<p>I agree with Shub and generally others...pretty ridiculous 99% of the time. Perhaps a select few, very rarely, if at all, are genuinely curious...but even that's pretty far-fetched.</p>
<p>I'm not sure why people are so quick to attack those who score highly - someone who gets a 2300+ doesn't necessarily have "no life" and I think it's pure jealousy that makes people assume so.</p>
<p>We all like to think that people who do better than us on one thing must be worse than us at something else, or else life wouldn't be "fair". There are always going to be people who do better and worse than you at anything - a person who's asking about retaking a 2300 or something may just be aiming for a more selective college. People who say a 2250 and a 2400 are the same are either totally misinformed or just trying to make themselves feel better about a lower score.</p>
<p>Either way, I personally think that a person with a 2300 is just as entitled to ask for advice as someone with a 1700. People have certain goals they set for themselves, and they all want to eventually achieve them. There's no reason to knock those with higher goals, nor is there reason to make those with lower goals feel inferior. Everybody's different.</p>
<p>(I don't have a 2300 myself - I wish - but I still hate to see people put down for their successes. That's just dumb.)</p>
<p>Completely understood high hopes, and I'm not saying that people with 2300 can't ask for advice.</p>
<p>All I'm saying is that from my experience, a handful of kids at my school who do score really well and are those cookie-cutter candidates are that way because of constant guidance and pressure.</p>
<p>But then again, I know that is just a small sampling of people, as I stated in my post before in case you missed it.</p>
<p>And no, a 2250 and a 2400 are not the same. But a 2350 and a 2400 are pretty close.</p>
<p>
But those top people still have twice the change of being accepted compared to me. That means that at those top schools, I have like 0% chance just because of my SAT. For example. I have a perfect GPA, I have pretty good ECs, volunteer work, AP grades, SAT IIs, and recommendations. Now say that somebody else has the exact same stats as me except that their SAT is a 2250+ instead of my 2180. Who will get into the top school? The 2250+er of course. And I will be left in the dust and end up at my safety school (University of Washington).
</p>
<p>Don't worry, a 2180 is fine. If you say that your other stats are very good, then you don't need to worry. This year, I know someone that got into Harvard and Yale with a 2160. He also happened to be an international student.</p>
<p>@2legit2quit - my post wasn't directed at you, it was more towards people who said something like "people who get a 2200 should stop retaking the SAT and get a life" or something to that extent.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We all like to think that people who do better than us on one thing must be worse than us at something else, or else life wouldn't be "fair". There are always going to be people who do better and worse than you at anything - a person who's asking about retaking a 2300 or something may just be aiming for a more selective college. People who say a 2250 and a 2400 are the same are either totally misinformed or just trying to make themselves feel better about a lower score.
[/quote]
Thank you for the 3rd grade hackneyed lesson we get about how different we all are. (No offense intended)</p>
<p>Either way, a 2250 and a 2400 of course aren't the same, but the difference isn't that significant when it comes to admissions in top colleges - good EC's, essays, and such are more substantial.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"people who get a 2200 should stop retaking the SAT and get a life"
[/quote]
Pretty blunt, but there's some truth in it - if you're smart enough with a 2200, if you have the time you can retake it, but they're just saying that you should invest your time in other areas.</p>
<p>It's like this - with the same EC's, essays, recs, GPA, etc...a person who previously had a 2250 wouldn't get him in if he improved his score to 2350~2400. A 1900, probably. Once you reach a certain score, it's the other factors that count more - stats may indicate that 2400's are accepted more, but it's perfectly sound to assume that those intelligent people tend to be extremely stellar in many other areas as well.</p>
<p>No need to bash people for retakes, but honestly a 2250 who is a reject at Stanford (just a random ex) isn't going to get in with a 2400.</p>
<p>..And another note that I can be completely wrong, but it's pretty logical if it comes to me..</p>
<p>^ "No need to bash people for retakes, but honestly a 2250 who is a reject at Stanford (just a random ex) isn't going to get in with a 2400." </p>
<p>I totally agree with that. I mean imo people who wants to retake a 2200+ are just wasting their time because chances are they'll get a 50-70 point boost max (in most cases) and those few points aren't going to affect things that much. And also with all due respect, I'm not trying to criticize anyone or put anyone down it's just my 2cents</p>
<p>Reiterating myself from another thread... once you reach a point it's your EC's, essays, rec's, GPA, and who you are as a person compared to the applicant ppol as a WHOLE that make the deciding factors...every one that made it to elite colleges (like my cousins/seniors that came in to talk to people) and etc ALL say this.</p>
<p>Admission officers at top colleges honestly I cannot believe would offer admissions to a person clearly rejected as a whole and other factors who happened to have a 2200 if he/she had instead a 2300 or even a 2400 that would've made a difference as a deciding factor in admissions. They know that you can get lucky and such; and "bad days", etc happens.</p>
<p>@highhopes: I don't think anyone on this thread has attacked the people who got 2300+ for getting the high scores....it is more of why do they ask if they need to retake? I feel like it is easy enough to look at CB.org and find middle precentiles for each school they are looking at. and plus a 2300 is above average for every school even harvard and yale.</p>
<p>i think that voodoo has it exactly right. someone with a 2200 who gets rejected probably would have been rejected if they had a 2300+
at that point the difference between the two scores might have been getting two more questions correct. Thats it. i mean admissions officers aren't stupid. they know how the SAT curve is and they realize that both scores are very good and only differ by a couple questioons. nothing big at all</p>
<p>i truly believe that GPA, ECs, essays, and recs are what get people into top schools. much more so then SAT scores.</p>
<p>I saw on the Princeton board someone who got in with a 2080. I am sure that he/she was given the good old....sorry you have no chance of getting in if they asked for chances. That in itself shows that there is more to admission that SAT scores. and....i know its hard to believe but harvard and yale's median score is only like a 2180 or 2200....it isn't astronomical like many people on here seem to think.</p>
<p>i kinda feel like it is hard to be curious about retaking a test when you are in the 99+%. It is just hard to believe that the only reason anyone would ask if they needed to retake is anything other than them just making themselves feel good. </p>
<p>my point is simple....i don't think SAT scores matter once you are passed 2150+. it looks pretty but it wont be a defining factor.</p>
<p>@zfox: Simply what I wanted to say, but I think you were better at conveying it, since I...am tired.</p>
<p>for those who don't have an amazing life story/parent who died in a freak accident/an nationally ranked talent/legacy, all we have are grades and SAT scores
i think it's pointless to retake a 2300 but i kind of understand people who want to retake lower scores..</p>
<p>Well, I personally don't believe that an "it's good enough" attitude is what gets kids into top colleges. Colleges like Harvard and Yale don't accept students because they have the college's "median" score. The kids who ask about retaking already-good scores are looking to cement their chances at a top college, not just have a decent shot - they want the best resume they can possibly have.</p>
<p>And obviously grades and EC's count for just as much if not more than SAT scores, but for schools with highly selective admissions processes, it's not going to cut it to just be within the range. Sure, students with lower scores get into top colleges all the time, but I think that's the exception, not the rule.</p>
<p>Maybe those people with 2200's don't NEED to retake the SAT, but they have the right to ask for advice just as much as someone with a 1900 does. To say, "No, don't retake it, go get a life" or "Stop bragging" is really just mean, IMO. A person asking for advice with a 1900 would never be accused of bragging, so why should it be any different when someone with a slightly higher score asks the same question?</p>
<p>My answer to anyone who asks about a retake, no matter the score, is basically: if you think you can do better with another take, go for it. I'm sick of seeing people get reamed because they have high scores and still want advice, and I hate seeing people say "you have a better chance than I do, so stop whining". The kids on CC are a good group, for the most part, and we (myself included) all have very high goals for ourselves. There's no reason someone should be discouraged from trying to boost their chances of admission as much as possible. That doesn't mean that a 2100 definitely won't get you in, and it doesn't mean a 2400 definitely will. But when it comes to something as important as college, you don't want to be looking back with regret thinking, "if only I had done such and such". I understand everyone else's arguments, but this is my two cents on the issue.</p>
<p>"Colleges like Harvard and Yale don't accept students because they have the college's "median" score."
they don't accept students because they have an above average score either.<br>
there is a lot more that goes into consideration. And you're tired of seeing people get reamed for asking if they should retake 2350s and whatnot?
comeone...they are smart enough to get a 2350. they most likely understand their score is amazing. all i am saying is i think it is hard to believe the actually are seeking advice. I guess lots of people are book smart but just plain idiots when it comes to looking up data and seeing where their numbers fall</p>
<p>^That thread sickens me. There's so much more to a high school student than test scores.</p>
<p>^ yeah dude THAT was the thread i was talking about...guy getting a 2400 but not perfect on the essay -.-</p>
<p>
[quote]
Realize this, and you will no doubt be successful in the college admissions process, whether your goal is Harvard or San Jose State.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>San Jose is a city; it can't have a state college. Just sayin'. :]</p>
<p>^its the name of the college, just like San Diego State University? SDSU?</p>
<p>lol.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hey guys I got a 2400 on the SAT and was wondering if I should retake it. The reason for this is I only got an 11 on the essay, and as an english major I want to impress upon college that I am a good writer. To do this effectively, I feel I need a 12 on my essay.. does anyone agree with me that I should retake? Please this is a serious question I don't need people to laugh at me.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>makes me wanna throw up...</p>
<p>man, I wish I had a 2300 to retake.
...
sigh.</p>