<p>Hi,
I applied early decision to Dartmouth(I've been having trouble getting responses on their page) and I was wondering if a 4.0 uw GPA (with a demanding schedule and great ECs) and 2 strong SAT IIs (790 U.S. History, 800 Biology) could compensate for a 2140 SAT superscore (720 CR, 670 M, 750 W).
I really hope so... the SAT seems to be the one weak point of my application.
Thank you for any insight, I really appreciate it!
Teddy</p>
<p>At Yale, your high GPA would compensate for your 2140 SAT score. I would assume the same would be true at Dartmouth, but I don’t know for sure. See: [What</a> Yale Looks For | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/what-yale-looks-for]What”>What Yale Looks For | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)</p>
<p>“Yale is above all an academic institution. This means academic strength is our first consideration in evaluating any candidate. The single most important document in your application is your high school transcript, which tells us a great deal about your academic drive and performance over time. We look for students who have consistently taken a broad range of challenging courses in high school and done well. Your high school teachers can provide extremely helpful information in their evaluations. Not only do they discuss your performance in their particular class or classes, but often they write about such things as your intellectual curiosity, energy, relationships with classmates, and impact on the classroom environment.”</p>
<p>“While there is no hard and fast rule, it is safe to say that performance in school is more important than testing. A very strong performance in a demanding college preparatory program may compensate for modest standardized test scores, but it is unlikely that high standardized test scores will persuade the admissions committee to disregard an undistinguished secondary-school record.”</p>
<p>I disagree because I feel like the SAT better demonstrates the rigor of your high school. For example, I only know maybe 10 people with a 4.0 weighted gpa at my school, but the top 10% of about 650 kids in my class have around a 2280-2400 gpa.</p>
<p>^^ The quote is directly from Yale’s website, so regardless of whether you disagree or not, it’s the way Yale looks at applications. </p>
<p>BTW: The reason Yale places more emphasis on GPA and course rigor is that it’s a 3.5 year window into a student’s academic performance, whereas the SAT/ACT test is just a one-day window.</p>
<p>I would think that as long as it IS a demanding schedule (i.e. all AP classes junior and senior year) then it would make up for less than stellar test scores. From the data set on what Yale values as important:</p>
<p>Rigor of secondary school record
Class rank
Academic GPA
Standardized test scores
Application Essay
Recommendation</p>
<p>Nonacademic
Extracurricular activities
Talent/ability
Character/personal qualities</p>
<p>Thank you all for the insight–any additional experience/advice regarding this topic is welcome!
I’m mainly concerned because I know that these scores affect their USNewsWR ranking and I feel like they’d be pretty hesitant about modest scores. But as you all have said, if the SAT is the only somewhat lacking area, it should be a problem.</p>
<p>If anyone else has any thoughts on my situation, please feel free to comment!</p>
<p>I say no because Dartmouth actually posts statistics on SAT scores and the respective acceptance rates for certain ranges (800, 790-700, etc), the rate increases marginally in each higher range. Something tells me they value students with perfect/near perfect test scores.</p>
<p>Eh…if you aren’t a hook, standardized test scores still hurt your chances a lot. This is a hypercompetitive process we’re talking about — and Yale’s lower quartile is almost solely devoted to athletic recruits, URMs, and other people.</p>
<p>Someone with similar stats to yours but a stronger SAT can easily get in ahead of you. So your ECs and PQs need to really stand out.</p>
<p>Every competitive person applying to Yale has a strong GPA and course rigor.</p>
<p>The valedictorian of my school last year had a 2170 (after taking it 3 times lol) and got into Harvard. No hooks, special ECs or anything. Go for it, my friend.</p>
<p>Essays and teacher recommendations make a whole world of difference. Admission tests are simply for adcoms to see if you are within range of the school. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>^^^ Thank you CantConcentrate. For an affirmation, see Jeffrey Brenzel’s comment on the College Board’s website: <a href=“https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-most-important-part-of-the-application[/url]”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-most-important-part-of-the-application</a></p>
<p>“Students, when we’re on the road, we often play a little kind of quiz show game with students, asking what they think is the most important part of the application. Many, many students respond, “Well, the testing must be the most important.” It’s actually one of the less important elements in the file. The testing can give you a sense of what schools are within your range, and it gives the school a sense of what students in the applicant pool are within their range. The most important part of your application — bar none, no question, any college — is your high school transcript. Probably the next most important are your teacher recommendations, particularly if you’re applying to any kind of selective college or university.”</p>
<p>Thank you all for your thoughts. It really makes me feel better about my position as an applicant.
Gibby and CantConcentrate: have you heard of anyone in particular have success at selective institutions(without any major hooks) with SATI scores like mine? I believe my essays and recommendations will be strong–so what you say is great! 
</p>
<p>And speckle8(or anyone else who knows of similar stories), I’d love to hear more about your classmate(I feel quite similar stats-wise) if there is anything else you know of him/her!</p>
<p>Thank you
Teddy</p>
<p>“2140 SAT superscore (720 CR, 670 M, 750 W)”</p>
<p>My daughter had similar scores (without hooks) and was rejected from Yale. Take heart though, she was accepted at Harvard! If you are rejected, it will not be because of your SAT I scores!</p>
<p>That’s so great to hear–thank you!
What do you believe made the difference with your daughter?
I’m only worried about my scores because I’ve fallen under the impression that these(or modest scores in general) SAT scores affect the college’s US News World Report Ranking and they can be very hesitant to admit lower scorers.
I do understand that SAT scores are definitely not everything though!</p>
<p>^^ What made the difference for my daughter? I haven’t a clue. Yale didn’t want what she was offering. Maybe she was too similar to candidates that they had already accepted? Maybe they were looking for science majors and she too liberal artsy? Harvard said they liked her essays, which were actually the same ones she sent to Yale, so go figure. You never find out why you get rejected, so it’s futile to go down that road. </p>
<p>If Yale (or HP) is REALY interested in an applicant, I don’t think they pause, even for a second, and wonder what a kid’s SAT score will do to their rankings in US World Report. I don’t believe admissions decisions are based on that kind of criteria.</p>
<p>I know it sounds cliche but some people are good test-takers and some are not. </p>
<p>I heard from at least one college admissions officer that every year they receive 23,000 applications for 2,000 openings. All 23,000 are from students who meet or exceed the school’s requirements. what they are really interested in is what *you *bring to the table.</p>
<p>When my daughter was in the 8th grade I heard a college admissions expert on the radio note that the previous year 9 out of 10 valedictorians who applied to Princeton were rejected. they were looking for more than just grades and test scores. so this led us to encourage a well-rounded EC experience.</p>
<p>You guys make valid points, but it is important to remember that selective colleges use a holistic approach. GPA and standardized testing are both critical parts of your application.</p>
<p>bobbypage, standardized testing not so much as essays and recommendations.</p>
<p>
Whoah… * other people * are accepted to Yale?
I’m going to assume that was an error. Otherwise, you’re pretty much contradicting your point.</p>
<p>
If you look on CollegeBoard, it’ll tell you what percentage of admitted students had what SAT score range.
Examples:
For SAT I math at Yale, 79% had 700-800, 20% had 600-699, and 1% had 500-599.
For SAT I math at Dartmouth, 69% had 700-800, 28% had 600-699, and 3% had 500-599.
I’m assuming you’re either in the 600s or 700s for each of your individual scores. With that said, a fair amount of people do get admitted with your scores. I have no specific examples, but if your essays and recommendations will be as strong as you say, your chances of getting in aren’t too bad.</p>