<p>The adcoms would disagree.</p>
<p>And, though I can’t speak on silverturtle’s behalf, I’d argue that his rejection from a number of Ivy Leagues (except Brown, I believe?) stands as a testament to the fact that perfect scores don’t mean nearly as much as everyone on CC would like you to believe.</p>
<p>Oh, and I can almost positively assert that colleges like Yale or Columbia that don’t accept score choice will frown on you for retaking a 2300, or, for that matter, anything over 2250, particularly if you’ve already taken it a few times.</p>
<p>Schools like Yale or any of the ivy leagues are looking for cut off numbers first and 800 scores that they can use to increase their rateing, second.</p>
<p>Could you show me a credible source (such as a college or adcom) that agrees with you?</p>
<p>Here’s an interesting article by an MIT adcom:
[MIT</a> Admissions|Answers to your Questions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/answers_to_your_questions]MIT”>Answers To Your Questions | MIT Admissions)</p>
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<p>Here’s a blog post by the MIT Dean of Admissions:</p>
<p>[MIT</a> Admissions|What’s the big deal about 40^2?](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/whats_the_big_deal_about_402]MIT”>What’s the big deal about 40^2? | MIT Admissions)</p>
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<p>Huh. Go figure.
I hope you’re not going to tell me that MIT isn’t a prestigious enough college to go by…</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>So I should retake a 800 CR/ 780 M/ 670 W because the difference is almost entirely in the writing section? I’ve only taken it once, by the way.</p>
<p>That depends on where you’re applying to. For the Ivies, I’d consider retaking if you are reasonably sure that you can improve your score (this shouldn’t be too hard for writing.) I would, however refrain from taking it more than three times at all costs.</p>
<p><em>clap clap</em> Extremely well said, clandarkfire. Since this seems to have evolved into a “how much do SAT scores matter?” thread, I guess I’ll add my two cents. First, I’ve read Silverturtle’s guide and his statement is something along the lines of “if there is a cutoff, it’s likely quite high.” Although the average SAT score of an accepted applicant to Yale was around 2350 (once again from silverturtle) this hides the fact that some could have been 2300’s, a few 2400’s, and even a few 2200’s. </p>
<p>To put it definitively, the only way to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, if some sort of cutoff exists and where it is is through the use of a double-blind matched pair experiment. Although studies and statistics may find correlations, they CANNOT prove causation. Even anecdotal evidence from MIT is not enough to definitively prove this. And given that no such experiment has been conducted (as far as I know) the jury is still out on this issue. </p>
<p>However, I am quite skeptical that 2400’s radically boost one’s chance of admission, given that, once again, correlation does not prove causation. </p>
<p>As I said in another thread, you have to be aware of the lurking variables, since there could have been another variable that influenced both the SAT and whether someone was accepted rather than simply the SAT score being the sole influence.</p>
<p>And I thought AP stats would never pay off…</p>
<p>The lurking variable is that the colleges can increase their rateing by collecting 800’s.</p>
<p>It puts money in their pockets. If you have the 800’s you have a much better chance of winning than someone with 799 or less.</p>
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<p>Ha haha hahaha.</p>
<p>That’s my exact score.
Will it matter less if I’m applying somewhere that weights math less than MIT? Since MIT is… you know… mathy?</p>
<p>If you could at least get the math up to a 700, the 800’s would kick in and drasticly help your chances.</p>