Are SAT scores really everything when applying to the "best" colleges?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

So, tomorrow is my second time taking the SAT. The first time I took it, I received a 1630. This was a major blow to my self-esteem because I am one of the smartest students in my class (sorry if this sounds a bit vain). I guess I’m just looking for a bit of reassurance. A friend of mine told me that this one girl got a 1400 on her SAT and I believe a 23 on her ACT and got into UCLA. I find that highly unbelievable but I am unaware of her grades. Anyway, when applying for maybe a school like UC Berkeley or UC Irvine, would they accept me? Or what are my chances of being accepted? A little background on me:

I’m an incoming senior.

My class size is about 96 students so it is very competitive to be in the top percentile of the class.
-My high school is a college prep school so we attend both college classes and high school classes simultaneously. I’ve received A’s in all of my college classes and I plan on getting my AA degree with an emphasis in mathematics (even though mathematics is not exactly my strong point, I can pass my classes).

As of right now, I am rank 1 in my class. The last time I checked, my GPA was about 4.0126 weighted I believe (still waiting for this year’s grades, the school year just ended yesterday). Hopefully my Math Analysis teacher will round my 89.9% up or else I will freaking cry (aside from this, all my other grades are solid A’s).

I’m in several clubs:
-Art Club (since 9th grade)
-ASB (9th - 12th)
-Key Club (10th - 12th)
-NHS (2014-2015, 2015-2016)
-Red Cross Club (11th - 12th)
-Not a club but I may consider joining basketball senior year.

and I have some leadership roles
-Key Club Secretary (2015-2016)
-NHS Parliamentarian (2015-2016)
-ASB Historian (2014-2015)
-ASB Secretary (2015-2016)

and I’ve done some things outside of school
-Summer Youth Employee (2014)
-UBC Youth Group (9th - 12th)
-Tutor for my friends in “regular” high school (2014-2016)
-This summer I plan on doing some more volunteering (perhaps in an animal shelter, or I might get another job)

AP Classes
-AP European History
-I passed the AP World exam without taking the class
-AP English Language
-APUSH
-My senior AP’s will most likely be AP Lit, AP Environmental Science, and AP Calculus.

I’m also a Posse nominee and the colleges I look forward to are UC Berkeley, Pepperdine, Tulane, and Kalamazoo. I’m hardworking, ambitious, and dedicated, and I have fought relentlessly for the top spot. Anyway, I am not exactly confident in my next SAT test. I get tired about half way because of all the passages. I’m just worried that I won’t get into a “good” school. I don’t want to end up in a college like CSULA (not that I have anything against them) because I’ve worked so hard for the top spot. Also, do you guys have any tips for scoring higher? I’ve made a bad decision in not studying for this upcoming SAT vigorously (I didn’t study for the first one either), but I plan to take it a third time in October. For that one, I promise to study.

So, can you guys give me some sort of analysis or whatever? And some advice for the SAT tomorrow… I sort of suffer from anxiety, and I nearly had an attack just before posting this. Anything to calm my nerves? Oh, and any advice on how to score higher on the essay portion? I got a 7 the first time. It made my kind of angry because I like to think I’m a pretty good essayist. But I guess it wasn’t enough :stuck_out_tongue:

2

Many of the “best” colleges take a holistic approach to admissions. That means they evaluate the whole student and SAT scores are only one of the elements they consider. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that they have a large number of strong applicants to consider and most of them have solid test scores.

The good news is that I’m sure there is a quality college in your future, but it may not be the most competitive one you’d like.

3

SAT scores are not everything, but they can qualify or disqualify an applicant for serious consideration. If I apply to Yale and my GPA and/or SATs are significantly below Yale’s standards, Yale adcomms are unlikely to delve more deeply into the rest of my app.

4

SAT scores are like number 3 or number 4 on an admission committee’s list of things to look for in an applicant. i view them as passes that will get you into certain categories of likeliness to be accepted in the applications process.

5

SAT scores aren’t everything. I remember a quote from the Dean of MIT college admissions in which he said that if we started to select students bases on perfect SAT scores , then we could fill classes 10 times.

I feel that your gpa and other factors are excellent. You have a very decent chance of getting accepted into best universities :slight_smile: Don’t much worry about your SAT scores

6

@Ibieee Well considering only 360 people got a 2400 last year, that can hardly be true. Although I suppose there are many more people that get 2400 superscored.

7

^Wow, that’s a great point. I’ve heard comments like the one attributed to the MIT adcom many times, but hadn’t thought of how unlikely it really is.

8

yeah true lol. 360 kids isn’t even enough to fill an intro level seminar lol.

9

SAT/GPA may be low on the list of importance to adcomms, but it’s high on the list of *priority/i. Your scores and grades will qualify or disqualify you from further consideration–they’ll choose to read your essays, rec letters, and ECs if your SAT/GPA are within a reasonable range of their expectations. In other words, scores won’t get you accepted, but they can get you rejected.

10

“Anything to calm my nerves?”

1=Go to sleep early tonite. Take one 5mg Benadryl tablet [which is an antihistmine] to help you get to sleep.
2-have a big, high protein breakfast - eggs, bacon, etc- not cereal. This will give you the long lasting energy you will need.
3- take a coke, apple, protein bar or some sort of healthy, easily packable snack with you that you can munch on while waiting in line to go to the bathroom during the break.
Many kids fade toward the end of the test, and having a good breakfast and a nutritious snack will help you maintain your energy and concentration.
Good luck!

11

There were 583 college-bound seniors that scored a 2400 in 2014.

12

And how many with 36 on the ACT?

13

1,407.
http://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2014/pdf/profile/National2014.pdf

14

Applicants w scores in the school’s bottom 25% of admitted students typically have a compelling hook as a mitigating factor (e.g. recruited athlete or solved world hunger/ cured cancer).

15

but then again, how likely is it that a bottom quartile admission would have cured cancer? most of the time it’s because they’re extremely underrepresented minorities, come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, or are the first generation in their family to attend college.

16

Calm down! I got into Pepperdine with a 1690 and no APs. I think i got in because i really fit their mission statement: purpose (involved in church) service and leadership. The right college for you will see the person behind the grades, and it sounds like you’re also doing great in that area so you will be fine!