siddsach

You must realize that this is the actual order of importance of materials in your application
-Interview
-Essays
-Reccomendations
-Grades
-ECs
-SSAT

You must realize that schools don't want walking resumes. They want full peple who will make use of the resources of the school.

BigblueGirl2012

I'd be interested in where you got your list. I have acquaintances (ok, my parents do) who are part of the admissions panel at 3 very good schools.
One said they barely skim the essays because they are all tedious (after reading 100 or so) and probably not written w/o considerable help.
Actual grades are huge because they show what you do with your intelligence.
Teacher recommendations are highly valued.
SSAT scores are extremely important, but mostly as a disqualifier. If they aren't at a certain level than your file goes to the bottom for review after they've made all the easy choices.

So it's not as easy as the list siddsach posted
Great SSAT scores get you an interviewer who wants to know you
A great interview makes them look closer at your school work
Great grades and teacher recommendations shows them you can and do work hard
EC's seal the deal
Essays only affect are to hurt your chances if you are borderline and they really suck

IMO

neatoburrito

...or if they don't think you wrote them.

luckyduckyme

@skisoccer2014 -- I sure hope that’s the case! Otherwise I think I'm going to cry on March 10th when I eagerly open my mailbox only to find thin, flimsy rejection/waitlist letters and no fat, info-stuffed acceptance packages... *SOB*

@siddsach -- If that's really the order of importance regarding application materials... it makes me UBER RELIEVED!!!

luckyduckyme

Lol I just wanted to say that it's really nice to know that there are people out there on CC who feel the same way I do. Thanks guys! It makes me feel so much better.

BigblueGirl2012

But back to your original thesis luckyducyme. Yes it looks like you must be incredibly brilliant, with a life story brimming with superlatives to even be considered to some of these schools. But you have to remember:
The internet is full of liars;
People who post their stats asking for their chances have sometimes simply found a place to brag. (Who's going to listen to these nerds in real life, right?)

Many, many of my classmates have SSAT's in the 80% or below (myself included). I live next to a girl who got 62% on the math.
Yet boardingschoolreview.com has my school listed first as requiring the highest scores.
So go figure.

luckyduckyme

@Bigbluegirl2012 -- Ya I guess you're right; the internet can be pretty full of liars. I guess I'd never really considered that before I created this thread, otherwise I might not need reassurance that I'm not the only person out there who feels intimidated by all the great candidate profiles on CC...

And also, lots of the people at my current school have ssat scores of below 80% too, and in general people at my current school tend to be quite bright. Therefore, I guess it makes sense that the candidates who have 99% ssat scores on CC are either lying or just abnormally bright. (Lucky them if the latter is the case! )

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks again. You and everyone else have made me feel so much better about this whole situation.

urbanflop

Although you have realized many people have low SSAT scores, do not lower the bar for yourself. The person at my school who has low SSAT scores is the one with alot of money and that is a legacy. The one with 99 percentile is extremely smart but isn't applying to boarding school.

luckyduckyme

Haha don't worry Urbanflop... I wouldn't lower my bar if by doing it I could save the world from destruction by aliens!!! (Lol ok maybe I would lower it in that situation... but otherwise I wouldn't. )