Low SSAT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has rock bottom SSATs (I really mean it). We have been told by several schools that it's just not that important. We are not shooting for top, top because that wouldn't be the right environment, but decent schools. We have been repeatedly told by our middle school that ti will be ok since she has straight As and very solid recs. Take the test and make the best effort and then let the cards fall where they may. I'm choosing to believe the many people in admissions that have told me it is ok. (We are full pay, so I suspect the check book helps, but it can't be everything.)

Last year my daughter had REALLY low score. I was surprised when the schools we visited said they don't matter much and anything over 35% is okay. She was close to that overall. She is now a freshman and doing well at GDS. She got into every school she applied, except for one which was not a "big 5". We are not full pay and not a minority. She plays a few sports but not a superstar. Pretty well rounded kid and well liked by peers and teachers. Don't listen to people on this board. I was seriously freaking out the month of February about where she would end up. We live in bounds for a horrible DC public. Can't afford to move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has rock bottom SSATs (I really mean it). We have been told by several schools that it's just not that important. We are not shooting for top, top because that wouldn't be the right environment, but decent schools. We have been repeatedly told by our middle school that ti will be ok since she has straight As and very solid recs. Take the test and make the best effort and then let the cards fall where they may. I'm choosing to believe the many people in admissions that have told me it is ok. (We are full pay, so I suspect the check book helps, but it can't be everything.)

Last year my daughter had REALLY low score. I was surprised when the schools we visited said they don't matter much and anything over 35% is okay. She was close to that overall. She is now a freshman and doing well at GDS. She got into every school she applied, except for one which was not a "big 5". We are not full pay and not a minority. She plays a few sports but not a superstar. Pretty well rounded kid and well liked by peers and teachers. Don't listen to people on this board. I was seriously freaking out the month of February about where she would end up. We live in bounds for a horrible DC public. Can't afford to move.

Not the OP but, thank you for posting this. i sweat this blog is full of a bunch of tiger moms who stress their kids out to fall within the 95% and higher however, they are clueless to the fact their child will still stand side by side to other who have half the score and pay half the money.

[Anonymous]

Top 50% got dad in at the relevant Big 3. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

[Anonymous]

It also depends what school you are coming from. Some private k-8s offer tutoring for the test and the high schools know that.

[Anonymous]

So some of the more competitive schools admit students who can’t get above 50% on the SSAT? Why would they do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So some of the more competitive schools admit students who can’t get above 50% on the SSAT? Why would they do that?

Because the students may be otherwise good students. They may have great grades and great recommendations. I know it's shocking, but some people really do not test well.

Besides, why do you care? Someone has to be at the bottom of the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So some of the more competitive schools admit students who can’t get above 50% on the SSAT? Why would they do that?

The schools need their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So some of the more competitive schools admit students who can’t get above 50% on the SSAT? Why would they do that?

there are various reasons why kids may not score above 50%. Some kids are 1st time test-takers with no prep, but good grades and recs .. you have athletes that school desire, you have full pay parents, alumni, siblings, diversity, etc. many reasons.....and done kids just don’t test well. The DMV is packed with smart kids so they look for other things in kids.

[Anonymous]

*some kids

[Anonymous]

Ssat scores don’t matter as much as people think. If that is the only weakness on an application and the child is otherwise a strong candidate, schools, including Big 3s, can overlook it. Don’t worry too much.

To the poster who asked why good schools would overlook seats, it is because they are not fully indicative of a child’s potential.

[Anonymous]

I said I would report back.. poster with under 50% percentile in Math. Well- rounded kid, glad the ADs really look at the whole child..I just knew we were going to be shutdown, all rejects!

Holton Accept
GDS WL
Sidwell WL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I said I would report back.. poster with under 50% percentile in Math. Well- rounded kid, glad the ADs really look at the whole child..I just knew we were going to be shutdown, all rejects!

Holton Accept
GDS WL
Sidwell WL

Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So some of the more competitive schools admit students who can’t get above 50% on the SSAT? Why would they do that?

Because at the upper level it is a very difficult test. The scores are relative to other test takers, already a very select group of talented kids. You could score 50% on the test and still be in the top few percent of all students of your age/grade nationwide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So some of the more competitive schools admit students who can’t get above 50% on the SSAT? Why would they do that?

Because at the upper level it is a very difficult test. The scores are relative to other test takers, already a very select group of talented kids. You could score 50% on the test and still be in the top few percent of all students of your age/grade nationwide.

some kids pay thousands of dollars to prep for the SSAT, so they can get in the 90% percentile, others can’t afford that luxury. My kid is an A-/B student, test above average in national testing, engaged in clubs, very talented in the arts, great personality, great teacher recs! She could have scored better in the SSAT if she had prepped or if she had taken the test more than once. I only came back to this forum to dispel the myth that you have to score 90%+ to be seriously considered at top schools. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I said I would report back.. poster with under 50% percentile in Math. Well- rounded kid, glad the ADs really look at the whole child..I just knew we were going to be shutdown, all rejects!

Holton Accept
GDS WL
Sidwell WL

So happy for you!! I am thr PP who mentioned that my DD is at GDS and had below 50th percentile. She is thriving in 8th grade..I wish people are tvis board would get that they obviously don’t want all 90th percentile kids and look at nlre them one test!! Thanks for letting us know.