<p>The SAT is a good gauge of certain types of intelligence but unfortunately, if you're not good at math for example you cannot have an all-around high score. If you're creative, the SAT will not show that but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be considered. Colleges should focus on people's strengths. Grades are deceptive. Different schools and even different teachers within schools grade the same courses at different levels of difficulty. Even the elite suburban public schools often are weak and do not challenge their students compared to prep schools. Colleges should look closer at the personal statement and essays. They should require more short answer essays so people will apply to schools they want to go to and focus on those applications. Interviews should be required so schools could gauge a student's interest and also so they can consider a student's eloquence and oratory skills. Colleges could focus more on recommendations too.</p>
<p>i pretty much suck at standardized testing....i just wish they'd be disregarded though they're an equalizer...i don't know why they are given so much importance...what if you just can't concentrate for 4 hours?!?!</p>
<p>If everyone hasn't realized it yet, unholy_ender is being ridiculously, ridiculously sarcastic.</p>
<p>lol I have to say most of you guys have to lighten up.</p>
<p>All you people describing 1900-2000 SAT's as bad etc, do you realize that this is better then 90-95% of the people who take them do?</p>
<p>I can only conclude one of two things:</p>
<p>A. Most of the people here are lieing about their SAT scores. (and I discovered that quite a few people lied about SAT scores in my grade, so its no surprise)</p>
<p>B. Most of you are stressing WAY to much and need to go take a chill pill.</p>
<p>And for the record, the SAT isn't an intelligence test, it is an achievement test :-/</p>
<p>at the end of the day, SAT is infinitely more important than extracurriculars. SAT is your foundation for applying whereas extracurricular acts as “the icing on the cake”</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you’re CHANGING people’s opinions on GENOCIDE, you must go to a really ****ed up school. :)</p>
<p>Why? Very simple. I don’t believe that GPA measures anything AT ALL, and most people do ECs nowadays just so they can buff up their apps, not because they’re truly into what they do. Furthermore Colleges are SCHOOLS, and you go to a SCHOOL to LEARN. Therefore it makes sense that they should look at academically able people. It really shouldn’t matter if you do a lot of community work, if you’re just not smart enough. Ofcourse, I’m not saying that that person isn’t every bit as impressive (or perhaps moreso) than a high SAT scorer, but the purpose of a school is to teach and learn, not to show how much ECs you’ve done. </p>
<p>Now why are you downplaying SATs? What makes you assume that high SAT scorers are lazy (even if they have a low GPA)? Despite what they claim, the SATs are hardly an intelligence test. No one was born with a huge vocabulary, or an understanding of arbitrary grammar rules. To score high on the SATs, one HAS to work hard. I’m not saying everyone who scores high takes SAT classes or trains especially for the SATs, but they must have poured a lot of time and effort into learning the material that are tested in the SATs. They may learn it during their spare time while enjoying a good book, or they may work hard memorizing SAT vocab. Either way, they HAVE spent the time and effort to achieve the score. It’s simply not possible to score high without learning the material beforehand.</p>
<p>
Agreed. Come on, everyone knows that 4.0s are a dime a dozen. And if you got stuck in a very difficult high school and don’t have a 4.0, SATs are where you can prove yourself…</p>
<p>
This is what frustrates me the most. Yes, there are clubs and sports in college, which require people to participate. But the emphasis on ec activities sends the message that academics are not the most important focus in college. I mean, for an educational institution, it should be reasonable that extra-curricular activities aren’t given much importance…</p>
<p>Overall, while the SAT alone should not be given the highest regard, I think it represents in a larger sense the focus on academic accomplishment, which should be much more important for colleges. GPA alone cannot be used, as it is too varied and does not distinguish most applicants, hence the importance of the SAT.</p>