<p>I have heard from a lot of people that there is some sort of "threshold" for sat scores, and for top colleges they will treat the applicants equally if they pass that threshold. Is this true? If not, how much does your SAT score really matter compared to GPA and EC's? If possible, can someone give me a numerical breakdown of the things considered in college admission?</p>
<p>Btw, my practice SAT scores (I took them "formally" at a SAT school) generally fall in the 750-800 W, 680-720 CR, and 800 M range. I have also heard that a lot of colleges do not look at your score for the writing section... Is this true?</p>
<p>Once you hit the 2300 mark, retaking it is usually advised against because chances are you are going score lower the next time around. Is there a difference between a 2300 and a 2400? Not big enough to demand a retake.</p>
<p>yea, I agree with the posters above me. I mean, I don’t want to go to a college that rejects me because they think a SAT score of 2300 is too low. but thats just me</p>
<p>Based on what I heard (from admissions counselors) touring three elite southern schools this summer:</p>
<p>1) The SATs matter, of course.
2) They matter MUCH LESS than any of us think that they do.
3) They used to matter much, much more ‘back in the day’.
4) At one elite small southern LAC, it matters LAST.
5) Do they look at it? Certainly they do, but many factors matter much more when it comes to weight.</p>
<p>This is my guess, based on what I heard this summer: this is only a guess. 50% weight goes to class rigor/school index and GRADES received in those rigorous classes; 15% writing ability as assessed by essays from the Common Application as well as Supplements specific to the school; 15% what your letters of reference say about you; 10% each to extracurricular and standardized tests.</p>
<p>Don’t shoot the messenger. Many people out there have some fanatical, religious fixation on standardized tests and again, based on what I was told this summer, they certainly do matter but towards the lower end of the scale.</p>
<p>And, it makes sense that they do matter much less! A kid misses 6 questions on a reading test and scores a 700. The next kid misses 3 questions on that same test and scores a 760. You’re gonna tell me that based on three (3) questions, the latter kid deserves to go to Princeton and the former kid has to go to a state school? Please.</p>
<p>Show me what you can do in a classroom, any day. </p>
<p>^I’m not totally disagreeing with you, but there is a strong correlation between high SAT’s, 2270’s+ and acceptances into top universities. Correlation does not imply causation, but nonetheless, just look at some of the results threads for harvard and caltech. </p>
<p>I feel that elite colleges just tell us scores do not matter that much so that more people apply, because not everyone has high scores. This does not mean that there might be some truth to what they’re saying, but it seems like a way to boost up their number of applicants.</p>
<p>My school has now like 30 applicants to harvard, the majority of which with less than a 2100 SAT(centered around 1900).</p>
<p>Also, if you use the logic that there’s only a 3 question difference between a 760 and a 700, you have to apply that to the whole academic profile.</p>
<p>The difference in g.p.a between ranked 1/700 and ranked 10/700 at my school is very small. Maybe the ranked 1 student took an extra weighted period one year which boosted his g.p.a.</p>
<p>In a lot of classes, a fair amount of people get just below an A, about a 89% while another portion gets right above an A, like a 91%. There’s no +'s or -'s. And the difference between the grades can just be 2 questions on the final.</p>
<p>There should not be any difference between these two students due to the differences in the small things that add up. But can you really say that elite colleges will view these 2 students as equal in terms of academics?</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, a good SAT score won’t get you into college. After all, a 2400 doesn’t guarantee entrance into Harvard or MIT. However, a bad SAT score will prevent you from being accepted, or at least weaken your chances. So the important part is avoiding a bad score. What counts as bad for the elites? Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone can answer that.</p>
<p>I’m only saying that a three question difference in performance gets one a 760 and another a 700, but the whole world thinks that the person who happened to get those three more correct deserves to go to Harvard and the person getting the 700 has to settle for the state school. Which is fully ludicrous if you sit down and think about it.</p>
<p>That’s how we make our distinctions with this ‘test’.</p>
<p>The much better measure is this: show what you can do whilst taking the very hardest classes you can take, and do this over a three year period: 10th-12th.</p>
<p>Then, develop as a very strong writer and use those skills. Also, get to know your teachers and impress two or three enough so that they think you’re awesome and worthy of the highest academic endeavors. Volunteer a little out there in the community and have some impact.</p>
<p>A high standardized test score may indeed look great but one cannot hide laziness or lack of focus in the epic academic record. The academic record is like an x-ray. It shows what is there. A test score rewards a great test taker; the academic record reveals the student.</p>
<p>Anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if in 5 years or so the SAT is history when it comes to getting into college. Change comes slowly but that test is worn out man.</p>