<p>That's what nearly every college I applied to said. And really, they're all liars. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm sure they really sat down and read every single essay, from all 6100 applicants (Amherst, for example), sat over a nice cup of hot chocolate next to a fireplace, and considered "Is this person a good match for Amherst?"</p>
<p>Heck I wouldn't do that. It's sooo easy to look at somebody's numbers when they apply. So here's the lesson-</p>
<p>Numbers don't matter when they meet or pass expectations. Otherwise, they're everything.</p>
<p>of course. they have to have some standard. so yes, once you pass a certain level with your numbers, they stop mattering and the "soft" stuff comes into play. but you have to make it past that mark...i'd think around 2150~2200 SAT for most top schools.</p>
<p>Well my ACT 'passed the mark': I simply didn't test well on the SAT, so I was about 100 points short. </p>
<p>I'm not saying it was my numbers that kept me out- I mean, I'm certainly a flawed person. But with a ton of my friends, similar stories have happened, so this post is mainly for juniors whose college counselors are saying "colleges have changed these days"</p>
<p>Yeah, there is a certain "mark" that you have to pass, and after the admissions decisions do become rather soft, but it doesn't hurt to have an awesome GPA and ultra-superior test scores.</p>
<p>yup. The point is that admissions doesn't punch numbers into some computer program that spits out admitted or denial soley on a string of twenty-some digits. Yes, you're very likely to be denied if your scores are below the school's average and you don't have anything more special that the average accepted student, but on the other hand, just because you've gotten some bad grades and are a little shy on the GPA, if you're truly incredible somewhere else, you'll certainly have a feasible shot.</p>
<p>Don't let this lead you to the common delusion that "Test scores aren't important" and "I can get in because I'm special". Everything in the app is important, and if your test scores are below average, you had better be VERY freaking "special" if you think you have a chance, especially for the elites. The question is not "Am I a good student and a special person", rather it is "Am I a better student and a more special person than the other 80-90%?"</p>
<p>I agree with all of the replies. This was more of a "Let me complain" than a "give me feedback": kinda having a pity party here. I have a 4.2 GPA and a 30 ACT: I was also chosen as the Georgia High School Spanish Student of the Year, along with many, many other awards. So I really think that my numbers ARE decent, as well as my resume in general.</p>
<p>It's true that the test scores aren't important above a certain level at competitive colleges because many applicants have high test scores , meaning that high test scores are expected and the rest is what gets you in.</p>