<p>Assume two college candidates, both with a combined 1500 CR + M.</p>
<p>Candidate 1 has 750 M and 750 CR. Candidate 2 has 800 M and 700 CR (or 800 CR and 700 M). Which one is more desirable? Does it matter?</p>
<p>It depends on which school or program you are applying. There are some differences. It may be less a difference between 780+780 and 760+800 or 800+760. You can get some hint from the mid 50 of each section score.</p>
<p>I don’t think it matters. The scores are too close together (700 vs 750 vs 800). A more interesting case would be a 1400 combined: 700/700 vs. 800/600. That could make a dramatic difference at a selective school (depending on major, etc).</p>
<p>“A more interesting case would be a 1400 combined: 700/700 vs. 800/600. That could make a dramatic difference at a selective school (depending on major, etc)”</p>
<p>Ok, so which is more desirable? Does a school want a balanced student (700/700) or a student with genius potential (800/600)?</p>
<p>IMO it depends. A high tech school like GTech or Caltech would take the 800 in math student. A highly selective LAC, maybe not.</p>
<p>If it is for Caltech or MIT, a 800+700 (Cr+M) is probably less desirable than 750+750.</p>
<p>Interesting – some of us were part of a conversation on another post. Take this example: </p>
<p>CR 790/WR 770/Math 680 versus CR 710/WR 710/Math 710</p>
<p>Some talk about the magical “700” threshhold – so would a liberal arts college prefer seeing the 710/710/710 child? A more “balanced” child? In the end, I have to place hope that the colleges see the potential in each individual child (OK, not huge 35,000 student universities but colleges with <8,000 undergrads). They don’t want all “balanced students”" – they want some flour, some sugar, some butter, some salt and some pepper. So I don’t think there is some magical answer for all schools. At least I hope there isn’t… since the 790/770/680 kid is mine…</p>
<p>^ That is not a fair comparison. The advantage of the much higher CR (and perhaps writing) score would have bigger impact than the 30 point difference in Math. If both are 30 points difference, that may be different. I do think the former look better for LAC.</p>
<p>"If it is for Caltech or MIT, a 800+700 (Cr+M) is probably less desirable than 750+750. "</p>
<p>I agree, but is a 800+700 (M+CR) MORE desirable than 750+750 for MIT and Caltech?</p>
<p>^ That may or may not be. That’s why I said above. It really depends on which school you are applying. That is how I answer OP’s question.</p>