatedad...if you are a tour guide or work in the admissions office (I did both) or have an advisor who's an adcom (I did), you will hear many discussions about admissions and candidates and will learn a great deal about the approach.</p>
<p>Schools are never going to reveal the kind of info one earlier poster suggested (numbers by ethnicity especially!) but there isn't much of mystery when you take a hard look at who is at the school over your 4 years. For example people think kids from programs like prep for prep are really sub par academically but they are not at all. Nor do athletes come in with very low stats. First and foremost, the schools don't want to take anyone who might fail there. Because there is such a range of middle schools and their demands on students, the SSAT is extremely important.</p>
<p>AliJ, I think many schools will accept applications after deadline. Might your daughter throw in one or two more apps at schools below the top 10? Or perhaps some heavy duty tutoring and a quick retake of the SSAT?</p>
<p>English, Urdu, French, Arabic; Pakistani American, spent all her life in M. East. No FA, good recs, excellent interviews, SSAT 71%, 3.9 GPA, Algebra, French II</p>
<p>Very mature, Rising 9th grader, since the interviews/apps got invited by Department of Home Land security to share her views on how to communicate better with the youth around the world. Will most probably get the US Ambassador to write her a rec soon.</p>
<p>It's a hard one AliJ, living in the M. East should be a boost but being Pakistani won't, so I'm unsure how that works out.</p>
<p>I don't know ways to overcome the scores without say winning a major athletic or academic honor. From the fact that she was shocked by her scores, I assume she's usually scored better on standardized tests. If she's taken something like ERBs and done much better, I'd submit those too. If say she did really well on math but had a hard time with verbal, perhaps they'll give her a break if she does not attend an American school</p>
<p>I would, however, try to put in some applications at schools below the top 10. I would call a few like Hill and Peddie to see if they'll take an application.</p>
<p>Actually she bombed her math, did fairly well on Verbal and Comprehension. The problem is that she has not had a chance to do any standardized tests, and lack of practice hurt her.</p>
<p>Actually there arent that many Pakistani's at these schools, usually not more than one or two at most (tuition has to be multiplied by 60!!!!!).</p>
<p>Usually how far do the the schools deviate from their SSAT averages?</p>
<p>The pressure is to let in legacies, development candidates and athletes with lower scores. For candidates not in those groups, I don't think they deviate much. Again, they are concerned that a student will succeed. A kid with a low math score will have a hard time in the math program at many of these schools. Remember, they are pretty homogeneous ability wise, so there are no slower math classes. </p>
<p>Are you sure you want your daughter at an ultra competitive school where her scores are below average? It could potentially be an unhappy situation and compromise her chances at top colleges.</p>
<p>Some of the schools with lower SSAT averages are also amazing places.</p>
<p>Actually I am sure she can pull the course load. Top tier schools is a condition set by her Mom (wont let her go so far unless she gets into best of the best)</p>
<p>If she does not get in this year, then she will probably take a writing class this summer and practice like any thing for SSATs, although it will be harder to get in 10th grade.</p>
<p>I do see your point, I am just trying to fish for any ideas on what she can do now to improve her chances with what she has.</p>
<p>Hey everybody, wow this post has gotten way longer since this morning, thank you for giving you're insight on admission.</p>
<p>ALiJ.. Wow, I have always wanted to go to Pakistan. it must be amazing to experience American and Pakistani, sorry if I spelled it wrong, culture to such a high level.</p>
<p>Suze.. What schools Admission office did you work at, was it more than five or so years ago?</p>
<p>AliJ, I think that if you're daughter has a good chance, despite low SSAT scores. Is english her first language, if not then I assume admission boards would be forgiving towards her scores. </p>
<p>I just graduated from Andover last year. It is harder now thn it was 5 years ago. Like colleges, they say this will be the most competitive year in history. Watch acceptance percentages dip under 20% as miost top schools and close to 15% at some.</p>
<p>AliJ, any sports or unusual interests? I do think schools like Peddie and Hill are among the best of the best.</p>
<p>:) yes it is great to experiance other cultures. It is always amazing to see the similarities and to understand other's point of view.</p>
<p>Tell you what Perpyhopeful, if you get into to the same school as my D, you and for that matter every one else is always welcome to visit us on the other side of the world.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry ALiJ, I hust realized you said your daughter did bad on her math, sorry for being so stereotypical. </p>
<p>Because you live in a culture considered so uniqe by most in the U.S., perhaps stating an idea for a cultural club would make your daughter look even more interesting.</p>
<p>For instance, she could right a note to her interviewer saying.</p>
<p>...do you a have a club that gives people a better understanding of their culture, like a day to dress up in clothes of a country, read that countries literature, and eat it's food.</p>
<p>If not, I would like to start one.</p>
<p>This is just an idea, sorry if it seems juvinile.</p>
<p>:) actually I think her essay may be her saving grace. She wrote about how there were two 9/11 s and her school was blown up in the second one (November 9th) in Saudi Arabia. It is a very inspiring essay.</p>
<p>She is a great leader and has shown that by Volunteering for a unique candidate's election campaign, communicating with department of home land security, and how has convinced the US ambassador to write a recommendation on her behalf (he drove a hard bargain and wants to see her semester grades first :) )</p>
<p>Suez you are right, it is a tough year, and I personally dont think that she has a chance at Andover/Exeter or SPS. </p>
<p>Her Deerfield and Choate interviews were excellent, as were Groton and Concord</p>