<p>Is there a danger in getting high(near perfect or perfect) test scores? Obviously Ivies like to brag about the fact that they reject perfect scorers, and also say that "We're trying to sculpt a unique class, as evidenced by the way we turn down perfect scorers." So is getting a perfect score a negative on an application? I mean, there has to be some satisfaction on the part of the adcom in rejecting them. It could also stigmatize the applicant as a nerd or obsessive test prepper. </p>
<p>thoughts?</p>
<p>No, it isn’t. They just like to say that because perfect scorers are easier to pick on. It’s awkward to say, “we rejected 1/2 of our 2350’s!” </p>
<p>Point is, they reject <2400 scorers more often than they do 2400 scorers.</p>
<p>but still, it’s hard to know that someone got 2400 and not subconsciously hate them a little</p>
<p>Adcoms aren’t kids who care over petty things like a “2400”.</p>
<p>I manage to go through life without much hatred. </p>
<p>Anyway, in the context of college admission, I’d say a score of 2400 on the SAT is a lot less dangerous than a high school grade average of 4.0 obtained by taking unchallenging courses.</p>
<p>“stigmatize the applicant as a nerd”? just because they have high test scores doesn’t mean they’re nerdy. and anyway, why would colleges dislike a nerd? as long as they’re well-rounded, they should be fine.</p>
<p>If the applicant is a “obsessive test prepper” with a 2400- but also carries a 4.0 and a number of sports and academic awards, I don’t think the Adcoms will have any incentive to reject that applicant. Unless he/she is high, of course. On the other hand, if you don’t have anything else but a 2400, then you should probably rethink your priorities because you will probably recieve a fat L stamped on your application.</p>
<p>Any college that would reject a student for having a perfect score sucks. I wouldn’t WANT their education :P</p>
<p>You know, I’ve actually wondered the exact same thing. If the ivies wanted to, they could easily have middle 50% ranges of like 2320-2380 for the SAT, 33-35 for the ACT, or even higher. But instead it’s something like, 2100-2350, 30-35 or whatever. Maybe they don’t want people to think that admission is reserved for only the highest scores; therefore, they don’t accept all perfect scorers. If they accepted all perfect scorers, then a perfect score would look like the secret to get admission.</p>
<p>But overall, I doubt it would hurt. Higher scorers on average get in at a higher rate than others who score lower.</p>
<p>There aren’t enough perfect scorers in the country to be that widely spread among the schools, btw.</p>
<p>They don’t reject people FOR having perfect test scores. They reject people for NOT having something else that they find desirable… or just because they don’t have enough space in the entering class to take everybody they’d like to.</p>
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<p>Absolutely, positively, 100% not. Why would colleges want to penalize students who got perfect scores? The higher the college’s average SAT scores, the more renowned they become, which will inspire more students to apply in later years, which means the acceptance rate goes down, which means the college rises in the rankings, inspiring yet more students to apply. The more students who apply, the more selective the college can be, which means they can have a stronger student body; a stronger student body means stronger alumni, who will go on to do great things and donate lots of money to their alma mater after they graduate.</p>
<p>It’s all a cycle. It feeds back into itself.</p>
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<p>No. As the saying goes, be nice to nerds: chances are, you’ll end up working for one someday. As for the “obsessive test-prepper,” the adcoms will probably only feel this way if you take the SAT more than three times.</p>
<p>For the schools that brag about rejecting half their applicants with 2400’s…That means if you get a perfect score, your chance of getting in is closer to 50%. Big increase from 9% if you ask me.</p>
<p>I am always wonder about the claim of rejecting a high percentage of applicants with 2400. The fact of the matter is there are just very few 2400 score students in absolute numbers. The number are even smaller without super scoring. Those students might not get into all the schools they apply but I believe they will get into at least one or more highly ranked school.</p>
<p>What if you have a low GPA and a high SAT score? Would colleges be turned off by the disparity?</p>
<p>lol oh no!!!
i got a 2400 on my SAT!!
i’m so depressed, i’ll never get into college!! nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! gotta retake and study less! ahh!!</p>
<p>hahaha sike</p>
<p>I think every college applicant should read this. It’s timeless and you can see a real AdCom at work. It could be from any highly selective school.</p>
<p>[Newsweek.com:</a> Society: Inside The Admissions Game](<a href=“University of Chicago News”>University of Chicago News)</p>
<p>In any case, I don’t think there is any danger to high scores except that you’d better have other outstanding stats to back them up.</p>
<p>I think the reason that they reject some 2400’s is because SAT’s are not the most important factor in the admissions process. Many of the Ivies would rather have a person with an awesome GPA who took the most difficult classes, did lots of community service and other EC’s, was a legacy student, and maybe got a 2200 over a person who took easy classes, and had no EC’s, but got a 2400</p>
<p>^^^Yeah I agree with you, it’s better to be a well-rounded student rather than someone who just knows how to take a test.</p>