<p>Feel free to disagree as you see fit, but from what I have seen on here this seems to hold some validity:</p>
<p>SAT Scores & GPA
· SAT scores NEVER get you in, but they can keep you out. At Harvard, for example, there is little difference between a 2300 and a 2400 but there is a huge difference between a 2100 and a 2200.
· GPA is way more important than SAT scores. Barely top 10% w/ a perfect SAT doesnt stand a chance against a Valedictorian w/ a 2200.<br>
· SAT II scores are very important. Low SAT II scores with high SAT Is perpetuate the same disdain for the lazy high SAT / low GPA kids. </p>
<p>Stats & ECs / Essays / Recs
· GPA/SAT are more important than extracurriculars /essays/ recs. This only becomes false once you are near the top on both the GPA and SAT chart; then the other factors distinguish applicants.
· A dearth of extracurriculars is not the kiss of death that people make it out to be. A couple unique experiences woven into a beautiful essay is good enough when complimented by great stats.<br>
· Extracurriculars except for a handful (RSI, national awards, etc.) mean little without a great essay. The reason having a passion is important is because of the essay. Activity charts primarily serve just to make sure you were involved.
· Your teacher recommendations are not excellent unless they are the best of my career kind of recommendations; everyone gets nice letters. However, if you get a handful of excellent recommendations, they really help.</p>
<p>Class Rank & Competitive High Schools
· Your high school is not competitive unless just about everyone goes to a four-year college. Your high school is also not competitive if it would be shocking that somewhat in the second decile would be accepted to the Ivy League or similar schools.
· Unless your high school is competitive (see above), merely top 10% will just almost never cut it at the top schools. Brown publishes data that only 8% are accepted with class rank in the 6th 10th percent class rank range. Once hooked applicants are taken into account, this number is most likely in the neighborhood of a 4-5% acceptance rate.
· On that note, top 5% is average. It wont keep you out, but it certainly isnt a plus. GPA is only a plus if you are in the top 1-2%, and even then it usually isnt enough.
· Surely a downward trend of grades is deadly, but an upward trend isnt as great as people make it out to be. If your class rank is still low, see above. If its not, you are probably in the clear. But keep in mind: Harvard has 3,000 Valedictorians and countless other 4.0s not to mention you competing for 2,000 spots.</p>
<p>Regarding URMs
· If you are turned down from a top school, its not because of underrepresented minorities. Assuming all URMs are unqualified (which is completely untrue), only 600 applicants would be affected this represents only 3% of the applicant pool at the elite schools. It would be awfully arrogant to assume you were in the top 3% of the rejected pool.</p>
<p>i would hardly call this "information"...none of us knows or should pretend to know what elite colleges look for in an applicant...the op makes some valid points but everything on this website is speculation...i say let's just wait until april</p>
<p>I agree to the OP!
I mean rumors in CC and other places have made us believe into anything without even contemplating into the matter.</p>
<p>The OP, on the other hand has shown some practical facts and some bitter.
I know many guys who just study word lists for the SATs and forget that their transcripts are more important.</p>
<p>This post is a must see for everyone applying to colleges!</p>
<p>But, I also agree to treewannabe...remember that the OP has stated the above "facts" on her own observation. This does not confirm that everything she has said is actually what happens in reality. However, for any experienced person (in college admissions), most of her assertions seem true!!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
SAT Scores & GPA
· SAT scores NEVER get you in, but they can keep you out. At Harvard, for example, there is little difference between a 2300 and a 2400 but there is a huge difference between a 2100 and a 2200.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not necessarilly. I know plenty of students who got into Harvard with scores from 2000-2200. So, it depends on the SAT averages, which havent yet been made for this class.</p>
<p>
[quote]
· GPA is way more important than SAT scores. Barely top 10% w/ a perfect SAT doesnt stand a chance against a Valedictorian w/ a 2200.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Any stats to verify this?</p>
<p>
[quote]
· SAT II scores are very important. Low SAT II scores with high SAT Is perpetuate the same disdain for the lazy high SAT / low GPA kids.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I agree.</p>
<p>
[quote]
On that note, top 5% is average. It wont keep you out, but it certainly isnt a plus. GPA is only a plus if you are in the top 1-2%, and even then it usually isnt enough.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Top 5% is not average. It IS a plus. What are you talking about? About half of the students who get rejected are at top 1-2%</p>
<p>I believe the OP is unreliable since he has no statistical evidence to support his claims.</p>
<p>
[quote]
· GPA is way more important than SAT scores. Barely top 10% w/ a perfect SAT doesnt stand a chance against a Valedictorian w/ a 2200.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I dont know of any official stats to verify this....but..this is true....almost all colleges that I know (some have even stressed on this fact themselves) have agreed that GPA is WAYY MORE important than the SAT.</p>
<p>An adcom once gave a seminar in my school and there he mentioned it himself. "Your transcript is the most important factor in admissions than anything else. If you have low SAT score, it won't matter much. But nothing can help you if you have low grades."</p>
<p>But then again, a valedictorian with a 2200 will get rejected to 2nd tier colleges, coz they'll know that he's using it as a safety!</p>
<p>And apart frm the Ivies, if you see in many LACs admission stats..you can see that more 600-700s are accepted than 800s in the SAT sections.</p>
<p>I disagree with almost everything stambliark has mentioned in the original post except for the importance of SAT 2's and having a good essay. If there's one thing I have learned form CC, it's that GPA doesn't really matter unless you have like a <3.5 UW GPA or you slacked off by taking easy classes.</p>
<p>Unless you hate sports, jsmith. But yes, it is an effective way to gain admissions.</p>
<p>My school doesn't rank, but I'm at least in the top 10% of my class (800 people), but other than that, I have no clue what my guidance counselor is going to write down. 3.9 UW, 4.05 W by the end of junior year~ will colleges really factor in my senior year grades? And if so, how much will they count?</p>
<p>· GPA is way more important than SAT scores. Barely top 10% w/ a perfect SAT doesnt stand a chance against a Valedictorian w/ a 2200. </p>
<p>I have to disagree with the GPA a bit. Every high school is different. A 4.0 at a competitive high school would mean much more than a 4.0 at an average GPA. At my school, which is competitive, the valedictorian and salutatorian are both guaranteed to get into HYP, and a lot of others in the top 10% too. But at some schools, the valedictorian has almost no hope of getting in unless he/she has very amazing extracurriculars and SAT scores.</p>
<p>Clippit, I was more clear about competitive high schools later on, but it wasn't mentioned explicitly in the line you mentioned. I definitely agree with you.</p>