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lost out in early decision to a girl from my school with similar EC's, essays, and recs, but a <2000 SAT and a really good GPA.
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It makes sense for grades to outweigh SAT scores. It's 4 years that not only record aptitude, but consistency and hard work. I'm not reopening the debate on whether or not the SAT measures intelligence, but let's face it - 4 years tell a lot more than 4 hours on one exam.
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people who even got perfect SAT scores have been REJECTED from UC MERCED!!!
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It seems unfair to expect a school to accept people who have no intent on attending. Believe it or not, there are people who really want to go to Merced.</p>
<p>A friend of mine got perfect SAT and nearly-perfect GPA, and lots of musical ec's, got rejected from Harvard but accepted into Princeton. So I'm not sure in her case how much the SAT helped her.</p>
<p>that they do not care if you made National Merit. "Lots of our applicants made National Merit". We look at your GPA, and whether you took the hardest courses offered at your school.</p>
<p>without that GPA and hardest courses, they are not impressed with SAT scores. They want hard workers, not brilliant lazy ones. they want to see what you did with your potential, not that you have potential.</p>
<p>I'm quite sure their thinking hasn't changed in 2 years, either.</p>
<p>No, that's certainly not the case. It is my understanding EC's are REQUIRED for IVY's, even for the person with a perfect GPA and SAT score. Not surprisingly, they'd rather take an applicant with so-so test scores and GPA with AMAZING extracurriculars rather than a person with no extracurriculars, no matter how great their test scores were. </p>
<p>This is my belief, but forgive me if I'm incorrect :)</p>
<p>you kids better look again at test scores. There were only 270 "perfect" scores this year. Yes, some may be rejected, but I hardly think its more than a handful. 1/6 of the 2400 DON'T even apply to an IVY!! Most kids with 2400 do extremely well. Almost 1/2 attend a private school and or take AP classes. It is an anomoly when kids get 2400 and don't excel in HS. Good luck in the ivies Do your homework!!</p>
<p>The question was whether someone with a 2400 and no ECs would be accepted. I can pretty much guarantee you that anyone with a 2400 has a lot of ECs (probably national ones) to go with those scores (which is why they aren't being rejected).</p>
<p>Oh, and lay off on Merced. It's a beautiful school that the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on and that has a good set of faculty. The only reason it is having a hard time attracting a lot of students is because it is new, it is in an out-of-the-way location, and it doesn't yet have the "elite" appeal of the other UC campuses.</p>
<p>Luckily, this 2400 and no ECs problem isn't really a problem, because there are so few 2400 kids and most of them are very involved in extracurriculars- I believe with genuine motives in most cases, but if you're prepared and informed enough to go that extra stretch to get a perfect SAT score (versus say, 2300+), you'd usually know that ECs count.</p>
<p>You need extracurriculars and/or very good essays along with the high GPA and test scores to have even a chance at an Ivy. This obviously excludes special talents such as music and athletics.</p>
<p>The reason I said and/or is often times your extracurriculars will provide the story for your essay. That’s why it’s good to have both.</p>