<p>**Disclaimer: This is admittedly a bit of an opportunity for kids to be proud of their accomplishments and let others know. Anyone who doesn’t want to read kids tell what what they think is their greatest strength, please stop reading this thread now and take negativity elsewhere. I’d like for this to be an upbeat thread, where we can tell what we think is our greatest strength without fear of being too boastful. /disclaimer</p>
<p>We all know that all of the factors are important in gaining acceptance, if you had to choose only one element, which factor would you say it was it that made you stand out? </p>
<p>Are you a great interviewer? Are you a star athlete? Were recommendations likely a cut above? Did you have a 99th percentile SSAT and 4.0gpa? Are you a musical prodigy? Do you have a long legacy? etc…</p>
<p>I am 90% positive my essays are what made me stand out in the applicant pool. Another CCer told me that, “you seem like a 99 percentile writer.” I have had both articles and a poem published before, and I have receive lots of compliments on my writing from my teachers. I also tend to be introspective and so my writing is often “deep,” (considering I’m 13.) While I’m not the greatest fiction/creative writer, most people like the structure of my writing. I also know that I am good at adapting my words to situations. I credit this skill for my good fortune in the admissions game. </p>
<p>The realization that the word “I” was used more times than any other in the above writing, makes me want to issue a challenge to others to try and do this without using that word. (Not required, but this CCer is interested in how another might accomplish that.)</p>
<p>It feels as though the greatest factor at Choate was the volleyball coach :)</p>
<p>There, that’s about as far as I could go without using any pronouns!!</p>
<p>The coach supported my application, and though I don’t really think that’s why I got in, it’s the reason I’m going and I’m just so dang happy about it!</p>
<p>I think it is because of the “Passion” I showed. My SSAT was good, but it did not set me apart from many other applicants. I truly believe that those with true passion leave a mark, I showed them that. </p>
<p>Of course other things helped, but that is the ONE thing that I would owe my luck to.</p>
<p>My amazing interview (good interview and showed how much I loved the school) + my interviewer. He happened to also be the basketball coach…which is one of my sports. And I can only imagine the arguing that probably went on in that room for me. I’m very grateful and will work my ass off when I get ot St. Pauls.</p>
<p>My SSAT’s were pretty good (97th percentile) but my essays were probably like, wow. I’m mostly a fiction writer. I can make a story out of anything, even if it’s not all that great. Most people usually tell me that I’ve got a super strong voice in my writing, so… that was probably it.</p>
<p>I know it definitely wasn’t my interview though. I totally bombed that.</p>
<p>This is probably because I’m pretty well-rounded, and my recommendations and academic record (according to Exeter) were really good. My interview probably got me in.</p>
<p>97% is pretty good? Are there so many 99% that 97% is only okay? I was happy with my 97% (Stupid math for bringing my other two down though.)</p>
<p>I 'm well rounded in my grades (94 avg.), but I bombed the math section of my SSAT(45% compared to a 98% and a 99%)… Math was also my only B.</p>
<p>I’m really not sure. Wait: I’m great at speaking in front of others and writing. I can elaborate on a simple question and manipulate it so that it shows my lifestyle in an appealing way to schools.</p>
<p>So happy about Andover acceptance. I don’t care much about Milton, what do people see inn it?</p>
<p>Soontoboard- Well, I guess 97% is better than pretty good. Pretty exciting actually, seeing as how I scored a 89% the first time I took it (my math scores totally sucked too). But the score still could be better! You can still improve by two more percentile points!</p>
<p>I’m gasping in shock right now, by the way. Milton is amazing! Super amazing, like totally fantastically cool amazing!</p>
<p>But then again, I really don’t understand what people see in Andover. Much too big for me!</p>
<p>Or his own. Can you PM me some things you like about Milton? My parents didn’t like it and I kind of just rode that wave. I’d love to hear more about it.</p>
<p>Lol I got into a HADES with a lower score in math…and originally 23%! And an original overall of 64 (11th grade male). SSAT’s do not matter to much in my opinion, just do reeeally well in something else.</p>
<p>^ But good SSAT scores probably help though, right?</p>
<p>I mean, if the adcom was reading through your app and they just tossed it aside because you didn’t seem like the ideal candidate, but then took a look at your near perfect SSAT’s, they might go back and look closer at your app. It might put you past the first round of cuts.</p>
<p>Obviously scores aren’t everything, people with perfect scores get rejected all the time, but they probably help you more than they hurt you.</p>
<p>Soontoboard: Yessum, I shall PM you! Oh, and oops, sorry about assuming you were a girl. =p</p>
<p>Ya Ya of course they help more than they hurt. I’m just not a big believer that they help to much. Without a significant hook I think 80+ and your safe for sure.</p>
<p>Agreed, I think mpicz and I can tell you from experience that they aren’t very important. We both got into great schools with SSAT’s that were not great. Well mpicz’s 98 was…</p>
<p>It was a late 98 and there actually was some problems with getting it to SPS (mom put in wrong code!..St pauls in minnesota lol)…so I may/probably got in with a 64. While I got waitlisted to the others with a 98. It doesn’t hurt, but really…if they like you, they will find a way.</p>