Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

No school will be filled with only 99 percentile kids. Fact.

A high score without well-roundedness is not particularly helpful. So, yeah, having a 90 percentile and being a key player on the soccer team or a lead in the school play is better than having a 99 percentile score and no life.

That doesn’t mean the high score is the disadvantage, it means the no life is a disadvantage.

True, but maybe they go hand in hand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

No school will be filled with only 99 percentile kids. Fact.

A high score without well-roundedness is not particularly helpful. So, yeah, having a 90 percentile and being a key player on the soccer team or a lead in the school play is better than having a 99 percentile score and no life.

That doesn’t mean the high score is the disadvantage, it means the no life is a disadvantage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

No school will be filled with only 99 percentile kids. Fact.

A high score without well-roundedness is not particularly helpful. So, yeah, having a 90 percentile and being a key player on the soccer team or a lead in the school play is better than having a 99 percentile score and no life.

Anonymous wrote:You can also get 99th percentile on your first try AND be an athlete AND be a well adjusted, normal kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

It's called being a "try hard." Thinking a top score alone will cut it. You have to be socially adjusted and balanced as well. If not, no one cares a hoot. And scores can be gamed via repeated test taking. A 99 percentile can smack of desperation if it was earned only through tutors and retakes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

It's called being a "try hard." Thinking a top score alone will cut it. You have to be socially adjusted and balanced as well. If not, no one cares a hoot. And scores can be gamed via repeated test taking. A 99 percentile can smack of desperation if it was earned only through tutors and retakes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

No school will be filled with only 99 percentile kids. Fact.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Such a dumb take.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Deerfield's average SSAT score is 87%;

St.Paul's School average SSAT score = 89%;

Choate Rosemary Hall's average SSAT score = 85%;

Both Andover & Exeter are reportedly at 90%.

These are the top 5 boarding schools in the USA. Would lead one to view an SSAT score of 85% to be a competitive school for a local private high school.

This is super helpful. Average means that many also scored below those numbers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What you need to get into these competitive schools at the high school level is some type of spike, meaning some extra curricular that makes him very unique: star athlete with recruitment potential, math/science olympiad super star, sibling/ legacy/ VIP. If any of these are met, then the school mostly cares that your child can handle the rigor of their academics. In that case, an 85% is more than enough.

If it's any help, my daughter scored in 98th percentile a few years ago and did not get into any of the most competitive schools (Potomac, NCS, Sidwell, GDS). She had excellent grades at school and interviewed well, but she did not have anything else that made her standout. She played some rec sports, did some volunteering here and there ... don't get me wrong. She's a great kid and we are proud of her, but in the eyes of an admissions officer who is trying to select 30 kids from a pool of 500, she had nothing that made her standout. The kids in her grade who got in did.

Hope that puts things into perspective for you.

This was our experience as well.

DC is at a Big 3. Based on the cohort that entered as freshman, this spike thing isn’t the case. They are mostly just smart, normal kids. And FWIW, DC had 99th percentile and no hook/spike, although they entered in 6th.

Both of mine were 99th and were WL. So, it's not just the scores.

I think the super high scores can be a disadvantage, tbh. A 93 or 90 is probably more in the range.

Anonymous wrote:https://ssatpracticetest.com/target-scores/

Searchable by school. Take all data w/ a grain of salt, but I think the ranges are largely accurate.