How true is the fact that Standardized tests scores aren't everything and that colleges look deeper?

Applying to College
1

<p>I am from India. With a frustration towards my country's education system that relies only on scores and ranks, resulted from a single entrance test to decide the entire life of a student, I turned towards USA for a more matured system of education that considers passion and personality more than any scores from a single test.
Many Ivy league and other top colleges claim to study their applicants in a deeper and a broader perspective than just standardized test scores. However, people not from the college admissions seem to give the highest importance solely on the SAT/ACT scores to decide an entire educational life time of students.
My sincere question is, How true is the fact that colleges look deeper than just SAT/ACT scores and How believable are those people who rely on just these scores to decide upon entire future of an applicant?</p>

2

<p>The most selective US universities are basically looking for top end high school grades in the most rigorous high school courses, and top end test scores (although the SAT and ACT cover material nowhere near as advanced as the IIT JEE), and a high level of achievement or recognition in extracurricular activities, and excellent essays.</p>

<p>Moderately selective US universities tend to use both high school courses and grades as well as test scores as the primary criteria for admission.</p>

3

<p>The ivy level schools have very low admit rates and deep pools of applicants that are outstanding in every aspect. They take a range of SAT/ACT scores. You can look up the Common Data Set and see that the range of scores in the 25 to 75 percentile range is quite high. If you don’t fall into that range, you would be in the lower 25% of admitted students if accepted, so it would be assumed that you had some compelling reason for acceptance, perhaps some unusual accomplishment or maybe you are a recruited athlete.</p>

4

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<p>For most students admitted to Ivies and other “top” universities, that range is very high and fairly narrow. If your scores are a little lower than that range, consider small liberal arts colleges on the following list:
<a href=“http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware”>http://www.desperateguide.com/us/top-25-financial-aid-colleges-in-us-for-international-students-need-aware&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Whether you need financial aid or not, the fact that these schools give a lot of it to international students is one indication they are eager to enroll more of you. LACs are less well known outside the USA than the Ivies and major state universities. That reduces your competition.</p>

5

<p>I think it is really the applicants who are more concerned about the test scores than the schools. Why? They can compare themselves directly. </p>