@one1ofeach You know the average scores of roughly 93% for accepted students are well documented through various sources for Andover and similar schools. And I understand that means PLENTY of 80s (and 70s) are accepted as well. And certainly there are reasons to be accepted with “bad” SSATs. Some candidates’ life history is so extraordinary, no AO would care about the SSATs at all. But if your resume comes across as average for these schools, you are going to need to show a strength somewhere.
If the OP was my child with the resume that was posted, that’d be my honest feedback. If OP had been recognized by a national organization for charity work or was in the U15 national team soccer player pool, my thoughts would be different on the weight of the SSATs, of course.
(shrug emoji)
I hope I am wrong, but when you are looking a 16%-20% acceptance rates, I do not believe I am way off for this PARTICULAR applicant (can’t underline, not shouting).
Just advice from a keyboard warrior. Could be bad advice! I wish all earnest candidates with Lawrenceville and Exeter as #1 and #2 got in and got the aid they need as well. Truly. That is why I am here.
The 90th% is just a rounded down version of “at least try and hit their average score.”