<p>
</p>
<p>Oo i did consider that for a few seconds :p. in the end, I felt like 2350+ probably catches something like 70% of the big fish, while 2300+ might catch 85% of them. But a wider net comes at the cost of sounding less extreme, but extreme is important when you want to convey the demographic of big fish. </p>
<p>however, i think it’s quite possible 2300+ could be entirely more appropriate, assuming our notions of big fish are similar.</p>
<p>You know when you’re reading results threads and you’re thinking “yeah, you should’ve been accepted” or “with that score, you’re probably majorly hooked”? A 2300+ always qualifies as the former in my eyes.</p>
<p>I got a 2180. Tell your dad that I was accepted to Brown University and Berkeley and Columbia.</p>
<p>Tell him that US admissions is not purely numbers based, as is the admission in <em>many</em>, if not all, south-east asian countries.</p>
<p>Then, enjoy life.</p>
<p>PS. I’m Indian</p>
<p>Dear, I feel so hurt when i saw you talking about suicidal thought just because the SAT and the way you have been treated. pat ! pat ! I think your parents, as new immigrant, also felt lost, overwhelmed, and distressed because of the tough life / adjustment … They vented their frustration, mostly unaware frustration towards themselves or their lives, on you, so nothing is your fault. I do feel pity for them. </p>
<p>also please understand that in Asian culture, people believe that “shaming make people brave to improve” ， so blaming you is your parents’ Asian way to motivate you , although it is not appropriate. </p>
<p>You could only do things the best when YOU want it , not your DAD want it, or not others have / did it . so make up your mind about your life goal, and prioritize your goal among all the games and plays. Confidence and self-esteem is something you have to win it with hardest works, and once you won it , you will never lost it again in your life . </p>
<p>SAT score is only the tip of the iceberg; it reflects your learning ability, skills, attitude, and tricks , including goal setting , planing, organization, prioritizing, carefulness, and Passion, so do work on those things first and be self-motivated .</p>
<p>two seniors i know:
Girl who got a 1900 – Berkeley, UCLA.
Boy who got a 2100 – Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, you name it.</p>
<p>SAT scores aren’t the only things that matter. They’re important, yeah, but your score is fine and you definitely shouldn’t be feeling suicidal about it. I know how you feel because I’m Chinese and have cried so much about scores it’s not even funny; but you need to pick yourself up, shake it off, and get on with your life. Bear it through; once you’ve been accepted to an amazing college, your parents won’t know what to say.</p>
<p>That’s a very good SAT score–certainly something to be proud of. The drive for the top score comes, I believe, from not only Asian universities, but in fact, most non-American universities; as I understand it, they are extremely focused on standardized tests; your score determines which university you attend, and, from there, to what degree you will achieve success. That’s what I gathered from the French I’ve spoken with, and it seems to fit with what I’ve heard from others from SE Asia. It’s a very different environment.</p>
<p>Looks like we here in the states are rather unique in our method of student selection. As for you… have faith! You’ll be fine. Go do something that you really love, and do your best at it. That’s what makes you special snowflake-y.</p>
<p>There are skills beyond Writing/Critical Reading/Maths that contribute to success, and those three sections can only take you so far. That said, having good CR and writing skills tend to go along with good reasoning and self-expression, which -do- help. And math is math. I’d suggest that most great movers of the world would score well on two sections, at least–a weakness in one can probably be made up for by relative strength in the others. I suppose I would suggest a minimum of 2100, which would give a 750 in two sections, and a 600 in the third. Not perfect, but definitely enough to suggest reasonably outstanding ability. One needn’t reinvent the wheel to change the world.</p>
<p>Why is this discussion even happening? Just score a 2400! Plain and simple. Then your parents won’t have anything to complain about. The fact that no one has mentioned this easily achievable option has me worried that CC’ers aren’t thinking as hard as they should be.</p>
<p>I come from a first generation Chinese household. My parents certainly have a considerable amount of these sentiments and anxieties regarding the college process and standardized testing, but they aren’t nearly as intense as OP’s (they were happy if I could above 2100).</p>
<p>Although I do have friends (both Korean and Chinese) who have parents that will not stand for anything below a 2200 and an admission into a T20 school. They cope reasonably well despite the absurd amounts of pressure that they’re constantly dealing with all the time. From what I have learned, they simply ignore whatever criticisms that mom and dad have to throw at them.</p>
<p>My advice to you OP is just don’t get riled up with whatever BS your parents have to say about how “stupid” you are. A 2160 is a great SAT score, and don’t let the Chinese-American academic stigma convince you otherwise. Re-take it again, apply and get into a good college, graduate with good grades, and once you get your first job you can tell your parents to screw off.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Easier said than done. Obviously, boosting your score will be the best solution, both in terms of dealing with your parents and college. However, it isn’t that easy.</p>
<p>To study for the SAT, I’d recommend getting the blue book and taking a practice tests each weekend. Get Barron’s guide to writing as it is very helpful. Direct hits is good for math. If you need more help, PM me.</p>
<p>Based on my experience, I’d have to say that the way your parents are acting is pretty normal for Asian parents; they tend to get really caught up on SAT scores and other objectives since they don’t understand anything else. Ignore all the things they say about you being a hopeless failure, because not making it to an Ivy League school is NOT the end of the world. Suicide is never the answer. Study hard and bring up your score, but don’t expect that this will get your parents to calm down. Just keep in mind that in two years you’ll be out of there. Grit your teeth and try and get used to it.</p>
<p>Tell your dad to screw off. Maybe using the average scores from your favorite university.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>@cheerios: Duh. I tried to make the joke as obvious as possible. I guess it didn’t work.</p>
<p>Hey, hey, studious? I got that. </p>
<p>Cookie?</p>
<p>The scary part is that I know parents who freak out in anger over ~2300. My Asian friend was grounded and yelled at for a 2310, which was 10 pts higher than my score (which I was proud of XD).</p>
<p>They are annoyed she did worse than her sister (HYPS admit w/ ~2390) and think she’s going to disgrace the family. </p>
<p>But what I think is that you don’t need to care about the pressures parents push upon you; your parents love you regardless. Call me an idealist, but I don’t know how a parent can think of their child as a disgrace.</p>
<p>@retro: Chocolate chip or thin mints?</p>
<p>You were serious Studious? I thought you were just studious, Studious.</p>
<p>I think we have established that I wasn’t serious. As for that second part, I have brief spouts of studiousness punctuated by periods of laziness. My maximum studiousness usually comes after 1 AM.</p>
<p>That’s simply not true. You can’t say that a score in the 98th/99th percentile is “average”; that goes completely against the DEFINITION of the word. To me, a “good score” is relative to each person, but anything above a 1800 is solid, pretty much. Above a 2000 and you did really well.</p>
<p>1300- eh
1500- maybe
1750- sorta average
1800- ok
1900- woo
2000- congrats
2100- very nice
2250- dude get out
2390- total and utter disappointment OR feelings of accomplishing the nearly impossible
2400- … You sir (or ma’am) are a CHEATER (joking)- Very awesome and congratulation. You can rest easy now.</p>
<p>I totally feel your pain! I’m 4.5 student… haven’t really gotten around to getting good sat scores but my parents want me to get a 2250 which is pretty hard considering that i don’t i am really good at math. </p>
<p>However, I don’t really think that you should let your parents discourage you! I know at times parents can be overbearing especially our asian parents but they just want the best for us! They just want us to succeed and be super ready so that at college you can do whatever you want and get into your dream school!(:</p>
<p>I think that you’re doing really well if you started sat IIs sophomore year. do work on your extra curriculars and other stuff. It’s good to be well rounded but also find time to relax. Don’t let all that get to you though. Dont slack off and just learn how to manage your time.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine and we’ll get through this!(:</p>
<p>@ enfieldacademy; there are so many aspects of human worth other than just intelligence, and there are so many fields for accomplishment other than science (in which, I agree, intelligence plays a bigger role). Your argument is entirely unreasonable, partial, biased, detestable</p>