Dreaming?

<p>Okay, I've seen multiple people discuss their SAT scores and cry about getting a 2100. In my school, only two person ever got score higher than a 2100. If someone gets a 1800, they are considered a super genius. So the point of this thread is, how low can your SAT score be with still being a candidate for getting accepted in Columbia? In all actuality, I'm aiming for an 1800 and I'll honestly be ecstatic with it.</p>

<p>1800 would probably be too low for a normal applicant :/</p>

<p>very little chance with an 1800. remember than beauty (in this case, genius) is in the eyes of the beholder.</p>

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<p>In a blind man’s world, the one-eyed man is king.</p>

<p>So I’m totally screwed? lol</p>

<p>I consider myself pretty smart; I’m in the top 20, maybe even top 10 of my school. My school doesn’t doe well with the SAT. Do you think that Columbia takes that into consideration when looking at an applicant?</p>

<p>I think they definitely would take top 10 or top 20 into consideration. Just because you may have a lower SAT score than the application pool doesn’t mean they would automatically reject you. In your case, I think being on top of your class would mean something. Good luck1</p>

<p>I agree, but I think 1800 would REALLY hurt you. As in like, everything else better be pitch perfect if you want to get accepted (or you have an amazing hook)</p>

<p>Why not go for 2000? It’s easier to make the jump from 1800 to 2000, than, say, from 2100 - 2300. And the SAT is really just all about practice. Take some more tests, study the types of questions a little more, etc etc.</p>

<p>Don’t be held down by what your school thinks :)</p>

<p>fuzzyfirebunny is correct, it is easier to jump from an 1800 to a 2000. I have taken multiple SAT practice SAT tests and my first ever SAT practice test score was a dismal 1270 (i know hard to believe). However that was only a practice test (thank god) at kaplan. I took about 4 more tests and they were all in the 1700’s range. Then I took my first official SAT and received an 1810. 2nd time I got an 1870 which totally ****ed me off. I didnt give up though and worked everyday and night until my brain numbed. Then on my last chance I received a 2110.</p>

<p>It’s all about perseverance if u ask me. The original 1270 totally crushed my hopes but I didnt give in. You can easily jump from an 1800 to the low 2000’s. However If you are aiming for a 1800 in the first place, then that means you don’t really want to go to Columbia and you’re just applying for the heck of it. Don’t think your rank will help you that much, it will but there are people with higher ranks and much much higher SAT scores.</p>

<p>Jazzyindy, you’re post just made me so much more confident lol. For my first PSAT, I got a 1410 didn’t think I can improve my 600 points.</p>

<p>It really just depends on school.
At my school, without a 2250, Columbia wouldn’t even give you a second look. </p>

<p>As for improving, my sophmore year I got a 160 on the PSAT (=1600).
I applied to college with a 36 ACT and a 2380 on the SAT.</p>

<p>Only two kids in your school got higher than a 2100? Where the heck do you go to school? An 1800 ain’t good enough for Columbia, and I’m sure you can do better than that.</p>

<p>@arcadefire1027
Do you have any idea what the average SAT scores are for the high schools closest to Columbia? An 1800 is a great score for an inner-city African-American. I’m not suggesting the OP is (although she said she’s a URM) and I’m not saying that Columbia should accept someone with that score, but I find it ironic that you’re applying to a school that values knowledge of and engagement with the wider world, yet you are so sheltered that you find it shocking that there are schools where no student scores above an 1800.</p>

<p>@pwoods</p>

<p>I hadn’t considered that possibility. I didn’t see any mention of being an URM or going to school in an undesirable area, so I assumed otherwise. And I’m not “sheltered.” No need for that insult. I maybe made a mistake by thinking this person went to a different kind of high school than he/she actually does, but that’s not a basis on which to call me “sheltered.”</p>

<p>Anyways, apologies to the original poster for the rudeness of my last post. It was inconsiderate, and I regret posting it without having considered the circumstances. I wish this website allowed users to delete posts…</p>

<p>Nonetheless my main point stands: a 1800 really isn’t at Columbia’s level. If you are from a disadvantaged background, the school will take that into account, but I still think you need to shoot for above a 2000 to have a good shot.</p>

<p>The highest SAT score at my school was a 2070. My friend applied ED and got in. He wasn’t the 2070. In fact, she had a score in the 1800s. So don’t worry and give Columbia a shot, no matter what you score.</p>

<p>@arcadefire1027
I certainly agree with you that an 1800 is very low for Columbia, even given the racial and socio-economic context. Admissions committees constantly have to balance the desire for cultural diversity and the desire to embrace affirmative action by giving opportunities to disadvantaged students with the necessity that admitted students will be capable of succeeding at the school.</p>

<p>What upset me about your post was that you seemed to assume that there were no schools where all students score below an 1800, let alone a 1200. There are schools in Harlem where the average score is a 900, and only 30% of the students even take the SAT. Those students obviously aren’t on CC, but they still exist. We just have a tendency to forget about them because we can barely imagine what it would be like to live in those circumstances. </p>

<p>That said, I apologize for calling you “sheltered” and implying that your offhand comment makes you unsuited for Columbia. I wish you best of luck with your transfer application.</p>

<ul>
<li>Peter</li>
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