<p>This is talked about ad nauseam, I'm sure, and Yale says that testing "is one of the lesser important" aspects of an application. But on CC, I hear otherwise, that without a 2300+/35+, chances take a noticeable drop, a claim which then seemingly challenges the whole "holistic approach, lesser important" stuff. I know that a score of 2000/30 is actually bad enough for this statement to hold true, but I feel as though people who miss the 2300/35 mark have a somewhat lower chance of getting in (I'm talking ~2200/32-34s). Even on the results thread, it seems as though the vast majority of admits (and even waitlists) indeed have a 2300/35+, and people with less than that, a lot more often than not, get rejected (not including hooked applicants).</p>
<p>Sorry if I sound utterly confused, but if that's true, then it makes me wonder what the middle 50% actually means. From what I've read so far on CC, people say that unhooked applicants need to aim for the 75th percentile in order to stand a fighting chance. If that's true, then it makes me wonder how in the world those below the 75th percentile get in without hooks.</p>
<p>It also makes me wonder if tests are as downplayed as Yale says they are. </p>
<p>The admissions decisions you see here are not exactly the most representative of all the students that were accepted. Usually very outstanding students post on this forum, while others have other things to do and aren’t so interested in posting on forums. ya dig?</p>
<p>Nobody can shed any light, because it’d all be speculation. But they do use a holistic approach to admissions, definitely. The better stats you have, the better, because it’ll make the holistic view of your application better (4.0 GPA + 2400 > 3.9 GPA + 2290). At the same time, other parts of your application will really factor into the decision, like your personality/character and your ECs.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, if you have really good ECs and GPA but you’re otherwise unhooked, I don’t think that means you need to aim for the 75th percentile. A 2250 is plenty to get into a top school like HYPSM.</p>
<p>Schools use test scores as an indicator of “college readiness”. The lower a student’s SAT/ACT score, the more Admissions Directors will ask themselves “If I admit this kid, will he struggle with the work load on my campus? Will s/he become a ‘B’ student or a ‘C’ student?” The higher your test score, the less likely an Admissions Committee will question if you are up to the challenge of the work. If I had to pick a “safe” number, it would be 2100. Admissions Committee’s assume that students with a 2100+ SAT (or the ACT equivalent) are prepared to meet the challenge of college work on their campus. That’s why it’s important to remember that the higher your score, the more a committee will think you can succeed at their institution.</p>
<p>That said, test scores are really secondary to a student’s teacher recommendations, guidance counselor’s Secondary School Report (SSR), essays, extracurricular activities and “wow factors.” My kids are perfect examples of how subjective and random the applications process really is. My daughter had a 2280 SAT and was rejected from Yale and Princeton, but accepted to Harvard. My son had a 36 ACT and was rejected from Harvard (even though his sister attends there), but accepted to Yale and Princeton. Does it make sense? Not from my point of view, but whatever thought process went into the decisions, I’m fairly certain that test scores were really secondary to whatever Admissions Committee’s were looking for.</p>
<p>^Thank you for your enlightening perspective. It gives me peace of mind to think that, and I just hope they really are secondary in context of the whole picture.</p>
<p>@adissaddddd: lol heck yeah I do! (hence my username) But ad nauseam is actually used in the English world, similar to “i.e., e.g., etc”. And I’m guessing you’re Canadian, eh?</p>
<p>“The most important part of your application — bar none, no question, any college — is your high school transcript. Probably the next most important are your teacher recommendations, particularly if you’re applying to any kind of selective college or university.”</p>