<p>In regards to people who said that the SAT / ACT doesn’t matter - look, as fair as it would be for colleges to literally get to know every single student and accept everybody who qualifies for their school and look past discrepancies like poor standardized tests…well, it’s logistically impossible. Although it would be fair to accept every qualifying student, America isn’t fair. The original poster’s girlfriend should have known that the SAT was a huge factor in determining who gets their applications seriously considered. She should have studied harder if she wanted to gain acceptance to these schools. She took the test twice, indicating that it most likely wasn’t a negative fluke or an illness.</p>
<p>Now, I don’t mean any of this in a negative way. There is nothing wrong with the Texas state flagships. They’re a lot cheaper for her, she’ll get the same degree, she’ll get nearly the same education, and she / her parents will have more money to spend on graduate school.</p>
<p>Also, it is admirable that this girl has so much community service and so much talent in music and dance. However, it is important to recognize that these schools are academic institutions. There are plenty of kids with comparable accomplishments that happen to have higher test scores than she does. Again, as qualified as she may be in every way but her test scores, America is not fair. Plus, what does it matter? One should complete community service for love of the community and play an instrument for love of music. This is why they are not the primary factors to getting an application through the door (although once there, applications are considered holistically) - test scores, the easiest quantitative way to sort applicants, get one through the door.</p>
<p>Again, if the original poster’s girlfriend truly wanted to get into these top schools, she should have studied for her standardized tests harder, like so many other students do. If she truly tried her hardest and still only achieved these scores, then she should be realistic with herself and not waste the money on applications to them. I’m not saying that because she won’t necessarily be able to handle the workload or work rigor; I’m saying that because of the nature of college applications.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I feel like this thread may have turned into a bashfest on the girl. Her choice to apply to the most prestigious universties in America is shortsighted, but there is nothing condemnable about going to a state university, where she will succeed and enjoy herself.</p>