Do "decent" SAT scores kill an applicant's chances?

<p>I did well on my SAT prep, scoring close to a 2400, but when I took the exam last month, i scored shy of a 2100. A decent score. I applied to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Wharton, Duke, Columbia, etc, and after looking through some of the CC threads (like the "what are my chances" ones), I'm a lot less confident. So, I was wondering, just looking at the scores, will the admissions team at harvard scoff and throw my app out of the window (along with my dreams lol)? Will my score kill my chances, regardless of the rest of my application?</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

<p>No they won’t kill your chances. If the rest of your application is strong (GPA, subject tests, ECs, etc.) then it’s fine.</p>

<p>It won’t kill your chances, but you’re very unlikely to get in unless you have something else major going for you</p>

<p>It doesn’t KILL your chances. It is not like you have a 900 composite score or something! They are applicants that were accepted into Harvard with sub-2100 scores just like you; of course they had other things working for them (ECs, etc.). Keep your head up :-). Sometimes the “chances” thread can be a soul crusher, however, it is for the most part, inaccurate. When your application hits the admission room, it is up to them not us CC-ers. Good luck!</p>

<p>James, what do you mean when you say “major?”</p>

<p>Thanks Morgan, you have a good point. I think I’m just super nervous right now, the 3 month wait for the decisions is just killing me!</p>

<p>“It won’t kill your chances, but you’re very unlikely to get in unless you have something else major going for you”</p>

<p>In other words, the OP’s odds of getting in are very similar to the odds of those with higher scores. 85-90% of Harvard applicants qualify for admission according to the dean of admissions, but there isn’t space for most.</p>

<p>You’re welcome, omarkhan. If it is any consolation, the three month wait is not making me a happy camper either. But then, patience brings the greatest rewards ;-).</p>

<p>Thanks northstarmom, I didn’t realize that so many applicants qualified for admission. I would’ve guessed it was closer to like 40%.</p>

<p>What does ‘qualify for admission’ even entail?</p>

<p>You’re capable of handling the coursework and could contribute something to the Harvard campus/community</p>

<p>

Right, so they take the more qualified ones. And yes, that often means having an SAT score higher than a ~2050.</p>

<p>“Qualified” means you have the stats indicating that if accepted, you’d be able to graduate from Harvard. The low end of stats indicating one qualifies are an unweighted 3.0 and an 1800 SAT. Probably only multimillionaire donors’ offspring, recruited athletes, and students who’ve overcome major challenges like being paraplegic or homeless are likely to get in with stats that low.</p>

<p>^Or being an URM.</p>

<p>PLEASE tell me you applied to some safety schools besides Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Wharton, Duke, Columbia, etc,!!! I have a 2230 and flat out rejected by Yale SCEA. Only 35% of the applicants were denied on the SCEA level this year, the other 65% were either deferred or accepted! After that I added a couple more safeties just in case. I’m not saying you won’t get in because you might with great recs essays, ecs, gpa. But you never know, always have backups!!</p>

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<p>URMs still have a tough time getting in with 1800s and 3.0s</p>

<p>I’ve seen a minor trend at my D’s (large public) high school. They publish stats. How many applied to each school, how many are accepted, and the average stats of the accepted.</p>

<p>You can pretty clearly see that kids with higher SAT/ACT went to more “average” (if you will) schools. But those that got into Ivies were the top ranked 1,2,3 kids who had 4.0 GPAs plus tons of weighting…BUT they did NOT get “top” SAT scores. Pretty much across the board. I saw one with a math/cr reasoning score in the mid 600s get into both H and P (not Y).</p>

<p>Oh yeah, I definitely applied to safety schools! But most of the 14 schools I applied to are quite selective. I totally understand what you mean though.</p>

<p>Thanks, R124687! That info is very reassuring to me!</p>

<p>Please don’t get me wrong because i am not trying to be rude but why are you moaning and groaning about having a 2100?! Is this a joke?! Your scores are great, you should be happy!! Im sure you are going to be just fine!!!</p>

<p>^^ Its because at CC everyone thinks you need a 2300 + to even try applying!! There was a thread on the Yale forum that warned students before applying SCEA that if you have a GPA lower than 3.9 and a SAT lower than 2300 you shouldn’t apply!!! SO BOGUS and I was outraged!! I know many people who have 2100 and get into top schools.</p>