Reality Bites!!

Test Preparation
21

<p>2100hopes, your argument is interesting if not particularly novel. Here's the basic problem I see with it... I don't think I'd rely on CC forum members as a statistically valid population to represent college applicants in general. They're self-selected and self-reported, and any forum has its share of trolls.</p>

<p>I do think a convincing case has been made that highly selective colleges consider the whole application over its parts, but I wouldn't counsel anyone aiming that high to submit an application with, say, test scores that are at the bottom end of the current median range for their target school. Especially test scores since, out of all parts of the application, they probably require the least investment of time and/or money to improve.</p>

22

<p>I wasn't going to make anymore comments on this thread but again, I encourage all of you to read the posts on the Yale and Stanford early decisions... and brace yourselves. We're going in the front door whole and these poor people are coming out the back sliced and diced... even for the 2400 SAT, 800 SAT II, All AP 5's, and upteen awards crowd.</p>

<p>For all of us worried about raising our scores a few dozen (or even hundred) points - forget it, that's the least of our problems. To get into a top-tier you MUST have the "it" factor. What is the "it" factor. If you have to ask you're already in trouble.</p>

<p>The best plan of action - lowered expectations. And if something good happens it will be all the sweeter.</p>