<p>How much do SATs count on the admission process? If, being international, i have a perfect ACT test and five 800s in U.S. History, WH History, Latin, Physics and Math II, how much this will help me?</p>
<p>No-one really knows. It depends on other parts of your applications. There are people who were awarded perfect scores on the SAT, but had bad internal GPAs and were therefore rejected early action (not even deferred). </p>
<p>If other parts of you application are also to such a good standard, I think you have a good chance of getting accepted.</p>
<p>stark123,</p>
<p>High standardized test scores and great grades are sort of the prerequisites to get into top schools. If you got a perfect ACT and all the other scores you list, then you will have done well enough in that segment to have a realistic chance of admission at top schools. Even a not-so-perfect ACT or SAT, if still very high, will be enough for serious consideration.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t appear that anyone gets into top schools strictly on perfect test scores and grades. Places like Harvard are looking for high test scores and great grades, but are looking for something beyond those two things. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and.</p>
<p>There is a designation “summa candidate” if the reader(s) believe on the basis of the folder that the candidate will be a summa at Harvard–if that is the case, the candidate need pass the “drool” test and s/he is in–otherwise, grades and scores are nice but in of themselves do not constitute grounds for admission. It is the intangible “wow” that does it-- winning Intel, being on the USAMO squad, publishing a novel to critical acclaim, national music competition— It doesn’t mater what per se. rather that the candidate shows that they have done something with significant distinction that leads the Committee-- that s/he would be an interesting member of the Harvard community and will do something of note after graduation.</p>
<p>Remember admission is not an award for accomplishment–no one deserves admission–rather it is a bet by the AC on the future–both at Harvard and beyond.</p>
<p>@stark123
Wow those are great stats!
Harvard will definitely be impressed with your scores, but if you don’t have EC’s and great essays/recommendations to back those up, I don’t see how the scores can cover for the lack of the other things.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Please note the OP said “IF” they have those scores.</p>