I have a few questions-
Thanks!
I completely agree with @feartheENGR
However, I think the answer to the third question is what the colleges say. One of the reasons they also take alumni is because they get more grants (at least that’s what I’ve heard).
Firstly the most important factor is your background; ethnicity, gender at some schools/majors, legacy status, not being international. Being a recruited athlete would also be a massive hook.
Then, the most important factor after that, by far, is GPA/class rank.
After that comes leaderships, then great research and awards.
For the SAT/ACT, once you’re beyond a certain range, colleges don’t care about your score. It will not get you in.
Unless your application is out of this world (Intel finalist, imo/iPHO etc qualifier), you generally also need leaderships for the most selective schools.
One of my kids had NO leadership titles (captain, officer, founder, etc). She was a top performer for her Quiz Bowl team, and also had a high finish at the state tournament in an individual club sport. So a leader by example and performance… She got in everyplace she applied 2 years ago, including U of Chicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, and a bunch of other schools with merit aid. Don’t sweat not having “titles” - accomplishments count for more.
I also think what matters depends. Test scores ARE king at many schools, no matter what they say (U of Chicago, for example). GPA - if your unweighted is 3.7 or better, you can get in anywhere if the rest of your app is really strong.
@intparent
Can you give some more examples of schools where test scores are important?
Look at the 25th-75th percentile range of SAT scores at the individual colleges. That will tell you were you need to be score-wise. GPA/transcripts are the most important indicator to adcoms because they show how you have performed over 4 years.
Ok… Thanks everyone!
ANOTHER QUESTION-
Will an ivy league school give preference to someone with poor SAT score but stellar ECs and accomplishments, or to someone with a 2400 on her SAT, but mediocre ECs?
Depends on other factors. Essays? Recs? How bad are the scores?
But they’ll take the 2400 with great ECs over the two you mentioned pretty much every time.
Ivys have plenty of students that have both high scores and stellar ECs, they really don’t have to trade off anything. Remember they are turning away 9 out of 10 at least. They evaluate students holistically and I really think they like to form a picture of you using all the parts of your application including your LOR and essays. But I don’t think there are too many students making it with ‘poor’ SATs.
I see… But does, say, Harvard, accept a less challenging high school course, like CBSE? A lot of my friends are taking that course, and they’re wondering if that will hinder their chances of getting into selective schools.
I’m sorry, I am not familiar with the options of courses you have but in the US, students going for top colleges are generally taking the most rigorous course loads available to them.
For ultra selective colleges, one of the best predictors of academic potential is whether or not the student takes the most (reasonably) challenging courseload in HS. Kids who take fluff classes just to get easy As are really hurting themselves in terms of top school admissions. Choice of classes and transcript rigor is one of the BIGGEST evaluation factors.
Top schools wonder “will this student take advantage of what we have to offer?” The 4.0 Val who skates by with pre-calc and few APs or honors courses isn’t even under consideration – deservedly so b/c that person feels it’s about grades when top colleges want true scholars.
Thanks, everyone! I have another pressing query-
A few of my friends will be attending summer school at, say, Harvard or Stanford, in the subject that want to pursue (namely English lit and comp science). I really want to go for creative writing, but problem is- these things cost a lot of money, and there’s no way my parents can afford to send me for one.
So, my question- Will Harvard give me significant preference if I attend a 7-week creative writing summer school camp at their university in the major I’m taking up, or will it not make a difference?
Thanks!
No. While useful and productive summer (albeit expensive) activities are great to have, Harvard looks past those considering they want top scholars regardless of a potential applicant’s family’s ability to afford these things. Why should Harvard favor the kid who summers at Stanford vs. the equally talented on who needs to work at Dairy Queen or cutting lawns all summer? There is no preference – schools like Harvard and Stanford are looking for top kids and can sift through those items that inherently, have nothing to do with the student himself or herself, but are more a measure of the resources/wealth of the kid’s parents.
On the other hand, I can envision some schools (not Harvard or Stanford) which are very conscious of admitting a limited no. of fin aid needy kids. They might be skewed to accept more kids who go to summer polo academies or who list their hobby as “sailing” vs. the Burger King assistant shift managers… just sayin…
@Passionatepoet No you will not be disadvantaged in any way by following CBSE, unless you took Commerce or Arts stream in which case just ask your counselor. Schools don’t say this but a full IB diploma is always better than any of the indian systems for admissions. So, if you have the chance take it. As far as the summer program is concerned, no it will make near to no difference because admissions is disconnected to the summer program teachers, eg my sis went to Cornell for summer school, she was told by the prof that she was one of the brightest HS student he has seen, a year later she was rejected by Cornell, she can’t really complain though, got in at Berkeley. 
@T26E4 We cannot really choose our classes back here in India and build them as we want, we have 3 segregated streams and take compulsory classes under them.
OK… thanks for your answer!
Summer programs where you have to pay only tell schools that your parents have money and don’t matter in any other way.
CBSE is fine, and any stream is fine (even if commerce sometimes is considered less highly, but unlike in India, Arts is fine, too).
EC’s matter a lot - not doing fifteen things, but doing few and doing them well, showing excellence, making an impact.