<p>Of course your scores aren’t “horrible”. 84% of the kids who took the same test would love to be in your shoes.</p>
<p>Re: Your percentiles.
Since your raw scores are all above 700, I’m going to guess that the test form you took was one of the relatively easier versions (each SSAT has its own level of difficulty within a allowable range). More kids got more questions correct, hence the sub 90% percentiles. You don’t state your grade or gender either (don’t, btw), and those variables also affect percentiles.</p>
<p>I never intend to dissuade anyone from applying to any school, but I will use this thread to ask a broader question: Just how/when do some kids pick their “apply to” schools?</p>
<p>Here’s why I ask…if it were me, I’d feel a whole lot better about my chances if I was on the high side of the average. So I’m assuming that the OP here determined what schools he/she should apply to BEFORE getting his/her SSAT scores.</p>
<p>Again, if it were me, and it was important that I go to boarding school because of a paucity of local opportunities, I would definitely expand my range of “apply to” schools beyond a handful of the most selective in the country. </p>
<p>I’m constantly surprised that more people don’t take a similar approach.</p>