<p>It seems to me as though Princeton views test scores as more of a "nod of the head" rather than as the end-all method of deciding who's in and who's out. From all of the admissions literature I've read, it seems to me as if they are trying to offer admission to the most interesting people, people who can bring a unique background to the campus, and those who will truly take advantage of the opportunities Princeton has to offer. When it comes to the academic side of the application, they have made it quite clear that your secondary-school record, and the rigor thereof, is what truly distinguishes those who have a commitment to furthering their education. I feel as if many people could study for the SAT and get a score that falls in Princeton's range, and so they must find another way to divide candidates, given the fact that whether you get a 770, 780, 790, or 800 could vary according to the mood you were in on test day, the other people in the room making noise, what you ate for breakfast, or how much homework you were thinking about. When you get down to the last 30 points in each section, it is mostly luck.</p>
<p>I am not, however, trying to discount those who do extremely well on these tests...because this is indeed a plus on your side. I just think that we get too caught up in the SAT scores being the deciding factor because, to put in bluntly, they are the only quantitative, "non-subjective" device we have to distinguish ourselves from each other, and "predict" an outcome.</p>
<p>Overall, I believe that Princeton (apart from many other Ivys) looks at the applicant's character, experiences, dedication to ECs, and academic record.</p>
<p>On a side note, the interview is worth absolutely nothing according to my alumni interviewer. He said, "If you bothered to try and impress me today, or prepare for our meeting, you've wasted your time." He said that it was at the absolute bottom of the list of things they consider, if in fact they consider it at all. It was more of a chance for me to ask any questions I had about Princeton in order to gain a better understanding of the University and what it would be like to be a student there.</p>
<p>Please let me know if you think I am completely off-base, or if you agree.</p>