If your applying and your in the bottom 10% rank wise, does that mean you need to score in the top on the SAT in order to get in?
<p>It depends on the college and what they place the most weight on in the admissions decision. At some schools the focus is on grades, high school curriculum and rank. Test scores are considered, but the first three are the most important in the decision. In any case, MOST colleges tend to wonder when someone's test scores are much higher than class rank and grades would indicate --- it is considered a sign of someone who has not lived up to their potential in many admissions offices.</p>
<p>Most schools look at SAT as a prerequisate and then other features are "hooks" to get you in over someone with a similar score.</p>
<p>Wait...? Bottom 10% of a college? Do you mean bottom 10% of the applicants or of your high school?</p>
<p>yeah i'm a little puzzled too. if 90% of the students in your class are ranked higher, you are in trouble...?</p>
<p>Well when trying to look at chances when looking at a colleges class profile from the year prior. For instance Say I'm applying to XYZ college, and they have 75% in the top 10, and 90% in the top 25, and say my high school is right at top 25% of my high school class.</p>
<p>It depends where you go. There are some High Schools that are so elite, that I'd take the 10 lowest ranked people over the median person at a public High School any day of the week.</p>
<p>OK I understand now. For schools that you are in the bottom 10% of the accepted pool, it means that very few applicants are accepted with such credentials (obviously). </p>
<p>A general guideline is to come up w/ a list of reach, match, and safety schools. While other factors are considered (essays, extra activities, etc), this is a good general guideline.</p>
<p>A reach school is a school where you are well below the 75% for both SAT scores and grades. </p>
<p>A match school is a school where you are near the 75% for both SAT scores and grades. </p>
<p>A safety school is a school where you are well above the 75% for both SAT scores and grades. </p>
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<p>Generally, at a selective school where 75% are in the top 10% of their class, it would be a major hinderance to not meet this criterion. It is certainly possibly to be accepted, but it is not likely.</p>
<p>Kids at the bottom are going to be hooked: athletes, URMs the rich and famous and legacies. Not just the bottom 10% but the bottom 50%.</p>
<p>I agree on the hook. You need to find something about yourself to hook you in. </p>
<p>What are URM's?</p>
<p>Under represented minorities</p>