<p>Dear “pug” and “dad”, great points and ones that resonate with my daughter’s situation. She was also accepted to more academic, prestigious schools but decided on Boston College because it was love at first sight and she loved the vibe! She couldn’t be happier AND, as csdad points out, she feels good at being “a star”. She still gets a couple “B’s” each semester, so it is still plenty challenging (Accounting and Philosophy double). Also love the quote…!</p>
<p>CC certainly has a role to play for many all over the Country who believe their 4.0/33 is an auto admit to top colleges.</p>
<p>I agree Calmom’s advice is good. Your DD should apply to a variety of schools. With those stats she will be admitted to many good ones whether or not they are among the big 8.</p>
<p>Have to get off CC for a moment… going to post “Things turn out for the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out” on my Facebook under my favorite quotes!</p>
<p>“SAT scores don’t give much of an indication – student personality, attitude, and study habits are much more significant. The kid who is valedictorian with lower-than-expected SAT scores may belong in the more competitive environment; the kid with high SAT scores but a relaxed attitude toward schoolwork may be a lot better off in the less competitive environment. So while I agree with your theory as to fit, I would take the SAT scores with a grain of salt. (And I definitely speak from experience here.)”</p>
<p>…numerous studies have shown a high (up to .90) correlation between SAt and IQ scores. In the most difficult majors , at the most difficult schools, work habits alone aren’t going to get it done. Professors generally teach to the “norm of the student”…if the average SAT of the students in a given high level science or math calss is 1400 and I’m sitting there with a 1150, I’m going to struggle.</p>
<p>But you don’t want the kid to be so far above the norm (no matter how you define it) for the college that they’ll be bored.</p>
<p>My daughter also chose the lower rank school because of location and major availability</p>
<p><<cc certainly=“” has=“” a=“” role=“” to=“” play=“” for=“” many=“” all=“” over=“” the=“” country=“” who=“” believe=“” their=“” 4.0=“” 33=“” is=“” an=“” auto=“” admit=“” top=“” colleges.=“”>></cc></p>
<p>redroses, this is the most important thing I learned at CC! Regarding jshain’s posts about BC being a safety for the OP, my D had same stats as the OP’s, with “only” 8 AP’s, and BC was the most “prestigious” college to which she was accepted (and that was after deferral EA). My D also chose to attend one of the less “prestigious” schools than BC and has been very happy there.</p>
<p>
Can you name a few, especially any based on the current exam? I’m only aware of one, and that was based on the old exam and I don’t believe the correlation was anywhere near .9 (although I may be mistaken). Links would be nice too.</p>
<p>I do know the high IQ societies no longer accept the SAT as valid for membership. I always assumed it was because they didn’t have studies on the current test, or that it isn’t that precise at the upper end.</p>
<p>Not that I believe IQ is that lmitiing anyway.</p>
<p>BTW- I’m not really interested in debating it. My opinion goes back and forth on this, and it is really just an intellectual curiosity. I am not that big a fan of the SAT, but I’m sure it has some correlation to IQ. I really just want to see any studies I might have missed.</p>
<p>Well I can’t find the .90 study but found this:</p>
<p>AA Beaujean - 2006
“Despite the difference in optimal prediction equations, this study provides support to the major
findings of Frey and Detterman (2004):
First, the SAT is an adequate measure of general intelligence, and second, it is a useful tool in
predicting cognitive functioning when other estimates of intelligence are unavailable, too
time-consuming, or too costly (p. 377).”</p>
<p>I find "teasers to more on the web but need membership to get the whole report!</p>
<p>^^^Yes, that’s the study I usually see referred to (well at least the Frey Detterman). The corellation is close to .9 in the FD study. But I think the data still based on an older test (although I think the 2006 study is a different version than the 2004 Frey Detterman) . I think I actually tried to read both studies at one time, I didn’t have the patience.</p>
<p>But, I wouldn’t disagree entirely with that quote.</p>
<p>I’m just wondering if things have changed much with the newer tests, all the coaching, and all the prep work. I’m also curious how uniform the correlation is across the whole IQ range. Since the test tops out at 800 I wonder how accurate it is predicting intelligence above a certain level. And since one incorrect answer on the Math portion can drop your score significantly, I’m wondering how they take thaty into account. </p>
<p>Of course, I’m not staying up nights worrying about this. I don’t even really know why I am interested at all in this stuff. :)</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Is this what you are looking for?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/frey.pdf[/url]”>http://www.psychologicalscience.org/pdf/ps/frey.pdf</a></p>
<p>^^^That’s the Frey Detterman study. I think it’s sort of dated, at least in the data it uses. I’m not sure which version of the SAT it uses, or what time period the data represents (it does rely on the Longitudinal Study). But I’m pretty sure the test version is pre 2005, and I think it’s undergone a couple revisions since then.</p>
<p>OP, I have been on CC for ~2.5 years since my daughter was a junior but never posted because I am kind of shy that way 
However, I felt compelled to respond after seeing your post. I understand exactly how you feel and thought I should share with you our experience. </p>
<p>CC is a great forum with wonderful information. But one must take all these 2400, 4.0 UW GPA, national award winner, etc. stats with a large grain of salt. I am not saying posters with those stats are lying. I am saying college admission is much more an art than a science. It is much more about the student as an individual than the mere numbers behind them. These ulta-human stats can be very intimidating. I know, because I was so intimidated when I found CC when my daughter was a junior. </p>
<p>My daughter was a solid student with good but not perfect GPA, reasonably high but not super high SAT, very strong leadership, research at a local university but no Intel or Westinghouse awards, etc. When time came for applying, she had already gotten into the honors college at our local flagship state U with a full scholarship, which she would be very happy to attend if nothing else comes through. So, her approach to college application was that she wanted to go for the stars, and apply to the highly selective colleges. Her thinking was that if she didn’t try, she would never know and she didn’t want to wonder about the what-ifs for the rest of her life. I, on the other hand, was not so sure. After I read about all the accept/reject posts on CC, I highly doubt about her chances and almost tried to dissuade her from applying at all because I didn’t want her to be disappointed. Well, I am glad that I didn’t. </p>
<p>She is now a rising sophomore at Johns Hopkins and is having the time of her life. It is not my intent to post here to brag, but I do want to show you that it is possible. In addition to Hopkins, she was also admitted to Brown, Columbia, UPenn, Emory, and NYU. And the thing is her stats is quite a bit lower than your daughter’s - her SAT is only in the high 2100’s (not even 2200), her GPA is not even 3.8 at application time (I think it was like 3.78 or 3.79), she only has 11 APs at graduation (vs. 18 like your daughter has) and she didnt get all 4s and 5s on the APs. If you think she got in because of URM, legacy or athethic status, etc., it is not the case - she has none of that. As a matter of fact, she is ORM. </p>
<p>In summary, what I am trying to say here is that don’t let the high stats on CC intimidate you, but do have a realistic expectation and make sure your daughter understands this whole process. Then, go for the stars! I wish you the very best of luck.</p>
<p>^^thank you so much. Your post means a lot and confirms what I have been thinking. Best wishes to your daughter!</p>
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<p>Great list and for women the all-womens schools tend to be admission bargins.</p>