<h1>Disadvantaged youths headed for some of the nation's top universities bone up on their writing skills in USC program. Researchers will track grades</h1>
<p>[LA Times. July 29, 2005]</p>
<p>It's a giant leap from Compton High to Harvard University, but Leslie Jimenez is eager to get started as a freshman at the venerable Ivy League school this September.</p>
<p>Like others from urban high schools that send few graduates to four-year colleges, she harbors self-doubt: Can she make the transition from tough, low-income Los Angeles neighborhoods to one of the nation's best universities? Will her academic skills, particularly her writing, measure up?</p>
<p>Jimenez, a daughter of Mexican immigrants who was salutatorian of her high school class and who scored 1180 out of 1600 on the SAT, said she "knew I had to work on my writing. I just wasn't sure what my true weaknesses were."</p>
<p>Jimenez, who hopes to study biology and become a veterinarian, is the third-eldest child out of four in her family and the first to attend college. Her father is a truck driver, and her mother, now disabled, sewed uniforms at a garment factory.</p>
<p>Hmmm.. This makes no sense. Harvard states that SAT scores range from 600 to 800 per section, yet this student must have scored lower than 600 on at least one section. Did she lie about her scores on the application or something?</p>
<p>I think there is some confusion on what Harvard says about the SAT. The exact quote is:</p>
<p>"Harvard does not have clearly defined, required minimum scores; however, the majority of students admitted to the College represent a range of scores from roughly 600 to 800 on each section of the SAT I as well as on the SAT II Subject Tests. We regard test results as helpful indicators of academic ability and achievement when considered thoughtfully among many other factors."</p>
<p>Jesus, 1180? I would have thought that was just too low, even for a URM. Guess everything else in her application must have been spectacular or something...</p>
<p>EDIT: They interviewed someone from Locke? That school is like 10 minutes from my house.</p>
<p>dude consider what she had to over come.. you live in a tough neighbor hood u only have one source of income( dad) and she probally had to work most of her day just to Support her family.. Plus living in areas like that Education is a joke.. Id say 1180 is Extremely high from where she came from.</p>
<p>"dude consider what she had to over come.. you live in a tough neighbor hood u only have one source of income( dad) and she probally had to work most of her day just to Support her family.. Plus living in areas like that Education is a joke.. Id say 1180 is Extremely high from where she came from."</p>
<p>Exactly---</p>
<p>I can kind of relate to this girl. Even though my scores are much higher, I have to work year-round to support my family and save for college, I come from a low income family, and I live in South Dakota, where education is a joke... Around here, people don't take the SAT, but they do take the ACT, and getting a 30 on it is like un-heard of... It really sucks...</p>
<p>This whole "Has no opportunity because they live in a bad area" thing is so blown out of proportion. How do I know? I live in that area. My school offers all the options I could possibly want. It's just people not taking advantage of those options.</p>
<p>"This whole "Has no opportunity because they live in a bad area" thing is so blown out of proportion. How do I know? I live in that area. My school offers all the options I could possibly want. It's just people not taking advantage of those options."</p>
<p>--You must be talking about CA... Because in South Dakota, well, there aren't too many... Not in my rural town, anyway.</p>
<p>*"This whole "Has no opportunity because they live in a bad area" thing is so blown out of proportion. How do I know? I live in that area. My school offers all the options I could possibly want. It's just people not taking advantage of those options."</p>
<p>--You must be talking about CA... Because in South Dakota, well, there aren't too many... Not in my rural town, anyway.*</p>
<p>"This whole "Has no opportunity because they live in a bad area" thing is so blown out of proportion. How do I know? I live in that area. My school offers all the options I could possibly want. It's just people not taking advantage of those options".</p>
<p>her dad is away most of the time (truck driver), her mom is ill.. since its a hispanic family id guess she has about 2 sisters or brothers. she has to work, take care of her sisters/brothers and study.. she probally has no time to preapre espicially for the SAT. </p>
<p>i know many people who had everything, and still got like a 1200 on their SATS</p>
<p>"since its a hispanic family id guess she has about 2 sisters or brothers"
hahaahahahahahahahaha. I know this is a reasonable assumption, it just reminds me of something I heard at a comedy show. haha! ;)</p>