SAT Strategy, One Section at a Time

[bluebayou]

<p>

what I mean is that the academic records might not be as stellar as students who would score 2400 in one or two settings.

</p>

<p>Not necessarily. The top 5% of our HS is comprised of NMSF’s (one sitting)…and several of highest scorers are not in the top 10 of the class. Our Val/Sal (public HS of 2200) is not typically the highest test scorer either. (But the Val goes to Harvard every year.)</p>

[DrGoogle]

<p>Post #41, I don’t disagree with your statement. What I’m seeing is high GPA + high SAT students have good chances at top schools. High SAT + low GPA students don’t have great chances at top schools and vice versa. See the post below my MITChris.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13963949-post9.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13963949-post9.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

SAT scores do not “make up for” GPA. Nor is the converse true. Generally speaking, competitive applicants to MIT have good grades AND good scores. Now, if an applicant is particularly compelling, and there is some discrepancy between SAT/GPA that does not weaken our certainty of their academic preparation, we would likely overlook it, because we still think they are prepared. However, the case would have to be even more compelling to overlook the lack of bulletproof academic preparation.

</p>

[ttparent]

<p>

If a student who feels this way about testing scores 690/800/800 on the second try, he/she might be inclined to take the test again, whereas one who scores 760/770/760 would not bother. Yet the two students have the same total score – 2290.

</p>

<p>I am again guessing that the person will not get 800 on that last section on the third try.</p>

[mom2collegekids]

<p>I think this strategy is a good reason for schools NOT to superscore.</p>

[ClassicRockerDad]

<p>Why do you think that mom2collegekids?</p>

<p>D thinks she did better on the essay. She didn’t have time to study any math, and might need another go round. She feels that if a school rejects her because she’s trying to improve her scores, then she’ll just go to a different school. No biggie. </p>

<p>She got 700+ in math, 700+ CR last time, but she’s a girl interested in engineering and is capable of 750+ on the math. She focused on the essay because it was SO bad (4/12) it made her look illiterate. If she needs to, she’ll study math and do one more. As far as SAT IIs, she already has a 750+ in Physics with AP and a 700+ in Chem without the AP. She’ll do Math II and expects to do fine. Her GPA though is only 3.6ish. </p>

<p>I think some good OOS publics will want this full pay student in their program. Maybe even some decent privates. Not too worried.</p>