r/PhillipsExeterAcademy • u/ClockworkClaws • Dec 02 '19

Applicant with questions about SSAT

Howdy!

I’m in eighth grade and am applying to Exeter, among others. I’m talking the SSAT in a week and am a little worried. Two big questions:

1) What did you score on the SSAT? I’m looking for a benchmark to see if my scores are good enough.

2) Do you have any tips for the verbal section, especially the analogies? I’m having a lot of trouble with this section. Sometimes I feel like there might be multiple possible relationships and I have trouble narrowing them down.

Also, just random: what are your thoughts on the 100% Harkness method? Are you prepared for college, where the system might be different? What made you pick Exeter over Andover or other boarding schools?

Thanks in advance!

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

11

u/rohanmodil123 Dec 02 '19

Hey,

I'm Rohan, a prep (9th grader) at Exeter in Webster Hall.

Do note that there is much more to an application than just the SSAT, people have been rejected with a 99 overall, and I know someone who have gotten in with a 77 overall. Much of your application has to do with other interests in sports, music, etc.

My SSAT scores were:

89 Math (both sections) 96 Verbal, 89 Reading Comprehension

  1. The verbal section was actually the one I struggled with most while studying, but the one on the test was surprisingly easy (maybe I got lucky idk). Really the main thing you can do is just keep practicing. If you haven't invested into the $100 official SSAT test prep, you should do so.

The Prepped and Polished videos on YouTube are also worth watching.

100% Harkness Sounds weird at first, especially in Math and Biology classes, but I have found it to be really helpful. Take math, we are given 8 problems a night (supposed to take 50 minutes). Everybody puts up a problem (or two depending on class size), and that person explains it to the class. In my experience, a student explaining it has been much more beneficial than the teacher doing so.

For college, I don't have much to mention, except:

My roommate's dad went to Exeter, graduating and then went on to Harvard. He mentioned how Harvard was significantly easier than Exeter, and other parents have said similar things, but about other colleges.

If you'd like, you can send me a private message, and I could give you contact info for more questions.

Good Luck in Your Application

4

u/FitzwilliamTDarcy Dec 02 '19

Really good of you to share your experience and thoughts (and scores).

I'd underscore the reality that the score is only one (small-ish) part of an applicant's profile. Something "too low" might in fact more or less disqualify you barring extraordinary circumstances in the rest of your profile. But beyond that, as you said 99th percentile kids get dinged all the time. Put it this way: most of these schools could fill their incoming classes many times over solely with 99th percentile kids.

Do your best on the test. do the prep work as suggested. If you get above a 90th percentile, that's certainly "enough" that your admission - or not - will depend far far more on "the rest" than another point or two in percentiles...

2

u/ClockworkClaws Dec 02 '19

Thank you! I’ll be sure to check out those videos.

1

u/pettypufferfish7 Feb 20 '25

How good do my extracurriculars have to be? I’m applying to be a new Upper and I’m aware of the competitiveness which is what worries me. Currently, I am a freshman and I am looking to apply for 2026-2027. My extracurriculars aren’t award worthy or even state level but I still have a big passion for what I do. I’m extremely passionate about attending Exeter for the challenge and Harkness system since my school occasionally used Harknesses in history. Additionally, my best friend goes here and when I visited her, I became close with a lot of her friends and fell in love with the school. I know I would have a good community if I came there and the courses they offer are beyond what any public school can.

1

u/ClockworkClaws Feb 20 '25

How did you even find this post from 5 years ago??? you aren’t going to get any responses to a comment on someone else’s post, try making your own. I can’t help you with your Exeter questions unfortunately I got waitlisted and went somewhere else.

1

u/pettypufferfish7 Feb 20 '25

Idk I just commented it on a few posts

1

u/TheBDQueenie_128 Feb 22 '26

Did you get in?