Hello everyone! I am applying to a few private schools that consider to be the “Elite”. I’m applying to PA, Exeter, Groton, Deerfield, St. Pauls. My safe schools are St. Marks and Brooks. Groton School is the one I really want to get in because I took a visit and knew instantly it was my best fit out of the rest. But how hard is it to get into? I believe i’m all set in all factors but the SSAT. I am really tensed about it as well. What is a safe score? By the way, im taking the SSAT in November and December.
I hear the 90s+ are ideal for the “Elite” schools, and I guess try to go above 80s for St. Marks and Brooks. That being said, though, make sure there are plenty of other things that make you “great” if your ssat scores are under the 90s for the “elite” schools. Also, I totally agree with you about Groton! The headmaster seems really cool, and although I didn’t feel it like you did, I still really, really want to go. Good luck with the SSATs! As a math person, I found the math to be relatively easy, but make sure you know linear systems, how to graph quadratic equations, and the order of operations. As for vocab, I didn’t find it too hard, but the reading comp was a pain. I find that if you read a lot, though, you do well on reading comp. I am confident you can do well! Good thing you got two dates scheduled, also. I am virtually certain I will have to take it again.
I don’t think there is a “safe” score for Groton for any of the so called elite schools. That being said, calling St. Marks a safety isn’t very safe either. St. Marks and Groton are rivals and their stats are very similar. I know of a few people who were accepted at Groton, but not St. Marks. If you look through the pages here you will see that it makes sense to apply to numerous schools, particularly if you need FA. The admit rates for most of these schools is below 15% and much lower for FA applicants.
Most of us here would recommend that you work to get the highest SSAT score that you can and cast a wide net of schools. Ideally, you should try to have a score above the average for the school. Do you best, but keep in mind that admittance into all of these schools is tough and that you will be fine whatever your outcome on M10!
No safe scores…not many safe schools…we applied to 11 schools…thought several of them were “safety nets”. DS could not have scored higher on the SSAT & received state recognition for his SAT score (as 7th grader). He’s a URM. He played several sports (two very well) and was involved in many extracurricular activities, including band. He got WLd at many of what we thought were safe schools. Just want you to have a clear and real picture of it all because M10 was somewhat of a shock for us.
Knightdude. Nice and thanks for the tips. What grade are you in right now? Im in 8th grade right now.
You need a hook. Legacy? recruited athlete? from the mid-west or west coast? those will help
I’m in 8th too
SSAT must be above 90%.
Who said it had to be over 90%? I know someone who got it with 68%