<p>I was just curious as to how much a 36 on an ACT holds in terms of admissions. I have a 36 composite, but I know that is not merit by itself to get accepted.</p>
<p>Also, the same holds for SAT Subject tests. I was wondering how much weight they held. In a hypothetical scenario, what if I got a 800 in math II, Chem, and US history? think the odds are better (dare I say good? lol) then? </p>
<p>Just curious as to what other people know / think.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>P.S. - I know that nothing is ever guarenteed in the admissions game ;D</p>
<p>You’re test scores are definitely fantastic. Harvard requires either the ACT or the SAT, so you’ve got that covered with your 36. And Harvard requires 3 SAT II subject tests, which, again, you’ve got covered. What’s your GPA? EC’s? Volunteer work? Research experience?</p>
<p>Even though you have excellent test scores, there are many other factors that determine whether or not you’ll get in.</p>
<p>But based on your test scores, I’d say you’ve got a better shot than the ‘average’ Harvard applicant (by ‘average’ I mean ~2200 SAT, ~33 ACT, 3.8+ GPA, good ECs, research experience, etc…). But again, there’s more to an applicant than test scores.</p>
<p>At the information session, the head of admissions said: We have people who got 500/500 on the SATs and were admitted, and a lot of people with perfect SAT/ACT scores that were not. 1/3 of admissions is academic (including scores), 1/3 extra circular, and 1/3 other (nice person, help other people, etc). Perfect scores only help in 1/3 of the evaluation. At best, you can assume that you have cinched the academic portion, but 2/3 of your application is still left.</p>
<p>Sounds like everything people have said is good.</p>
<p>And again, I haven’t taken the SAT IIs yet…haha. </p>
<p>Do you think that a 36 and triple 800s would spill over and give a boost even if some of the other categories weren’t the greatest in the world? I guess thats more of what I"m thinking now. lol.</p>
<p>I know that you don’t have to be perfect to get into harvard…but sometimes it helps ;D…too bad i’m not them. haha</p>
<p>let me just say that perfect scores by no means separate you from the pack as an applicant to Harvard. yeah it could make up for a lower GPA, or validate that you are smart but took hard classes or w/e. but it’s not gonna get you in.</p>
One of the 10 am daily information sessions on campus.</p>
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</p>
<p>He was referencing the “old SAT I” when it was only a verbal/math score. I think that is because that is still how they use it (only use the verbal and math scores). However, they want the writing score in order to validate the other scores.</p>
<p>For the most recent class, 2046 students were admitted out of a pool of 29,112 applicants. of this pool 2900 had an 800 of the SAT CR, 3500 had an 800 on its math, and almost 3700 were #1 in their class. </p>
<p>Basically, your scored will not eliminate you from being admitted and will help you to a degree but they will not get you in on only their own merit. There are many other factors.</p>
<p>Many kids with perfect ACT, SAT, and SAT II scores get rejected every year. What seems “key” to the entire process is the essay. My daughter attended a Harvard reception several weeks ago for accepted students. At the reception, she met her regional admissions officer, who was able to recount specific details not only from her essay, but from EVERY student’s essay. At some level, test scores become meaningless. The admissions officer knew the students through their essays – not their test scores!</p>
<p>It is true that simply having perfect scores, rare as they are, doesn’t guarantee admission to any of the most desired colleges with a holistic admission process. </p>
<p>If tests and smarts are your strength, play them up. Take the SAT, and four or five subject tests as you finish the corresponding class in school. If you get a bunch of 800’s, and a bunch of 5’s on your AP tests, to go with that 36 it will look good. </p>
<p>For elite schools, apply to many to get into any is my advice.</p>
<p>
[quote=]
We have people who got 500/500 on the SATs and were admitted, and a lot of people with perfect SAT/ACT scores that were not.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>i wonder if he said that to increase the number of applications (bc it makes people with SATs in the 500s think they have a shot)? i’m sure there are extremely rare cases where they take someone with 500s in all the sections…extremely, extremely rare. it’s probably still rare but somewhat less so to take someone who had 700+ in the two other sections coupled with a 500 in one subject bc that might be due to a learning disability or something. </p>
<p>however, in general, i think harvard should not make this type of statement. the fact of the matter is that a person with 500s across the board has virtually no shot and, frankly, it would probably be a bad fit for them. a kid with average SATs is going to be out of his/her depth at harvard. kids i know here who got in with various hooks who have lower than average SATs (and i’m talking, like, 1850ish+, so still really good compared to the nation as a whole) are so much more likely to be struggling academically than the average student.</p>
<p>I have not previously heard a Harvard admission office representative make a statement like that. I’ll be listening at this year’s Exploring College Options event in my town for what is said about SAT scores. I have previously heard (and I think posted here on CC) a statement along the lines of “650+ in each section makes you competitive,” but that may not be a statement of current practice, so I don’t vouch for that statement today.</p>
<p>650+ makes you “competitive”, but it is not a requirement.</p>
<p>Academics only counts for 1/3 of the admissions process, and you kids are discussing it like it is 90% of the admissions process.</p>
<p>Even if you have one part of your academics that is weak, another part of your academics can compensate. For instance, if you come from a historically academically disadvantaged background, they will cut you a lot more slack on your standardized tests, especially if your grades are there - The top person in a traditionally bad school can only do so well on a standardized test.</p>
<p>All else being equal, you would expect Harvard to accept the higher standardized test. However, all else is not equal, and thus they accept a good share of academically weak people. The point is: Make yourself stand out. If all you have going for you is academics, then you better have perfect SAT/ACT scores. But, if you can show that you did something with your talents, that is what Harvard is looking for. That is the difference in the 2,000 kids that were accepted of the 23,000 otherwise qualified kids (80% of the 29,000 that applied were academically qualified).</p>
<p>^
i’m not sure what you mean by “academically weak” - compared to perfect scorers? there are very few “academically weak” people here. where are you getting this information from?</p>
<p>oh, yeah, i forgot to add that they definitely do cut some people slack, but that slack means, like, 650+ rather than 750+…not a 500 rather than 750+.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to be a downer, but my scores were:</p>
<p>ACT: 36
SAT II Chem: 790
SAT II Physics: 800
SAT II Math (II): 800
SAT II USH: 800
SAT II Lit: 780
AP Euro: 5
AP USH: 5
AP Lang: 5
AP MacroEcon: 5
AP MicroEcon: 5
GPA (Unweighted): 3.87</p>
<p>And I got wait listed.
That being said, my high school is one of the top 10 in the country (as ranked per US News), and the competition was fierce. To say the least, in a senior class of 170, I was the cut off for Top 10%. </p>
<p>Honestly, its just a crap shoot most of the time. I spoke with my interviewer (who I’ve kept in contact with), who claimed in the 30 years he’s done interviewers he feels I’ve been the most deserving student he’s had, with no merit given to scores (as he never saw them). However he helped me compile a very persuasive Waitlist package, so for now I can only hope for the best. </p>
<p>Also just a quick question, what were your individual ACT Scores? Because a 35.5, 35.75, and 36 all count as a 36, but there is a difference between them (however minimal, its like the difference between a 2350 and 2400 no one really cares).</p>