75th percentile on SSAT -- what schools would accept that for a 7th grade boy?

[Anonymous]

No, they really don't. I doubt it is even as high as 80. There just are not that many 90% applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, they really don't. I doubt it is even as high as 80. There just are not that many 90% applicants.

+1 And even if there are many 90th percentile applicants, many of those are still seriously lacking in the other important factors. What's most important to StA and the other great schools is to get a sense that the prospective student can handle the workload and contribute in a positive and successful way to the classroom and the community. This is all so obvious when you go through this process that I cannot believe people remain so hung up on high SSAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, they really don't. I doubt it is even as high as 80. There just are not that many 90% applicants.

+1 And even if there are many 90th percentile applicants, many of those are still seriously lacking in the other important factors. What's most important to StA and the other great schools is to get a sense that the prospective student can handle the workload and contribute in a positive and successful way to the classroom and the community. This is all so obvious when you go through this process that I cannot believe people remain so hung up on high SSAT scores.

Based on that input, is it safe to say that the SSAT is mainly just a way to know if there are any red flags from an academic perspective?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Or apply to other schools that are not pressure cookers. High school at Big 3 schools is 4 hours of work for even students with high scores. If a child is already coming in with lower than average scores he may struggle or may have even more hours to complete the work. I have heard parents have this issue time and time again by sending their child to a school that may not be a good fit ACADEMICALLY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, they really don't. I doubt it is even as high as 80. There just are not that many 90% applicants.

+1 And even if there are many 90th percentile applicants, many of those are still seriously lacking in the other important factors. What's most important to StA and the other great schools is to get a sense that the prospective student can handle the workload and contribute in a positive and successful way to the classroom and the community. This is all so obvious when you go through this process that I cannot believe people remain so hung up on high SSAT scores.

Based on that input, is it safe to say that the SSAT is mainly just a way to know if there are any red flags from an academic perspective?

Yes, that is safe to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Or apply to other schools that are not pressure cookers. High school at Big 3 schools is 4 hours of work for even students with high scores. If a child is already coming in with lower than average scores he may struggle or may have even more hours to complete the work. I have heard parents have this issue time and time again by sending their child to a school that may not be a good fit ACADEMICALLY.

You have no idea what you're talking about. I actually do: I have a child at one of the so-called Big 3 schools who scored in the 62nd percentile when entering at 7th grade. Like everyone one of his peers in high school, he has a lot of homework. But it is manageable, even with multiple sports commitments outside of school. Yes, he is in the middle of the grade and I am completely fine with that. At these schools, the top 30% go to Ivies and the very top schools. The 30th to 60th percentile go to great schools. He is much, much better off being in the middle of the pack at this great school, where he is learning how to be competitive and successful in the real world, then he would be if her closer to the top (he would never be at the top, anywhere) at a mediocre-reputation school. This is common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Or apply to other schools that are not pressure cookers. High school at Big 3 schools is 4 hours of work for even students with high scores. If a child is already coming in with lower than average scores he may struggle or may have even more hours to complete the work. I have heard parents have this issue time and time again by sending their child to a school that may not be a good fit ACADEMICALLY.

You have no idea what you're talking about. I actually do: I have a child at one of the so-called Big 3 schools who scored in the 62nd percentile when entering at 7th grade. Like everyone one of his peers in high school, he has a lot of homework. But it is manageable, even with multiple sports commitments outside of school. Yes, he is in the middle of the grade and I am completely fine with that. At these schools, the top 30% go to Ivies and the very top schools. The 30th to 60th percentile go to great schools. He is much, much better off being in the middle of the pack at this great school, where he is learning how to be competitive and successful in the real world, then he would be if her closer to the top (he would never be at the top, anywhere) at a mediocre-reputation school. This is common sense.

Interesting. I tend to agree that it's better to be in the middle of the pack at a great school. But here's one somewhat contrary view -- Malcolm Gladwell's David & Goliath has a chapter about a young woman named Caroline Sacks (a pseudonym). As I recall, she was admitted to Harvard (from a high school in the DC area) and pursued science. Even though she was incredibly intelligent, she felt "dumb" in her classes and labs compared to all of the high achievers at Harvard. She ended up leaving the field of science, thinking she was inadequate. She believes that, if she had gone to the U of Maryland, she would have continued to pursue her passion for science. Gladwell concludes it can be better to be the "Big Fish in the Small Pond."

I really like Gladwell's books, and I like his conclusion to the Caroline Sacks story (since it supports my personal belief and experience that you can be successful from any college). At the same time, I know at least 10 Harvard grads (whom I met in law school), and they all seem to be doing just fine and seem pretty content.

I'm not sure if any of this applies at the secondary school level, but it's food for thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Oh, that is a bunch of baloney, PP. The OP's child will not struggle with a 75th percentile and be 'stressed out to keep up with the workload'. I'm speaking with the voice of experience. Our low 60's kid (it actually may have been high 50's but it was 9 years ago and I can't remember) did great and now is set to graduate this year from a top 10 school. The hyperbole on this board is just over the top, sometimes. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Or apply to other schools that are not pressure cookers. High school at Big 3 schools is 4 hours of work for even students with high scores. If a child is already coming in with lower than average scores he may struggle or may have even more hours to complete the work. I have heard parents have this issue time and time again by sending their child to a school that may not be a good fit ACADEMICALLY.

You have no idea what you're talking about. I actually do: I have a child at one of the so-called Big 3 schools who scored in the 62nd percentile when entering at 7th grade. Like everyone one of his peers in high school, he has a lot of homework. But it is manageable, even with multiple sports commitments outside of school. Yes, he is in the middle of the grade and I am completely fine with that. At these schools, the top 30% go to Ivies and the very top schools. The 30th to 60th percentile go to great schools. He is much, much better off being in the middle of the pack at this great school, where he is learning how to be competitive and successful in the real world, then he would be if her closer to the top (he would never be at the top, anywhere) at a mediocre-reputation school. This is common sense.

Interesting. I tend to agree that it's better to be in the middle of the pack at a great school. But here's one somewhat contrary view -- Malcolm Gladwell's David & Goliath has a chapter about a young woman named Caroline Sacks (a pseudonym). As I recall, she was admitted to Harvard (from a high school in the DC area) and pursued science. Even though she was incredibly intelligent, she felt "dumb" in her classes and labs compared to all of the high achievers at Harvard. She ended up leaving the field of science, thinking she was inadequate. She believes that, if she had gone to the U of Maryland, she would have continued to pursue her passion for science. Gladwell concludes it can be better to be the "Big Fish in the Small Pond."

I really like Gladwell's books, and I like his conclusion to the Caroline Sacks story (since it supports my personal belief and experience that you can be successful from any college). At the same time, I know at least 10 Harvard grads (whom I met in law school), and they all seem to be doing just fine and seem pretty content.

I'm not sure if any of this applies at the secondary school level, but it's food for thought.

The reason you like Gladwell is the same reason Gladwell sells books (and the way he writes): he has a preconceived notion, then finds whatever research he can to support it. He is not a scientist. The very fact that you included the line "she believes" is among the many reasons I get frustrated with people when they are in shock I didn't hold my summer birthday back--insisting I read Gladwell to better understand why I should have. It's all suppositions, not real scientific conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Or apply to other schools that are not pressure cookers. High school at Big 3 schools is 4 hours of work for even students with high scores. If a child is already coming in with lower than average scores he may struggle or may have even more hours to complete the work. I have heard parents have this issue time and time again by sending their child to a school that may not be a good fit ACADEMICALLY.

You have no idea what you're talking about. I actually do: I have a child at one of the so-called Big 3 schools who scored in the 62nd percentile when entering at 7th grade. Like everyone one of his peers in high school, he has a lot of homework. But it is manageable, even with multiple sports commitments outside of school. Yes, he is in the middle of the grade and I am completely fine with that. At these schools, the top 30% go to Ivies and the very top schools. The 30th to 60th percentile go to great schools. He is much, much better off being in the middle of the pack at this great school, where he is learning how to be competitive and successful in the real world, then he would be if her closer to the top (he would never be at the top, anywhere) at a mediocre-reputation school. This is common sense.

DAYUM. She just knocked you out elitist pp!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on what schools would take a boy with a 75th percentile overall on the SSAT, and grades of As and Bs.

Thank you. We may have aimed too high, and I'm belatedly wondering if I'm too late to apply to more schools.

I wish it were like college where you can see the range of what scores and grades the schools admit.

TIA

Even if you get into a Big 3, which I don't think a 75th percentile will do, your child will be in the middle to bottom part of the grade and will struggle. This can cause them to be stressed out to keep up with the workload. Do you have the option to stay where you are next year or is a public?

Oh, that is a bunch of baloney, PP. The OP's child will not struggle with a 75th percentile and be 'stressed out to keep up with the workload'. I'm speaking with the voice of experience. Our low 60's kid (it actually may have been high 50's but it was 9 years ago and I can't remember) did great and now is set to graduate this year from a top 10 school. The hyperbole on this board is just over the top, sometimes. Sheesh.

DAYUM #2. You just got knocked out again elitest pp!!

[Anonymous]

75% on SSAT=95% on SAT you dingbats. That 7th grader won't "struggle" anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I posted about my DD in the 75th percentile. Yes, Potomac was the most competitive school we applied to. 6th grade is not an entry year there so I felt like that one was a long shot anyway. I believe they had over 100 applications and only 6 were admitted. She is doing well at her school so far and got very good grades her first semester. Best of luck to you - it's definitely not all about the SSAT scores!

[Anonymous]

Thats good enough for anywhere. The ssat does not matter that much because anyone can bring it up with expensive prep tutoring. But it will sink you if very low.