<p>Hey guys, just wondering if essay literally mean a lot on college admission or not? As I often hear people say a good essay brings you out especially when applying to those selective college, which is true I reckon. But how about people with relatively low / average SAT but with an impressive essay? Would they get an equal chance as those who have amazing test scores but with some cliche & bad essays? I hope the question makes sense to u. :)</p>
<p>I think for most colleges it would be preferable to have high SAT scores and a bad essay. The most selective schools will (tend to) pick people with high SAT scores and amazing essays, and less selective schools are not usually as holistic.</p>
<p>You can look up the weight each admission factor gets at various schools. Google their Common Data Set and look at Section C7.</p>
<p>Considering most essays are bad, and that’s the word from admissions officers, yet people still get in, I think you know the answer to this. </p>
<p>You also don’t mention grades and curriculum, which generally go with the SAT in considering a candidate. But in general, your first hurdle is convincing the college you can handle the work, and if you can’t do that, the essay really isn’t going to do much for you, even if it reads like a Hemmingway short story.</p>
<p>it really depends how bad the essay is and how low the SAT is
obviously a high sat wont compensate for a dull poorly written essay, assuming everything else is not up to par
just as an amazing essay most likely wont compensate for a poor sat and other accolades
but yes, like you said the essay does have a lot of weight in a sense, if its good. you write a good essay, you open some doors IMO</p>
<p>I think having better scores would reflect a better acceptance ranking. Because smart people can mess up at times and it may just be in their essay. Facts don’t lie about a person, but an essay may show immense creativity but if they lack the scores then it may show laziness… I don’t knw :O</p>
<p>I would like to believe that the low SAT and essays are better but I guess the low scores might show that you didn’t exactly work super hard. But I’ on that boat</p>
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<p>In some cases I think it does, though…I suspect the essay is just a formality at a lot of schools (not the ones people on here are usually obsessed with, though). Whereas high SAT scores could result in scholarship money.</p>
<p>^ true. true.
you know i really have no clear answer to the question. im betting it varies from school to school.</p>
<p>I think stats are more important than ‘soft’ factors, like essays and interviews. A great essay could give you an edge when competing against people with similar stats as you (which is why the ‘elite’ colleges use more holistic admissions, since so many of their applicants have the same great scores). However, I think you’ll get into more places with a mediocre essay and great scores, than vice versa.</p>