Alright, so I’m going Harvard 1st choice with EA, then MIT/Caltech/Princeton/Stanford all RD and perhaps some matches and safeties. My SAT score is 2290 though (800M 770CR 720W).
Other important stats (i.e. things that I hope will give me a significant edge in college admissions) include: MV calc/diff eq/math structures/number theory/linear algebra/ and (maybe) abstract algebra taken during HS, Siemens Westinghouse Regional Finalist, ISEF finalist, RSI 2005 partcipant, P/VP junior and senior year of about 4 or 5 clubs (same clubs both years, and I was a mere member of all of those frosh/soph year), random volunteer stuff.
I am at RSI right now and it looks like I have the lowest SAT score out of anyone here, and about half these ppl get rejected from harvard, and my SAT score puts me definitely in the lower half of this group, so I am very worried. I do have a 1550 old S (800M 750V) and 800s in SAT II Writing, Math IIC, Chem, Phys, but these tests aren’t as important as the new SAT I.
Should I take the new SAT again this fall? Its not like it’s the worst thing that could happen to me for me to take it again, but I just am wondering.
<p>Who says these tests aren't as important as the New SAT? You have an 800 in the old SAT II Writing (which Harvard will consider) so that will 'balance' your 720 in the new writing section. I don't know about other schools but for Harvard the SAT (once it is over a certain cut) is really not the most important thing. That's the party line and as an alumna interviewer, I believe it. Better to work on your essays than worry about retaking your already impressive SATs.</p>
<p>Laith is an international though! English is not his 1st language.</p>
<p>I have a 4.0 UW and ranked 1/713 though.</p>
<p>And I was hoping the 800 writinng would balance the 720 new writing section, but apparently the curve is harsher so maybe the old 800 I got really translates into a 720 on the new section anyway (to some degree). And so do you think that 2290 is above that "cut off" for harvard after which it doesn't matter as much?</p>
<p>Is Harvard even looking at writing this year? I'd call and ask, many top schools are not. The fact that you got 800 on old and 720 on news shows there could be a problem with grading which is why many schools are not using.</p>
<p>Your scores are perfectly competitive. I wouldn't retake and I'd put the energy into an outstanding essay.</p>
<p>Harvard IS looking at the writing this year - both the new SAT section and the old SAT II writing if a candidate took it before it was phased out - this is based on emailed answers from the office in Cambridge. The OP's scores defiitely put him/her in the ball park - and again, please please remember that Harvard really does look beyond the scores.</p>
<p>It is hard to compare the writing scores on the old SAT II versus the new SAT. The average SAT II Writing score would have been around 600, and the average New SAT Writing score is around 500. However, a lot more people are taking the New SAT. The people who used to take the SAT II Writing were self-selected.</p>
<p>Seriously, after a certain point, they no longer split hairs between the academic credentials of the top applicants. You are past that point. Any reservations they might have about a 720 on a new untested writing test will be countered by the 800 on the SAT II Writing, and your rank is #1. In 2003, there were about 760 people in the US with a 1600. About 500 applied to Harvard and less than 300 were accepted. It is more than about high standardized test scores. You need to stand out as being unique thru your interests and your EC's. As I'm sure you have heard, they want "passion" and long-term commitment to one or two activities.</p>
<p>Now about the "luck" word. After they eliminate practically everybody, they still have only one open slot for every four/five people that they want. They can only take one, and this introduces luck into the process. This is why people are accepted to some HYPSM's and not others, and vice versa. This is why the waitlists sometimes exceed the number of people actually accepted. It is hard to reject somebody when you just accepted their clone, and so it is psychologically easier for the adcom committee to waitlist them than reject them. This "luck" element is documented in college guides include "The Gatekeeper", "Harvard Schmarvard", and "Admissions Confidential" by people who were adcoms or observed adcoms as reporters. Using the word "luck" explains a lot of the anecdotal cases that people have. It doesn't mean that everyone who applies has the same chance. Having said that, work on standing out from the crowd, and good luck. Also, the education at the #20th ranked school in the country isn't worse than the education you get at the #5th ranked school. If you haven't already, look around and decide what you want in a school besides prestige.</p>
<p>The only way I see Harvard looking at the old SAT II Writing is if it is one of the three highest SAT II's. They can't really consider the writing on the new SAT because they do not REQUIRE the old SAT II Writing if you took the old SAT (unlike Columbia, Duke, and a handful of other schools). Hence, there is no standard of comparison with people who took the old SAT w/o SAT II Writing, unless they required more SAT II's for old SAT takers than for new SAT takers (which they clearly don't; it's 3 for both).</p>
<p>The SAT II Writing score will be on the report from CB even if Harvard doesn't look at it. If you were to take the SAT over three times, it might look obsessive and they might average scores rather than pick the best scores from each math/verbal category. I think what you really want is to draw their attention to the SAT II Writing score. Rather than retake it all, perhaps include a brief (two sentence) note explaining it, or ask your GC to say something.</p>
<p>Nobody knows how adcoms, in general, are going to treat the SAT I Writing section, or other issues such as will they mix Math/Verbal scores between the old SAT and new SAT.</p>
<p>zogoto...RSI...1500/2290....that's like, enough =) It won't guarantee admission (to Harvard) I guess, but remember also that if you take the SAT again, and get higher, it really won't make much of a difference. Work on your app...better use of your time than getting your SAT score up the other quarter-percentile it can possibly go.</p>
<p>And you know the story of how all the 04 rickoids who applied to Caltech got in with full rides, right? You're going to a good school one way or another.</p>
<p>If they are looking at the score I might reconsider. As much as everyone wants to believe they don't focus on scores, it's very hard to find a white/asian, non hooked candidate who has below their 75% in anything.</p>
<p>Even for an RSI kid, Harvard is 50/50. That would make it hard to count on even with a better writing score. If you think you can do better and not jeopardize your other scores, take it again. But you're so safe at so many schools, so it seems to make more sense to also love a lower ivy!!</p>