I'm sick of hearing lies... NUMBERS MATTER!

<p>I totally agree with jpps and since writing doesn't really count for our year he really only had like a 1230...and then the weighted gpa being .2 higher isn't good at all for an ivy. Jpps made some very good points.</p>

<p>I really don't like to justify myself... but I will. I am not ridiculously dumb. If you think that's why my SATs are bad, then you're mistaken. I wasn't complaining about my not getting in as much as I was about the lies we are told as we apply. My GPA is only .2 higher weighted because, as I mentioned before, I go to a French school and only VERY VERY few classes can be considered honors (even though the school is insanely hard). I am taking the maximum amount of honors, which is 3 max. in Junior year and 2 in Senior year. We are not offered anything else, as we cannot overlap both the French and the US systems if we added honors and all that. I mean, I get home at 5 every day, I have to take 4 hour exams every other (sometimes every) Saturday etc. </p>

<p>You may not believe me, but I am at the top of my class. I would be ranked between 1 and 3 (if we had those). Very few people in my class got into better schools (1 at JHU, 1 at Berkeley), and we are a following a very tough curriculum. Needless to say, they had better SAT scores. We never take multiple choice at our school... NEVER. The first time I ever took a multiple choice test was in 8th grade I think when I had to take the ERBs or something.</p>

<p>Honestly... I knew I would get rejected from the Ivys. I mean, I was sure. The only thing I wanted to point out from starting this thread was the obvious: numbers are extremely important.</p>

<p>I am of the personal belief that numbers mean nothing at all, that colleges are starting to realize how ridiculous they're starting to get when such a high amount of kids are getting a high score, if not, something over 700. In my personal experience, I had only gotten a 2000, yet I managed to get into to some awesome, comfortable schools. So personally, I feel if you set your mind to it, you should be fine to get into your dream college.</p>

<p>I completely agree with JackBauer. When people say numbers don't matter, they are comparing a 2350 with a 2300, ie. numbers that are already well within the range for the school in question. In that situation, extra curriculars are considered and those can make one "stand out." However, if the applicants scores don't fall within the range or only meets the minimum requirements, then he must have spectacular ecs, legacy, URM, athlete, and other factors to give him even a decent chance at admission.</p>

<p>I actually have to disagree. I thought so initially but now I just see all the people with 900s going to Columbia and all the perfect-scorers to community colleges.</p>

<p>Paleridden, do you have any proof for that? I seriously doubt someone with a 900 SAT got into Columbia or that someone with a perfect score ended up at a community college.</p>

<p>Gxing, I was just saying. I don't know if that's necessarily true. However I do know a person who got into Cornell with a 1600/2400 which is not that far away from that 900/1600 score.</p>

<p>A kid--whom I hate terribly--at my school got into Cornell with a 1030/1600. I think it was a 1480/2400 overall.</p>

<p>I have absolutely no clue WHY. He has the worst personality of anyone I have ever met (and I've met some pretty disgusting people).</p>

<p>He has never taken an honors class except for one in his junior year, and this year he loaded up on three--all of which he's failing at. He also dropped physics honors because he could not understand it AT ALL.</p>

<p>His ECs are dull and lacking. In addition, he also got impeached earlier in the year for position-abuse and extreme disrepect towards sponsors and members.</p>

<p>However, he is pretty good at track and field.</p>

<p>AND his GPA is sorry. I think he's floating in the second quartile.</p>

<p>So I guess that was enough to get him in, despite the fact that he is only good locally.</p>

<p>I bet he checked off he was Native American on his app and pumped it quite a lot... it wouldn't surprise me... or anyone who knows him.</p>

<p>Efful, that sucks! I hate when that happens!! It just makes you wonder...</p>

<p>I did see a post where an International got a 2360 and got rejected from everywhere (obviously because he is international and such). He also said his EC's and Volunteer were very lack luster. And believe it or not, he might go to -=Community College=- or take a gap year...</p>

<p>Figgy that's crazy!! This is all too horrible...Adcoms are absurd!</p>

<p>Ok so change some things about my post. I meant a 2390! And I can't figure out if he's international or not...He says eastcoast but then he says being international is a problem...I DONNO! </p>

<p>So anyways, here's the link! <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=166034%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=166034&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>you would think that colleges would take into consideration your gpa and class rank (4 years of work) more than one 4 hour testing of pure endurance. but maybe thats just me? seems reasonable. if you have a superb gpa/class rank they should be able to level it out with average sat scores. some people are just not good timed test takers... that does not mean they were lazy in school. UGH. and what makes me wonder also is do colleges really look for the "hardest classes" because the only 2 people that got into ivy leagues at my school both took honors history instead of AP history to get the 5.0 credit the easy way. same with english.</p>

<p>Also, my class is around 600. The second quartile would mean he was ranked (probably) 200/600.</p>

<p>Whaaaaaaaat... ugh. The one thing I regret in my life is ever trying to befriend him.</p>

<p>Admissions = TRULY "absurd." There is no other explanation.</p>

<p>People just need to deal with the fact that numbers in the long run really aren't important. All college is is pot luck and some win and some lose. It just is.</p>

<p>It's totally different for my grade "european". The people who r in the AP classes are the ones who go to the better ranked colleges (I only know 3 people, including me, who even applied to ivys...) and then the honors go to more of the local state schools or colleges level with that, then the rest go to community college or the really low ranking state school (well, its not even ranked, but u know wat I mean) the town over. Other than that 52% of people, the rest either farm, go to the military, or work...</p>

<p>well then i think i can say that it is unfair. i know 4 people who applied to ivy's from my school (including me). numbers 1 and 2 got in ED and they didnt take AP history. numbers 4 and 8 got deferred ED and rejected RD and they did take AP history. do you think the colleges just overlooked this fact or simply didn't notice it. its the easy way out. and i hate that. i am the only one in my school who is taking 6 aps this year. i think that says something. yet i only got into the state school and waitlisted at an ivy.</p>

<p>Well european, ur using "AP History" as your basis. What if these people arn't interested in history? What if their passion is science or math or english? I used to actually think the same thing about my English class with some smart kids being lazy and just doing honors...but then I realized mayb english just wasn't there thing, even if it is mine...</p>

<p>lol but its not the hardest courses that is all i am trying to say. i also took ap's in math and science and english... i didn't ignore them. oh well. hopefully ill get off the waitlist</p>

<p>Yes hopefully you will! Tell us of your progress when you find out! GL!!!</p>