<p>So I know this might not be the best forum to post this thread in, but as I am an international student with only a handful of schools in the US in mind, Harvard being one of them, has somebody been in a situation similar to mine and been able to raise the score so significantly? I would honestly only be able to retake it in December- my AS-levels have full priority from then on. I appreciate that US colleges contrary to European universities notice more to a student than grades, but the fact that they require SATs from students schooled in systems such as the IB and A-levels, with already standardized leaving exams, is beyond me..Anyway, thanks!</p>
<p>“the fact that they require SATs from students schooled in systems such as the IB and A-levels, with already standardized leaving exams, is beyond me”</p>
<p>The thing is the ones who get in DO achieve them. Where does that leave you? Even if you miraculously hit a 2000SAT, that score from an international applicant likely will go nowhere in the ultra competitive Harvard international pool. Combined with what you said about your GPA, your chances at H are practically nil.</p>
<p>I hope you can expand list of 4 colleges. Harvard on your list is akin to saying you’re going to win a lottery ticket tomorrow.</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinion, and sorry if I came across as arrogant. Truth is, I got really disappointed when I received the scores. I had been hoping for much better ones, but with no practicing I only have myself to blame. </p>
<p>Hypothetically speaking, would not Admissions hold the A-levels in much higher regard than often inflated GPAs, since the tests are standardized, and they easily can see how many percent of students got which grades in each A-level subject? </p>
<p>Top European universities are by no means bad, and with my current grades I do believe I am a suitable applicant, but the breadth of ECs and possibilities offered at H is nothing but stunning. When it even has an aviation club, it is for sure more tempting than a UK uni with 24/7 open libraries…</p>
<p>If you’re focused on Harvard because of its ECs you need to do a little more research. There are plenty of American universities with similar ECs.</p>
<p>I think larger universities might have even more ECs actually, just by virtue of having way more students.</p>
<p>I recall reading that a student who got multiple A*s was rejected from one of oxbridge but got in to Harvard et al. Then again I’m sure there is very high correlation between SAT scores and A-levels. If I were you I would buy a book and just do practice tests, and make sure you understand why you missed EACH problem.</p>
<p>Here is the article.
[A-Level</a> results: Student with 7 A*s heads to Stanford after being REJECTED by Oxford University | Mail Online](<a href=“A-Level results: Student with 7 A*s heads to Stanford after being REJECTED by Oxford University | Daily Mail Online”>A-Level results: Student with 7 A*s heads to Stanford after being REJECTED by Oxford University | Daily Mail Online)</p>
<p>Sorry to be negative, but if your first SAT test yielded only a 1700 score, then that’s not anywhere near the level that highly selective colleges typically accept. The 25th percentile (better % being higher) admitted and attending Harvard undergrad in 2012 scored at 2120 on the SAT, and the 75th % admitted practically aced the SAT! (see bottom of this post)</p>
<p>A lot of international students have amazing scores and EC’s, so unless you have some serious hooks in addition to super EC’s I doubt you have a shot.</p>
<p>Here’s Harvard UG incoming class profile for 2012:
Harvard Admissions Data (2012):</p>
<p>Percent of Applicants Admitted: 6%
Test Scores – 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 700 / 800
SAT Math: 710 / 790
SAT Writing: 710 / 800</p>
<p>pipercub: I don’t think you came across as arrogant. My concern is that you’re aiming for extremely selective schools when, with a little more research, I believe you can find several other US unis that would welcome someone with your achievements and would give you an excellent education. Have you tried the International students forum? [International</a> Students - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/international-students/]International”>International Students - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Hm. Buy Collegeboard’s big book of tests (lots of actual practice tests in there!) and do them. For the most part, scoring well on the SAT is a matter of endurance… I started out with 2100, and raised it to 2400 this way.</p>
<p>I don’t want to make this a loathed chance thread, so I’ll abstain from posting my ECs et al, but I think I’ll devote an hour or so every day to just taking practice tests from my unopened blue book and try to understand all of the answers till the December administration. Thanks again to everyone for your replies, really appreciate them!</p>
<p>Piper: in my opinion, it’s equally as important for you to broaden you list of target unis as it is to get a 2000 SAT. Frankly, you should completely remove Harvard from your list. If you get near 2000SAT, there are still many US colleges that would love to have you.</p>
<p>Going into a bunker to eventually score a 2000 SAT, applying to 4 impossible schools will still yield you 4 rejections. THIS is what you don’t want to happen.</p>
<p>T26E4: I already have a list of 8 unis in Europe, 3 of whom are safeties I in any case know I would be happy at. H is indisputably a reach for so to say everyone, and while a SAT in the 2000s is definitely dragging you down on the list, there must certainly have been some few applicants with a lot more to them than only such scores who have been accepted(?)</p>
<p>To break what appears to be the common opinion here–I think admissions committees here have a pretty good understanding of A levels, and would give you some leverage in terms of your SAT. They understand at least that SAT prep is actually a culture in the US and that that isn’t the case everywhere. That said, you should still aim high just so that it isn’t low enough to stand out–I think you’ll be fine with 2000. If you are competitive in AS, then I’d guess that you are definitely a high enough achiever to get that. </p>
<p>Also, if you have good university options back home already, then I think it makes sense just to apply to the best or your favorite schools in the US. I think some people on this thread see everyone international as just desperate contenders for some special status US schools.</p>
<p>Though, I would suggest approaching Harvard’s extracurricular lists with some caution. If you are looking at the office of student life page, then many of those groups may have been inactive for years. Also, just in general, a lot of people here treat ECs as ways of getting leadership experience or building up a professional resume. So you shouldn’t go into it expecting that many of them will actually structure your social life significantly, or that they will be very active during the semester. I suspect most top US schools suffer from this to some extent.</p>
<p>The familiarity to the SAT US and some international applicants have is in my opinion a massive advantage…My impression is that the A/AS-levels are completely different from the AP and similar courses offered in US and US-style high schools abroad, thus the admission tests also; while we cover only a few subjects- and even less topics in some, such as in history- we study them comprehensively, basically until we know every single detail there is to know, in contrast to the APs, where you will have a understanding of many topics within each subject, but to nowhere near the same extent as in A-levels. Have I understood the difference between these correctly, or…? I just read that H offers advanced standing to incoming A-level students with at least three A grades, so that just further proves your point I guess…</p>
<p>I think the aviation club is defunct(?), but if I am so fortunate to be admitted, I would love to try to get it up on its feet again. Aviation and flying has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and although there’s no way that I am interested in working in the sector(the Pan-Am days are now long-gone…), it is one of the hobbies I hold very near to my heart and would love to continue with during my university years as well. Focusing on ECs solely with the aim of impressing adcoms/potential employers is sadly a too well known phenomenon almost everywhere nowadays, but are really the majority of ECs Harvard students are involved in just for show for most of them? </p>
<p>I would definitely not cry someone a river if not admitted, there are as you say many amazing universities in Europe as well, but I think I would be sorry if I did not apply to Harvard. Being multicultural myself, I logically enough love diversity(which I sense H has), and the ocean of possibilities in terms of both courses, activities both on- and off-campus just make it a dream university for me… BTW: I really value your advice, greatthenate, especially as you are a Harvard student yourself.</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>Took my first practice SAT test, 1610. Then after the fourth time I had practiced I was getting 2100+ on each practice test. I got 650 800 650 on my actual SAT.</p>
<p>I ended up taking the ACT too no study and got 34</p>
<p>If you score doesn’t improve after 3 or 4 practice tests than I would give up and try ACT. Honestly after you get comfortable with it after your first couple tries your score isn’t going up any higher unless you take 25 more practice tests.</p>