SAT CR/W more valuable than Math?

Applying to College
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<p>In a hypothetical situation, two near identical applicants apply to any top research university. Their only difference comes in their SAT score, where they received the following-</p>

<p>John- 750CR/650M/750W
Bob- 670CR/780M/700W</p>

<p>Each student records a 2150 cumulative score, placing them right around the 98th percentile. </p>

<p>Now, it is common knowledge that students with strong Math scores are more common in the applicant pool than are students with high verbal skills. Does this increase the demand for verbally superior students? I feel like this is related to the basic economic principle of supply and demand. When colleges want a diverse student body, they will consequently choose the applicant who deviates from the majority. </p>

<p>Is this a fair assumption? Are verbal scores more "in demand" at top schools?
Is Bob disadvantaged in this hypothetical scenario? I'm sure this has been presented before. I am simply hoping to hear some CC members' opinions.</p>

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<p>John is at a SEVERE disadvantage. The math section is the easiest (as determined by how many students get great school). The SAT math section involves very basic math skills that a student of high caliber should be getting a high score on, while the smartest people struggle with the CR because of how tricky it can be.An 800CR score is worthless without a good 700+ math score on top of it. I can get an 800CR easily now, probably easier than math, but I still consider getting an 800 on the math better than getting a high CR score any day.</p>

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<p>The question was not “What do you value personally?”
But rather, “Which student is more valuable to adcoms?”</p>

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<p>It’s that high verbal scores are “in demand” at top schools, but rather that excellent reading and comprehension skills are necessary to be successful at top schools.</p>

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<p>CR/M is more valuable than any other combination.</p>

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<p>^^^
Admissions statistics do not show this. </p>

<p>According to Stanford’s website, an 800 in Writing is the most valuable 800 you can receive; rather predictably it is the most uncommon. </p>

<p>[Applicant</a> Profile : Stanford University](<a href=“Page Not Found : Stanford University”>Page Not Found : Stanford University)</p>

<p>800 in Writing has 19% admit rate.
800 in Reading has 18% admit rate.
800 in Math has 12% admit rate. </p>

<p>The math gap is certainly noticeable.
Coincidence? Possibly. Nonetheless, highly fascinating.</p>

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<p>John will go to Vassar and have a busy social calendar.</p>

<p>Bob will get rejected from Stanford, MIT and Caltech, but will get into a decent STEM program in a good school and spend all his time in the lab.</p>

<p>Why is John smiling and Bob not?</p>

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<p>causation =/= correlation. Good writers have good essays, which is an advantage in admissions. Good mathematicians have no direct advantage in the admissions process. If Stanford required everyone to solve some incredibly tough math problem to get in, then the 800 mathers would be at an advantage. </p>

<p>Most schools disclose that cr+m is most valuable. Obviously that is not true for all.</p>

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<p>Which schools are these?
I know that the absolute best in the country (Harvard/Stanford) have blatantly stated that they weight all 3 sections equally. The way they admit students, on the other hand, shows math is the least important. How do you plan to argue the high CR scores? You offered a rebuttal for the writing, in how it generally means the applicant will produce better essays. What about reading? Math is simply less valuable to adcoms. They’ve seen high math scores a million times. Verbal areas are just commonly weaker.</p>

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<p>I think the writing section has way to many flaws to make it the most important part of the SAT for admission. Some colleges do recognize it and some don’t. It has been over 5 years since it was introduced and it still does not get counted by many colleges. I do think it is important to write well. I know I never did and never will. </p>

<p>I think the CR is the most importan part of the SAT period. It is harder to teach that section(not impossible to improve). Not that the math and writing are not good indicators of success but they are both portions that can be improved upon by a better education. You can not teach reasoning as easily as you can teach math and writing imo. Don’t get me wrong because I believe there are people that can do none of these sections well no matter how much you educate them.</p>

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<p>^^ That’s the point I was trying to make. Some colleges don’t use the W as part of the admissions process, so it gave me the impression that it is less important than the others. I know I have no proof for this, but if you really wanted me to I can make a list of colleges who don’t consider the W part of the SAT.</p>

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<p>" An 800CR score is worthless "</p>

<p>what?</p>

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<p>US News uses only the CR+Math in their rankings formula. So in the currency of rankings data, the W section is worthless and the CR+M score is all that matters.</p>

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<p>I would think that for some schools, Math would be more important than for others. Also, to which program does the student intend to apply? If it is a STEM field, then high Math scores would be essential, no?</p>

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<p>Hopefully John since my stats are more like his than Bob’s, but higher :).
Really though, just bumping this cause I’m curious.</p>