<p>The website says “Standardized tests also play an important role in helping us evaluate you in comparison to students taught in very different secondary schools.” They follow that with “Recommendations, the quality of your writing, and extra- and co-curricular talents also help the Admission Committee draw fine distinctions among very talented applicants.”</p>
<p>Does this mean that if you don’t have very competitive standardized test scores, you’ll be ruled out before they even seriously consider your essay, recommendations, ECs etc.? I’d be interested to hear what experiences people have had with this or what you’ve heard from others. </p>
<p>The admission committee is sensitive to the fact that applicants come from all over the socioeconomic spectrum, and that therefore standardized test scores should be considered only in the proper context.</p>
<p>But, in the end, you’ve still got to do the best with what you’ve got.</p>
<p>That means a low-income, inner-city student’s scores will be viewed in a different context than those from a high-income student from a top prep school. All scores are not necessarily equal.</p>
<p>Dig around google for interviews with Tom Parker, the director of admissions and fin. aid. He’s done a few with PBS over the years, and always been remarkably candid.</p>
<p>Basically, he makes clear that the transcript is the most important part of any application, regardless of background. All applicants are expected to be excelling and challenging themselves, within the context of their high schools. Standardized tests also can weigh heavily, again depending on students’ backgrounds. If you’re legitimately from a disadvantaged background, it should be fine if your SAT’s are a bit low. But if you’re from a fully advantaged background, remember that there are plenty of other applicants who also have great essays, EC’s, recs, etc., AND have high SAT’s. If that’s the case for you, below-average test scores will put you at something of a competitive disadvantage.</p>