DC is applying to six boarding schools in the mid-Atlantic region. We are more focused on the schools referred to as “hidden gems” here (although they have ~20% acceptance rates!). We are not focused on GLADCHEMMS.
DC scored in the 75th percentile on the SSAT. (This is the second SSAT. We are not taking it again.) One of the schools on our list is test optional. I wanted to get the collective wisdom of the board on whether to submit this to the test optional school. Prior posts suggested calling the school to ask whether to submit, but it seems likely I will just end up telling the AO the score during that discussion. Before I reach out to the school, I wanted to see if this group thought the answer was clear either way.
The main reason not to submit is that it is not representative of what you are. If your application is saying “i can do the work”, this supports it. It is confirming/additive, not something that undermines the picture you have portrayed.
Thank you! I appreciate your saying it is a good score. I thought so too, but it also seems like everyone here has a 99th percentile (which I realize is not technically possible). So my confidence was a bit shaken.
Yes, there is exaggeration and selective reporting. Also, this is a test taken by a small, but generally very capable, group of students. Being at the 75th percentile of very good company is quite different from being the 75th percentile of all high school students or even all college-bound students.
I think when you aren’t looking at the most selective schools, 75% is a good score. Admissions rates are reflective of the applicant pool which is different at hidden gems vs GLADCHEMMS - so a strong candidate for a hidden gem has a better than 20% chance there. Whereas at schools like Exeter or Andover, admissions might be a crapshoot for even the strongest applicants.
All that said, I think the SSAT score is more important for those applying from unknown or less known backgrounds. AO’s need it because they aren’t familiar with the classes taken or the recs of the teacher or school. However if applicant comes from a school where lots of kids apply to these schools, then AO will be familiar with the background and SSAT score will matter less.
This is helpful. Thanks. I’m not sure if DC’s school is known to most of the schools to which we are applying. DC is at an independent Quaker day school. One of our BS targets is also a Quaker school and definitely knows DC’s school. But I’m not sure about the other five schools. It doesn’t seem like a 75th percentile SSAT would detract from the application, so we are submitting.