It seems like at the top level, colleges vary a lot by how they prioritize different aspects of the application. Caltech is known for its high test scores, while I’ve heard that Stanford places even more emphasis than usual on finding applicants with unique and passionate extracirriculars.
I know that all higher-end colleges will be looking at both stats and ECs, but what are other examples of colleges that lean more towards one than the other?
California UC’s tend to be Stats leaning.
All selective colleges are academics-leaning, though they may weight different aspects of academic credentials differently (e.g. rigor, GPA, rank, test scores).
It is the most selective colleges that may appear to be EC/etc.-leaning, but only really among applicants who have close to the maximum possible academic credentials that they had possible in their situation. For example, Stanford may use ECs/etc. to differentiate between many of its applicants, but applicants with lower GPAs, test scores, or high school course rigor are at a severe disadvantage that ECs/etc. are unlikely to make up for.
I.e. ECs/etc. generally will not make up for significantly lower academic credentials, but may help differentiate an applicant among others with roughly similar academic credentials at the borderline of admit versus deny.
Of course, if an exceptional EC achievement happens to be in a sport that the college wants to recruit, that can allow for significantly greater leniency on the academic credentials, depending on the college.
Where’d you hear “Stanford places even more emphasis than usual on finding applicants with unique and passionate extracirriculars?”
That’s really not in what S or any tippy top says. In fact, there’s a lot of sensible conformity expected. I.e., you did the right, logical, responsible things related to your interests and possible major, saw the opps, pursued them, and stretched in those ways. Not just unusual. Doesn’t have to be unique.
Read what your targets say.
I think very selective universities rely more heavily on such things as essays and ECs because most of their applicant already have excellent academic credentials. Academics is the top priority for all schools. The most selective schools use other tools to differentiate between a large group academically superior students.
The Ivies are looking for both Stats and ECs. Just stats will not get you.
They are each slightly different, but there is a significant positive correlation among admissions to them.
Penn, for example, historically weights GPAs more heavily than test scores.
Cornell seems to be the most willing to admit mad stats with light ECs, compared to the other ivies.
Wake Forest is test optional and believes that high school grades and overall transcript better predict success in college. It admits a healthy number of students who do not submit test scores. “Interest” is a factor in admissions, including visits and interviews, if possible. It offers Skype interviews. All interviews fill up pretty quickly and stop some time around December.
You can google “test optional schools.” There are many outstanding schools on this list including Wesleyan, Holy Cross, Bates, Colby, Bowdoin, WPI, Franklin and Marshall, Bryn Mawr, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Colorado College, etc., etc. Good luck!
Just to add to what TTG said – these test optional schools still absolutely adore high test scores, which will always give you a definite advantage. But test optional schools don’t put you at a DISadvantage if you opt not to submit scores, and often weigh extracurriculars more heavily in that case.
High scores don’t give you an advantage at elite schools. They just give you a chance.
Clarifying @ttg’s post. Colby allows you to choose theSAT, the ACT, or 2 subject tests but not no tests. Other schools allow you to apply withough any test scores.