<p>bearcats explained it well.</p>
<p>I've learned a great deal working with an organization that helps inner city kids in foster care get into prep schools. I went in thinking it should be fairly easy to do as the schools really wanted diversity and these kids were so deserving. It's not nearly as easy as I thought. </p>
<p>Adcoms have been open with me about some of my candidates. Mostly about their perceived ability to well at their schools. Low test scores do indicate that a child will probably have a difficult time with the competition. The best fit for most kids is a school where they are comfortably in range.</p>
<p>I think it's the parent's job to help form a realistic list for their child so that the child can emerge from the process successful. The kids invest so much, the applications, getting teacher and reference letters, writing adcoms. They tell their friends they are leaving. Having all rejections in March would be very unfortunate.</p>
<p>I encourage all to formulate well balanced lists. There are so many fine schools.</p>
<p>..schools dont accept URM's who have SSAT's in the normal range, or below, kirmum?</p>
<p>"..schools dont accept URM's who have SSAT's in the normal range, or below, kirmum?"
sometimes they do for inner city school kids or kids with disadvantage, but it cant be THAT low, like around high 70s or low 80s.they also have exceptions for say, kids from the middle east or native americans which are totally underrepresented</p>
<p>i have never, ever seen one native american in a prep brocure, yet most saythey have like .39% ..lol. which is like, one kid..still.. do you kno of any at your school, bearcats?</p>
<p>yes, there's more than .39% , like two...</p>
<p>and one graduated last year</p>
<p>blairt, Surely you don't mean to suggest that you can identify a native american by looking at a photo.</p>
<p>if someone is 100% a single race, yes, it's obvious what race that is. that's not a new theory or controversial opinion.</p>
<p>I think what Kirmum was saying is that it's not true there are lots of URMs with far below average scores. Look at the poster on this board, a URM with a score in the 90s, that was dropped by 1 program.</p>
<p>Many URMs have an unbalanced SSAT;many score much higher on math than they do on verbal due in part to the multilingual character of their home, neighborhood and school.</p>
<p>quote by blair > " if someone is 100% a single race, yes, it's obvious what race that is. that's not a new theory or controversial opinion." </p>
<p>That's not true! Hispanics/Latinos for example - that's such a a catchall category that you can't generalize and always say "That person is hispanic!"</p>
<p>prepyhopeful...I am glad you applied to all the schools you would like to go to, you may or may not get into all or any or them, but I know one thing for sure, you certainly will NOT get into any school if you don't apply!!
My son is a senior at Exeter, there are students who are admitted that I scratch my head and wonder, "how did that happen?" and there are just as many times I look at a student who was NOT admitted and say," how did that happen?"
Realistically, your SSAT scores are not the greatest, but that is not to say you won't get into a top tier prep school. I think you have a very good shot at Brooks, and Brooks is a great school.
My younger son is applying to Exeter, Andover and The Governors Academy, and we have our fingers crossed.
My older son is applying to colleges, and the way they approach those applications is to have a couple "safety" schools, a couple "probable" schools and a couple "reach" schools. And I think by looking at your list you have a pretty good selection. Good Luck!!!!!!</p>
<p>For the most part, yes, unless you're unaware of key ethnic features and traits.</p>
<p>Dear towsonmom, thank you so much for your post! I agree with you 100% that it is worth a try. I'm not saying I'll be accepted to a top school by any means, but this procces has been a great experience. I hope your son gets good new on March 10th and you and your family have a great year!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Would you be willing to list the schools I am applying to and tell me if they are saftey, probable, or reach. This will help give me a realistic view. Please be honest, and feel no pressure to be overlly kind. This would be a gret help.</p>
<p>Thanks again and good luck to you and your family!</p>
<p>Blair - unsure what you mean in your last post</p>
<p>Ah! I have found a mistake in my calculation. Make it:</p>
<p>Exeter = [(Pwnage)^(∞)] + [e^(iπ) +1] + 1337.</p>
<p>There we go. :)</p>