1300 or Higher but rejected thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
121

<p>No SAT or ACT score can possible reveal the type of person you are. I have good grades, decent SAT, and great EC’s. I have been to many countries, competed at a high athletic level, and have had many great experiences. I would not trade any of that in for a perfect 2400 SAT or a 36 ACT. I am happy to me who I am, what I’ve done, and hopefully what I will do. I understand the SAT is base mark for academic success in college. Having said that, no one has the authority to call anyone a “retard” or “bonehead.” Be happy with yourself; let others worry about their situations.</p>

<p>I totally agree mom2three, and thank you for the best wishes!</p>

122

<p>Years ago, the norm was to weigh GPA equally with SAT/ACT scores, Essays if required and Interviews (again if required). The funny part was some sshools even weighed the Verbal section with twice the weight of the math.</p>

<p>These days, some schools make SAT's optional, do not even count the written portion, care less about interviews and recommendations come into play.</p>

<p>UF does it their way and life will go on!</p>

<p>The good news is that the standards will continue to change as time goes on and that most affected today's decisions will be writing posts in 25 years for their own kids, I hope the griping stops and that everyone gets into a college somewhere. If you want to change things, get involved and try. It is harder than you think!</p>

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<p>funny thing is..S missed the Nov 1 deadline...so we don't know if he got accepted or not.</p>

<p>oh well...UF was one of his safeties anyway.</p>

<p>congrats to all who got admitted.</p>

124

<p>
[quote]
Of course not. If her scores had been even remotely close to impressive, I would understand. As it is, they don't even demonstrate an ounce of potential.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yeah, I agree that those don't demonstrate her true potential, because her true potential is much more than just some number on a test. I'm sorry, but I don't care how she is able to get her A's or her 5's (I sometimes wonder as well, she hardly slept our junior year), but either way she EARNS them and DESERVES them like anyone else who get them. I think it's more impressive that she can get an A in a Calc test after 2 hours of studying compared me getting an A after only 15 minutes of studying. Why? Because for her, the A also shows dedication and commitment to success.</p>

<p>I get it, you scored high on the SAT and you are probably really intelligent, but guess what - that's not the only aspect of an individual that determines success and potential. </p>

<p>Some other attributes are social skills and humility, I scored well on the SAT as well but you don't see me acting like I am above anyone on this board. My friend, also, has a lot of leadership qualities that I think she showed in her applications. Does the SAT test one's ability to lead? No. She's charismatic and likable. Does the SAT test that? No. Will those attributes and abilities help in college and life? Yes.</p>

<p>My point is that you should stop characterizing someone (especially someone you haven't even met) by calling her a bonehead due to one test score. Her life won't be a failure just because she couldn't break 1100 on her SATs, and stop acting like it will.</p>

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<p>I just hate how ppl brush off low SATs with "I'm a poor test taker" when I'm not allowed to say "I'm not good at schoolwork" for my GPA.</p>

126

<p>SAT= 3 hour test</p>

<p>GPA= High School Career</p>

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<p>exactly. What's 3 hours? Not that big a deal to fill in some bubbles. You are the failz if you can't do that.</p>

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<p>I wish they had a SAT - Maturity section. I would like to see some of people's scores on this board.</p>

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<p>in response to post 124....</p>

<p>Wow. Did you honestly just assert that someone with more natural intelligence, who can ace a class without studying, is LESS impressive than someone who has to study so long that they don't SLEEP?</p>

<p>Let's look at this rationally for a moment:
You're a CEO, looking to hire a lower-level employee. One applicant takes hours, possibly days, to accomplish menial tasks. The second applicant takes 15 minutes to accomplish the exact same tasks. Who do you hire? Don't be ridiculous.</p>

<p>Just because I (or anyone else) take LESS TIME to get the same straight As, that doesn't logically imply that we're not hard workers. It just means that, in that particular instance, we don't NEED to work as hard. I still pull occasional all-nighters when I have a 15 page research paper due, an AP Calc test, AND 5 hours of theatre rehearsal, so don't assume she's a harder worker than me.</p>

<p>and congrats on the good SAT score.</p>

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<p>I never said that she is a harder worker than YOU. I was talking in generalities and you took it as a personal front. </p>

<p>Okay taking your rational example...let me expound upon it further:</p>

<p>You're a CEO, looking to hire a lower-level employee that is fresh out of college/training. Both applicants had the same major (lets say Business Administration) and both graduated with a 3.7 GPA from the same university (lets say UF for this example). </p>

<p>Applicant A: She talked about how she had to budget her time in college, because she admittedly said she really had to work hard for her A's. She talked about her time management skills, her prioritizing skills, and also about how she was able to restructure UF's SGA when she was elected into office. Also, because of her charisma and personality, she was able to score the best internships because of her killer interviewing skills. Also, she had glowing letters of recommendation, because her professors noted how hard working and forward she was in getting help in class when needed. They talked about how she come during office hours for help, and showed genuine interest in succeeding in class. They said that she is one of those individuals that has the drive and motivation to succeed.</p>

<p>Applicant B: This individual is obviously smart, however, overtly cocky. The individual comes off egotistical and believes that they are somewhat smarter and better than most of the population, including the CEO who wasn't even a college graduate. This individual's recommendation letters were rather bland, just noting that he received high marks in class but noting personal. Because of his lack of social skills, he had a short-lived mundane internship and had no leadership experience.</p>

<p>Who would you rather pick?</p>

<p>Now, I admit, if Applicant A was the exact same but also was naturally highly intelligent, obviously it would look better. However, I am pointing out that that IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. </p>

<p>I am not trying to make personal attacks on you, your work habit, or your chances at success. I do not even know you, and I am not trying to insinuate that my friend is somehow better than you personally just because she has to work hard. However, what I am trying to say is that she isn't somehow WORSE or LESS than you just cause her SAT scores are much lower than yours. I am sure you are intelligent and a hard worker as well and may quite be very successful in life. However, don't discount my friend's chance at success because of one test score.</p>

131

<p>^ I agree with just about everything you said, except that I never claimed she wouldn't succeed in life. All I'm concerned about is the college admissions process. If students with 4.0s and 1600/1600 SATs are getting rejected in favor of students with 3.9s and 1000/1600 SATs, that bothers me.</p>

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<p>Okay, well now that we came to mostly the same conclusions then let tell you why I ** think ** some colleges rather choose a student with lower SATs than a person with higher SATs.</p>

<p>Again, I assert it's a student's potential for success. For most elite colleges, and solid state universities like UF, they want students that will make a name for the university in the future. I mean, all these schools love touting their famous alumni list. Perhaps to the adcoms, my friend seemed like she would quite successful in the future even though she has a low SAT score. So, they took her in.</p>

<p>I think that's also why some universities choose to take kids with lower-end test scores. Yes, universities are academic institutions, but regardless, they all strive to become a "name-brand" and one way through famous alumni. Famous alumni create connections, and makes the university more apparent to the mainstream media. Also, these famous or rich alumni might become give millions of dollars in donations to these universities....I could go on forever about it, but I think you get the picture.</p>

<p>I am not trying to assert if that reasoning is right or wrong, but it's what I personally think what universities do and think. That's all.</p>

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<p>remember, uf wants well rounded and unique students to contribute to the community, not just book smarts or average students who do a little ec's here and there and call themselves "well rounded" noo, they see right thru that. if a gpa is lower but they believe that the student has more of a chance to make it to wal-mart, to the bank, and back to their place, without any confusion, and out of trouble-then that is the student they want. yes, many are upset that UF rejects students with lower stats than higher stats students. But their averages admitts are still high, and of course UF is not going to accept every student they has a 4.0 or outstanding SAT's-that would mean that everyone is "guaranteed" admission if that was the case. Those students have been warn before they applied to UF that they are selective, so no matter what, they cannot be so suprised as if someone promise them admission. plus, many other ivy schools would take them. so they should be proud even if UF was their first.</p>

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<p>"if a gpa is lower but they believe that the student has more of a chance to make it to wal-mart, to the bank, and back to their place, without any confusion, and out of trouble-then that is the student they want."</p>

<p>What.....the....eff. I don't even know where to begin with this. It's almost unintelligible, but it seems like you're claiming that schools like kids with basic directional skills hahahahahahahahaha</p>

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<p>they actually do, lol... uf said they had students who did not even know about banks, or how to write checks. And, students should have basic skills anyway for everyday life contacts.. common sense. I mean where are you going to use physics on a checking account? So if people just listen at what UF is saying, especially freshman in high school maybe their admission can be more possible. Take the classes they want, participate in their programs (some may have to be invited), study hard to make over the 50% average on SATS/ACTS, meet that GPA...but still have a good time in high school and in your community. They need students who know their way around instead of being use to "mommy and daddy" guiding the way. This is what they want so be it. Not our decisions but their vision.</p>

<p>edit; just caught on to the "basic directional skills..." of course you know they want that too, and among the academic and ec's resume as well. i did not mean to imply directional skills, but just street smarts that can keep them out of trouble and no only that but help them to survive in an university environment, this is not high school, they are adults no more passenger seats, so they need grown up students, who knows what their doing in and outside the classroom. wouldn't you?</p>

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<p>^ writing checks is now completely obsolete, btw. Ever heard of debit cards?</p>

<p>and how the heck do you think they judge if one person knows how to use a bank account or not? Honestly? Just go to bed.</p>

<p>Rockerguy and I were having an educated discussion here.</p>

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<p>whatever, they said it, and maybe they know by how involve the student is outside of high school who knows? i dont really care it was just an example to how they students are book smart but asks so many simple life questions that they should have already known (preferrably before high school). It is not my problem that you have such a concern on how their admission works. They have been doing fine being the most prestigious college in Florida and is nationally rank with how their admission process works. And maybe you need to sleep on that instead of wondering why such high gpas get denied, they get denied every year, thats how admissions work, no guareteens. unless you're applying to a comm college. Everyone is in!</p>

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<p>i also believe that someone or the admissions committe should not characterized someone based on a test..but you know they have to have some kind of standarized test anyway. ACT,SAT,CPT,FCAT,MCAT,LSAT,GMAT...and so forth lol... grades are one of the most important factors.</p>

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<p>^ I'm too tired to wade through that quagmire of broken syntax.</p>

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<p>Parent of admitted student here. We've been on both sides of the accepted and rejected line. </p>

<p>Our oldest applied to Texas. He was an IB graduate who walked out of highschool with 33 hours of college credit from passing IB tests. He had a 1380 SAT. He did NOT finish in the top 10%. He landed at 13% in his class rank. His EC's were nothing special. He didn't get in. That was not a fun weekend when that letter arrived. Clearly he's a bright kid and we hoped he would get in. But, we also know with certainty that he could have worked a lot harder in school and finished in the top 10% and made sure he got accepted via Texas' top 10% rule. </p>

<p>He wound up getting into UT as a transfer student the next year via their CAP program where you go to one of the UT system schools and pass X hours with Y GPA and you are automatically admitted via transfer. For him, it was a tough lesson to learn but a good one. Hard work matters. As disappointed as he was, in the long run it is good for him to learn that working to your potential in life is more important than your raw ability.</p>

<p>Flash forward two years to Friday the 13th 2009 and our youngest got admitted to UF. He was slightly better (1420) on the SAT and just squeaked into the top 10%. He worked a little harder than his brother in school. Certainly part of the working harder was having a parent riding him and pointing out how his brother missed out and could have done more. He also poured about 600 hours a year into baseball. That probably helped. Even with the SAT, pretty good EC and top 10%, we were sweating it out last Friday night. We would have been disappointed, but not angry, if he didn't get in. We know how competitive it is and accept the fact that it isn't just SATs that matter. We know that our kids could have worked a lot harder than they did and we don't begrudge students that might have done just that but didn't nail the SAT quite as well our our boys did.</p>

<p>The truth is there are a boatload of great applicants at places like UF and UT. The sheer number of strong applicants means that great students will not make it in. I do empathize with those that didn't get in. We've been there. But, I can tell you that the older son eventually did get to UT and he learned some lessons along the way. Hopefully when you look back a year or two this will have been a good thing for you. The odds favor that.</p>

<p>I certainly can't speak to any student's individual situation. But, I can say as a parent of a "rejected" student with good test scores and proven aptitude via the IB program that some students need to look at themselves first and the admissions process second. The process isn't perfect, but the first thing to consider is did I do everything I could to give myself the best chance given the process in place?</p>