EA or improve test scores

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>Stanford is my top school choice and I am trying to decide between early action and raising my test scores. I scored 2210 on the June SAT and I am taking two subject tests in October. Would my chances of being accepted improve from early action or raising my SAT score to the 2270-2300 range?</p>

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<p>The overall score isn’t as important as the scores for each section. As long as you’re above 700 on each section as well as above 700 on each Subject Test you take, then you’ll be competitive. If your scores are at or above these competitive thresholds, then you should definitely apply early if Stanford is your top choice. </p>

<p>Have you tried the ACT?</p>

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<p>

You’ve mentioned thresholds of 700+ on each section in several posts. The SCEA thread of this forum doesn’t suggest this type of threshold, and I haven’t seen anything to suggest Stanford favors balanced students who do well at everything over students who excel in one particular area. For example, I was admitted as a prospective engineering major who had 800s on math and math II with a 500 on verbal. My grades and course rigor showed a similar pattern with excelling in tech areas and mediocre grades in English (almost never received an A). I expect Stanford looked at the application as a whole and considered the relative importance of math/science/tech and English scores/grades for an engineering/techy type. I suspect that Stanford was looking for a class with a good balance of both stellar tech and stellar humanities types, rather than a class full of balanced students who do very well at everything without an obvious specialty.</p>

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<p>^I agree. That is pretty much I have read over and over again from books on college admission. Colleges are looking for all rounded class rather than all rounded students.
But I also agree that there is a threshold to decide whether to do SCEA or try to raise the test score. As scores and GPA are not the only consideration, it is very hard to define the threshold. Nevertheless, I think the averages in admission stat would be good reference points.</p>

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<p>Data10, based on your posts in this forum, I suspect that your very low SAT verbal score was something of a fluke, or perceived as such by admissions. Your writing here is very clear, cogent and displays fine command of grammar and mechanics, so perhaps your essays served to de-emphasize the verbal SAT score in your overall application. In any case, I think it’s wise for prospective applicants to realize that the lower tier of accepted SAT scores at Stanford and its peers tend to be associated with hooked applicants. For unhooked applicants, I agree with alea above–scores in the 700 range are very helpful for crossing the initial hurdle. (This is not to say that there won’t be exceptions, but generally speaking, the bottom quartile of a school’s stats corresponds pretty heavily to hooked kids. It’s the hook that helps compensate for the relatively poor stats–that’s what makes it a hook.)</p>

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<p>It isn’t a question of whether 700+ scores increase chance of admission. Yes, higher SAT scores almost always increase chance of admission. I say “almost” due to yield manipulation issues, as can be seen in the Princeton SAT vs chance of admission graph at <a href=“http://s13.postimg.org/e60llqzvb/sat.jpg[/url]”>http://s13.postimg.org/e60llqzvb/sat.jpg&lt;/a&gt; , which was copied from the study A Revealed Preference Ranking of U.S. Colleges and Universities by Chrotopher Avery (2004). </p>

<p>Instead it’s a question of how the scores are divided up. Is it better to be balanced with all scores in low 700s or instead have a mix of top scores and a sub-700 score? For example, the OP mentioned he scored 2210 . Consider the following two ways of splitting up the combined scores of 2210:</p>

<p>1. The Balanced Applicant
SATs: 2210 with 730-740 on all portions of the exam, both SAT I and SAT II
Transcript: Well rounded with similar grades and course rigor in all classes
**LORs/ECs/Essays: **Also balanced and consistent with the SAT scores</p>

<p>2. The Strong Math, Weak English App
SATs: 2210 with 800 Math, and 1 of the other 2 sections below 700. SAT IIs show a similar pattern with perfect math and science scores, but English/humanities below 700.</p>

<p>Transcript: Same GPA and overall course rigor as app #1, but math/science grades and course rigor are better and English/humanities classes are worse. He always gets A’s in top math classes and has continued beyond AP level to courses like Multi-variable Calculus and Linear Algebra at a local college, but he doesn’t do as well in English. He sometimes gets B’s and didn’t take the available English AP classes.</p>

<p>**LORs/ECs/Essays: **Overall they are as strong as app #1, but everything relating to math/science is stronger, and everything related to English/humanities is weaker. His ECs and talents almost entirely relate to his math/science talent and passion, such as scoring well in math/science contests, head of a stellar robotics team, etc.</p>

<p>I’d expect #2 has a much better chance of being accepted even though his scores were split up such that he didn’t get a 700 on all sections. There are thousands of apps with stats like #1. He’s certainly qualified, but nothing really stands out. However, there are far fewer like #2. He stands out as unique, with a clear talent and specialty. This unique talent also fits with Stanford admission’s interest in showing a passion.</p>

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<p>Sure, Data10, a well-lopsided candidate can be more memorable than a typical BWRK, and may have a slightly better chance of admission assuming he or she shows sufficient competence across the board. But then again, there are also plenty of candidates who have stellar stats across the board, plus a clear talent and interest in a particular area, and obviously they are even better situated than either of the above categories. I know lots of people at Stanford who fit this description.</p>

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<p>I don’t mean to hijack your post, (but I guess I will anyways). How are admission chances for applicants with a strong humanities hook? I am really good at English/Social Studies, but only decent at math. I got an easy A in my regular level math class. As for science, well I got a B in an advanced science class this year. I plan to take all of the available AP humanities courses offered at my school (US Gov, World History, both Englishes, Psych) as well as self studying for two more (Human Geo and Comp Gov). In addition I may take the AP course available for my foreign language. Would it be terrible if I take no AP math/science classes?</p>

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<p>Also, as far as hooks go, I am an African American Female.</p>

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<p>You didn’t list enough information to estimate your admission chances, but being stellar in humanities and only decent in math doesn’t exclude you from being admitted. The point I was making above is Stanford is looking for a group of great people who, if given the resources and opportunities Stanford offers, are likely to thrive and do amazing things at Stanford and beyond. It’s often easier for your app to show that this describes you, if you are very talented and passionate about one area, than if you are balanced and qualified at everything, without really standing out. Like zenkoan said, best of all is to be extremely talented and passionate in one area and be highly qualified in everything else. </p>

<p>Regarding taking AP math/science, the Stanford admissions page states:

They are looking for students who take challenging courses during HS, but there is not a requirement for taking a specific number of AP courses or taking all AP courses offered by your HS. You said you got an “easy A” in regular math, so that does not sound like challenging yourself, as Stanford describes.</p>

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<p>You are absolutely right about not being challenged enough in math. As a result, I am currently taking 10th grade math over the summer. When I am a Sophomore in the fall, I will be taking a Juniors math class. This is nothing compared to other people in my class, but its a start.
I didn’t list my stats because I have only completed my freshman year, there simply isn’t enough information available.</p>