<p>Does anyone know what SAT composite score a student must achieve in order to be able to obtain admission to NYU’s Tisch/CAP21 program, provided that they do well enough on their audition? In other words, is there a baseline score that kids have to get to even be considered? If so, what is it?</p>
<p>Admissions for NYU Tisch are handled by the NYU undergraduate admissions office. So the SAT scores that are published for NYU are the SAT scores for those admitted to Tisch.</p>
<p>And there is no baseline to be consdiered for admittance. To my understanding, if you are given a "yes" by NYU (for your academics/application) and a "yes" by Tisch (for your audition) then you will generally be accepted.</p>
<p>As with many private selective universities, there are no stated minimum SAT baseline bars. Perhaps some state schools use such formulas, but not a school like NYU. Rather, on the academic side of admissions, they consider the whole package....SAT scores, SAT Subject Test scores, GPA, class rank, rigor of HS curriculum, essays, recs, extracurricular activities and achievements, and so on. Sometimes a lower SAT might be balanced by a very high GPA and other significant achievements (or even factors such as impoverished background, first generation college student, URM, etc.), so it is hard to just take out one single factor as a measure of whether a particular score would get you in or not as that is not evaluated in isolation. By the way, Tisch doesn't require SAT Subject Tests but recommends them. I'm sure very good scores on the Subject Tests could help, even if the SAT score is lower. </p>
<p>Anyway, in looking at the SAT factor for NYU, the mid range of scores for ADMITTED students is 1310-1440. There is not a published mid range for Tisch itself. The regular admissions office evaluates all candidates to NYU, including Tisch. In any case, looking at that mid range of accepted students' SAT scores, realize that 25% of those admitted to NYU, have an SAT score lower than 1310. But those admitted with scores below 1310 were admitted at a LOWER RATE of admissions than those with SATs more in the mid range. Those with SATs over 1440 are admitted at a higher rate of acceptance. That's how to think about that. Assessing one's chances of admissions on the academic front involves looking at where you fall in the SAT range of admitted students, class rank, average GPA, rigor of course load, etc., as well as the selectivity (rate of acceptance) for a college. NYU's rate of acceptance is 28%. Tisch Drama is approximately 17% or so, and for CAP21 around 7% or so. The average GPA of accepted students to NYU is 3.62. 73% come from the top 10% of their HS class and 93% from the top quarter of their HS class. Evaluate where you stand in relation to these stats. If in the ballpark, it is a "match". If stats are above the mid range, it is a safety (academically speaking only), and if below the mid range of SATs and GPA and below the top quarter of the class, it is a reach. That is very roughly speaking, without taking into account rigor of courses, achievements, essays, recs, activities. Also, it must be tempered with the low acceptance rate of 28% (again, academically speaking and for the university itself). For Tisch applicants, 50% of the admissions decision is academic admissions at the admissions office and 50% is artistic review. </p>
<p>As far as SATs, those with below a 1300 DO get in, but just at a lower rate of acceptance. However, I think someone with SATs in the 1100's will have a much tougher time and would have to have a lot of compelling OTHER factors to over compensate for such a low SAT score. Frankly, with an SAT below 1200 (roughly speaking) and without very good grades and class standing, I would consider NYU to be a FAR reach. Someone with SATs below 1200 COULD get in (way lower chances) but would have to have a lot of other factors that could compensate to balance that low score. Also, remember that with SATs, while we talk of combined scores, the CR and M subscores are important. A 600 CR and a 600 M combined is different than a 500 CR and a 700 M score. A 500 on a subtest would be nearly impossible for NYU. For students enrolled in the fall of 2005, only 13% had CR or M subscores between 500-599. Someone with an SAT in the 1100s would make NYU a FAR reach school (unlikely, but with other compelling factors, small possibility). Someone with an SAT in the 1200's would be a Reach school (possible, but quite chancy). An SAT above 1300 puts a student more in the ballpark for NYU. </p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Does NYU superscore the SAT (take the highest grade for each section)? or do they look at the highest single sitting? or do they look at the full SAT report? (Deciding whether D should retake). Thanks.</p>
<p>Good question. My D has not even taken the test yet, but it behooves us all to have as much info as possible. BrownSugar, it would be great if your D did not have to take it again, wouldn't it?</p>
<p>NYU takes the highest score of each section even if they're from different dates.</p>
<p>Thanks much, alwaysamom. Do you know (or anyone else here, for that matter) about other MT schools here, especially the more academically selective ones? Do they all take the highest score of each section even if they're from different dates, and if so, do the adcoms ever look at the whole SAT picture or just those highest scores? So is there any risk to D in re-taking?</p>
<p>BrownSugar, I am not an adcom, but I have talked to several and they say that most students take the SAT between one and three times, and that some schools do seem to look askance at a kid taking it more than three times. I have asked why (though my D does not plan to take the SAT 3X!) and I got the same answer: Kids don't generally improve that much when the test is taken again and again, and it frankly looks to the school as if the kid had nothing more interesting and better to do with his or her time than constantly retaking the SAT. Another person I spoke with (who works for an SAT prep service) said that even though the schools say they count only the highest score in each area (math, CR and writing), they see <em>all</em> the scores (in other words, you cannot only send the best math score, the best CR and the best writing from, say, three different tests), and so that is to be considered. The bottom line (or so I have been told) is that if you kid got a good, solid score on the SAT, the drawbacks of having him or her retake the test three or more times outweighs the benefits. Keep in mind that as important as the test is, it's only one piece of the admissions puzzle, especially for our kids, who also have an audition to contend with. Again, I have no special knowledge, but I did inquire about this.</p>
<p>NMR, my point exactly! D took it one time, got a better than expected grade on one section, and slightly less than expected grades on the other two sections, but overall is satisfied. The combined CR and Math total is just under a threshold that D would have liked to exceeded, as is the total combined for all 3 sections, just under another threshold that she would have liked to exceeded. So should she take it a second time, hoping to improve on the 2 sections which she expected higher grades, but risking a lower grade on the one where she did better than expected? If the adcoms truly look ONLY at the highest score in each section, then there would be no risk in taking it a second time, but if they do look at ALL the scores then there IS a drawback in taking it a second time.</p>
<p>BrownSugar, I think NMR's point was that, obviously, the admissions committee will actually SEE all of the scores because that's the way that results are reported. The CollegeBoard people are not going to pick out the highest scores and only submit those. :) However, for the schools which state that they will take only the highest in each grouping, what that means is that, although they'll see all, they will only include the highest in their admissions decision.</p>
<p>It's certainly a personal decision as to whether or not to retake. If after checking with all schools that she is interested in, they all say that they'll take the highest scores only, I don't see any real drawback in taking the test a second time. I think when it starts to raise eyebrows is when kids take it numerous times. Two isn't going to be a problem. If CR and Math are the two that are lower, then I would probably suggest to my kid to retake, unless, of course, we're talking all 700+ scores.</p>
<p>alwaysamom, you <em>always</em> say it better than I did or could've. Thanks! :) Yes, BrownSugar, the point I so long-windedly was trying to make is that taking the SAT more than three times seems, well, over the top to some schools! But twice? No. I think many students (I won't say "most" because I don't know for sure) take the test twice. Does that mean yours should? That is, of course, entirely up to you and your D. If she takes it a second time and goes down, the schools will only count her higher score. The only thing she has to lose is four hours of time on a weekend and $42 or so! :)</p>