<p>No offense, but what is your backround/position that gives you the knowledge base to state that the SAT scores are losing their importance for Academy admission? Is this your opinion, or can you give me the research and data to support the statement?</p>
<p>Given the vast differences in educational program that extend across our country (or even a county), the only constant is a standardized test. I am not saying that it is the be-all and end-all, but at least one is comparing apples to apples.</p>
<p>I have been told make this by an Academy admissions officer. Don't get me wrong, scores are still very important. I was trying to make the point that, a strong record with average/poor SAT scores won't automatically decline a candidate. Colleges in general are BEGINNING to weed out the SAT; this will take several years though.</p>
<p>I even got the stats from collegeboard. This is just the middle 50% though
SAT Reasoning Verbal: 570 - 680
SAT Reasoning Math: 620 - 700<br>
A 570 on the verbal isn't that impressive. The math scores of the Midshipmen are still impressive though. Sorry for any confusion/ my own ingorance</p>
<p>"Colleges in general are BEGINNING to weed out the SAT; this will take several years though."</p>
<p>The University of California System is the reason that the SAT's were changed starting with the class of 2006. College Board implemented exactly what the largest University system in America requested and every other institution has bought into the new test. There is a huge industry revolving around standardize testing that will not let it become obsolete. SAT scores are not going anywhere anytime soon. With weighted grades etc. standardized tests are the only constant in the admissions process. </p>
<p>Even the few selective LAC's (Bowdoin for one) that do not require you to report your SAT's still publish their SAT range and most applicants go ahead and report their scores. </p>
<p>It is interesting that College Board reports the middle 50% for USNA when the USNA class profile does not give the middle 50% but actually gives you the score range percentiles. Comparing your scores within the context of the score range percentile will give you a good indication if you are academically competitive. If you check the profile for the Class of 2010 30% of the class scored higher than 700 on the math. Whenever you have an institution of higher education that is "bent" toward the sciences and engineering, you will find a discrepancy between the math and verbal scores. Not taking MIT or Cal Tech into account as they attract a different type of student to begin with (one usually looking at a terminal degree in the sciences and engineering rather than a "practicing" degree) you will see bottom range verbal scores near or even below 600. Don't be so quick to judge the 570.</p>
<p>as much as we would all like to believe the SATs are on their way out, or falling out of favor, the reality is that they will still be around for this next admission cycle, they will still factor in more than you might want them to, and they aren't going away anytime soon.</p>
<p>Keep taking them. Aim for over 600 in all categories, higher than that in math if you can. Get a tutor if you have to. Practice taking the test....timed...and under "real" test conditions. Don't overlook the importance of a good SAT score, or the impact of a less-than-steller one.</p>
<p>Way too many people and mega-bucks engaged in this industry to allow it to fade away. Anything else,for the the forseeable future is just wishful thinking, gnashing of teeth ... especially @ the service academies where it is essentially an ADMISSION/gatekeeping than RECRUITING process. Aside from the occasional alum, we'll not see many USNA, USMA, etc. admission officers at the local college nights. Nor the Princetons. Virtually all of the 3,500 4 year colleges and universities, with the exception of a few handfuls are predominantly in the latter. They're out there banging the bushes, trying to make major sales of 4 year tuition packages. </p>
<p>The game is totally different for the service academies, aside from the customer base being a subset of the 17-18 year old market place, and the exchange is substantially different. </p>
<p>We can bet the ranch that SATs and the like are here to stay for the coming generations of college kids, and particularly until the gen X rebound begins to take its nosedive. And particularly at places like USNA where as others have noted, there is need for a convenient measuring stick of common ground among a nationally dispersed candidate pool.</p>
<p>Bill ... there is little to zero correlation between academic success and SAT scores, especially in looking at the margin. SATs are NOT a general predictor success in passing calculus or the like. Again, they are convenient load levelers for looking at 10k kids from all over God's green acres. If you were talking about 200 vs. 700 on SATs ... well that's a whole different discussion. But of course we're not. 200s don't get past the pre candidate stage.</p>
<p>The same one you probably took but now understanding what the test is asking. Tutoring is not about improving your verbal or math aptitude, its about learning how to take the test and maximize the score. Know of kids who have improved 200 points by hours of private tutoring. Is it worth the cost? Depends on how bad you want the score and how much you perceive you need the score.</p>
<p>Really, I believe all we are trying to do is make a point that tutoring can raise an SAT score by a substantial amount. Bill0510 just chose a random number, 720 or a 730 would have been a better example.</p>