<p>My father makes the SAT seem THE most important thing. He tells my younger siblings, who are only in middle school, to study for the SAT. He buys so many SAT prep books and asks me every week if I am studying for it. He strongly believes that despite my stellar stats, SAT is the main thing that will determine whether or not I should get in colleges. I want to tell him that SAT isn't everything- because colleges reject people with stellar SAT scores and accept those applicants with low SAT scores. I also want to tell him that colleges look at not only SAT but also other things, especially class rank, grades, and ECs. What do you think?</p>
<p>No, it isn't everything, but if the college admissions office in question has any sense of statistics they should count it for a lot. People are quick to downplay its importance but colleges wouldn't be using it for decades if it didn't tell them something important. People with very high scores do get rejected and very low scores do get accepted, but this isn't the norm. My advice, study hard for the SAT. Thats it.</p>
<p>"SATs are less important than many applicants think, but more important than any admissions officer will ever admit."</p>
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I want to tell him that SAT isn't everything- because colleges reject people with stellar SAT scores and accept those applicants with low SAT scores.
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<p>Yeah, they reject those with stellar SATs who don't have great grades, ECs, etc.. If you have these things, why not have a stellar SAT too? Then you're in great shape. Colleges accept people with low SAT scores, but you better have something else awesome (at least at the top colleges.) Good grades aren't going to excuse poor SATs - you need more.</p>
<p>Frankly, it sounds like you're looking for an excuse to do poorly on the test. Study, and do well.</p>
<p>You don't say what grade you are in, but there is no point in studying for the SAT in middle school. Your father is stressing you guys out too much and likely wasting your time. The best learning happens when it is a pleasure.</p>
<p>Your SAT score generally goes up naturally every year by about 100 points.</p>
<p>Unless you are a poor test taker, you don't need to study for the SAT until after you get your PSAT results sophmore year. Then you can start to see if you have any deficiencies and do some practice tests.</p>
<p>The very best preparation for the SAT comes from 1) doing well in English and other classes and 2) reading as much as you can--any and all kinds of books that interest you as well as some classic literature for your grade and HS grades. I cannot overemphasize the reading--you can't do that at the last minute, like you can do going over those practice books.</p>
<p>Colleges do look at many things, <em>including</em> SAT. For many colleges, inclucing UC's, just a decent SAT will do. For very selective colleges a great SAT is expected, but not a perfect one. Look at the stats the colleges publish on accepted students Some will get in with lower SATs, though. </p>
<p>Some people--especially good students like yourself, don't need to study at all. my dd got at 1490 the first time with no prep except for doing a couple 10 Real SAT's for practice in the week before, just for timing. She didn't want to retake after that, because that is not a score that keeps you out of any school when the rest of your package is strong.</p>
<p>If you want a good study program, do a forum search on Xiggi's SAT prep.</p>
<p>An SAT that actually measures intelligence/potential would be really important. Since we don't have one of those, I guess it's the next best thing. The new SAT is too easy to study for and raise your score (which it shouldn't be).</p>
<p>I scored decently without preparing. However, I don't advocate skipping the preparation, as it will DEFINITELY do nothing but help you to study. That being said, studying in middle school is nothing short of pointless. You will not remember what you studied, material on the SAT will surely change, and if nothing else- it stresses you out for no reason. I'm sorry that your father puts that much pressure on yourself and your siblings. Unfortunately parents can be overbearing sometimes (thankfully mine are pretty understanding). My advice is to just tough it out while trying to convince him (through logical arguments and facts, not angry outbursts and accusations) that SATs are not the be-all/end-all, and that there is no need to study in middle school. Good luck!! :)</p>
<p>SATs aren't everything,but they do count a lot. I would guess between 1/3 to 1/2 of the admission's points. They also count in another way: many times they are used to determine merit aid and scholarship money. Schools love to report high average SATS. Thus, they pay money to those that have it.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say that the SAT is "everything," but it is important.</p>