<p>Hi everyone I hope you all are having a great week! This is my first time posting on CC so I apologize ahead of time if I may be posting on the wrong thread. I recently got my SSAT scores back and I was a bit displeased with how I did.
1)
50% Math
70% Verbal
90% Reading
Overall: 75%
2)
88% Math
50% Verbal
50% Reading
Overall: 70%
^^^^^^ Not sure what happened with reading!
I understand for many schools this score is acceptable, but sadly for my "dream" school: Nobles and Greenough I am 10-20% below the average. People have told me not worry and that the SSAT is not everything, but I just feel so depressed that I may not be able to attend the only school that fits all of my (MANY) interests. Here is the rest of my EC:
- 8 Years of Piano / recital
- Head of band at my school
- Self Taught Ukulele
- 1 year of drums
- Head of my community service group
- Class president
- Self Taught in: Photoshop, Sony Vegas Pro
- Passion and knowledge of coding: HTML5, Java <--- Courses at Nobles are just what I dreamed for!
- Do yearbook for my school
- Sports:
Basketball: 3 years
Soccer: 7 years ( Town
Lax: 5 years (Town / School)
- Would start: Squash, Cross country
IMPORTANT: I would plan on taking Japanese ( I understand this is a less popular language so would this my chances?)
My grades are fine and I am not worried the least about that. Also to make the situation even worse I will be looking for FA. Not sure if any of you are familiar with Nobles, but if you have any news that may help me with the situation that would be great! Sorry if I sound like a brat, I just pray I will be able to attend such a great school ;(</p>
<p>Thank you all! ^-^</p>
<p>Extra Facts:
Race: African American
Applying: 9th Grade
Brother: Attends another ISL school (won't be applying)
Need Financial Aid</p>
<p>How did you get the average SSAT for Nobles? I haven’t seen it published anywhere, and when I asked the AO, they wouldn’t give me a direct answer. I’ve assumed it’s mid-80s +, but would love to know the real answer. Your SSATs are not bad, and your other stats are good. I doubt your SSATs are low enough to automatically put you in the NO stack by themselves. But if you’re concerned, you still have time to retake it in January.</p>
<p>I hope you are applying to other schools, though. As I’m sure you know, the acceptance rate at Nobles is 20-25%. Plenty of well-qualified applicants will not get in. </p>
<p>A few thoughts for you specifically, and to applicants in general…</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I fail to understand how people are “surprised” with their SSAT scores. There are plenty of available resources (practice tests/prep books) that allow one to get a ballpark on how they might do on the real thing.</p></li>
<li><p>“Falling in love” with a school, ANY school, before you are admitted is a big NO-NO. Former board regular (and SPS superfan) Winterset used to preach this all the time. It’s a good message. Wait until a school loves you to love it back.</p></li>
<li><p>You have posted WAY TOO much personal info about yourself already. African-American kid with brother at school x who can play the ukulele? Probably not too many that fit that description in the Nobles and Greenough applicant pool, right? See what I’m getting at…(this goes for all prospects, btw, not just you).</p></li>
<li><p>Despite inconsistent and erratic standardized test scores, you seem to have a lot of things going for you. So stop worrying about your scores and start worrying about things you can control between now and when apps are due.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>MODERATOR’S NOTE: To @SevenDad 's point, users should be wary of how much personal information they disclose. I edited the original post not because of the specific information regarding the OP, but because s/he included identifying information for the brother, who certainly did not agree to have his information highlighted.</p>
<p>I usually agree with SevenDad, who gives great advice on this forum. But we had the same SSAT kind of experience… My kid had excellent grades, and I had her take a number of the practice SSATs under test conditions. She always scored in the low/mid 80s. On the real thing, she scored in the 50s. LOW 50s. This happened twice… And I really think it was just anxiety that derailed her. She felt that the fate of her apps would be determined by that one test, I think (a result of reading too many cc posts during the admissions cycle!!). In the end, her app was strong enough for her to be admitted to the school she liked best… And she is doing well there. I regret the anxiety and stress that it caused both of us. I was happy to burn the SSATS books after M10. </p>
<p>@Bulat If I understand your post correctly, you took the test twice. If those are indeed scores from two different tests, you could be fine. The question to ask Nobles is whether they “superstores.” If they do then you have an 88, a 70 and a 90, not at all a bad score–quite a good one in fact.</p>
<p>@cameo43: Of course there are instances of kids doing significantly worse on “the real thing” vs. practice tests…whether that be due to anxiety or contributing factor. I’m sure there are also cases of kids scoring higher on the actual test. But generally speaking, I stand by my assertion that practice tests should be good predictors of real world outcomes — otherwise those practice test book companies need to find a new line of work!</p>
<p>The OP on this thread did not mention practice tests at all, so I assumed (and yes, I know what that makes me!) that s/he had not taken one. FWIW, the part of your daughter’s experience that I’d like to underscore for future generations of applicants is to NOT spend that much time on CC during the application process.</p>
<p>It was actually my fault, @SevenDad. I was the one reading too much CC and starting to panic. She just got it via osmosis. Looking back, I wish I had taken most of what I read with a big grain of salt!</p>
<p>It is worth reiterating here that the SSAT is taken only by kids wanting to go to boarding school. Most of those kids are top students at their respective middle schools. When you take the SSAT you are competing against the TOP kids (academically) in your grade level. This means that a lower score (like in the 70’s, or 50’s) is still good. It just means that maybe you need to re-think which school you choose to apply to so that you are selecting schools where you will have the best chance for success… </p>