<p>I happened to meet a person who used to be part of the admission committee while I was studying at the Stanford’s High School Summer College program. We went out for a lunch and started talking about what I can do to increase my chance of admittance. Believe it or not, there IS a “cut-off.” Well, the person didn’t really say it explicitly but told me that ALL the applicants that survived the first rounds of review and made it to the committee all had at least a 1940 on the SAT Reasoning. And by 1940, I mean for international applicants. You all know how Stanford divides up the applicants into committees, each is responsible for a region right? The person happened to have worked in the South East Asia section. So, I don’t know how other students did in other sections. </p>
<p>Personally, I think that the seemingly “cut-off” isn’t just rejecting applicants who just don’t score high. If, say, there are two students who have similar credentials but one has lower scores, then clearly the one with higher scores will make it. And collectively, by comparing applicants who qualify with their scores, those who actually score lower than the “cut-off” cannot keep up with the credentials of the high scorers. Regardless of the holistic approach, it seems like you still can’t make it with “low scores” because “high scorers” are just as qualified in terms of ECs, awards, character, etc.</p>
<p>I myself am not a high scorer. My only “weakness” is the SAT Reasoning as I scored only 1960 on it. I took it only twice and the first time I got a 1840. I was shocked to realize that I would need to increase my score as I listened to the adcom speak but finally got a 120-point increase. </p>
<p>I’d say keep up with the hope. Those of you who get 2000+, be grateful! There are more people who are applying that have lower scores than you do (people like me). But I have faith in my application as I put in all my effort and heart. I believe that everything happens for a good cause and everything is going to be fine; we will end up at places that fit us best.</p>
<p>@Themust: Thanks for informing my future rejection! I was hoping that my “superior” math activities with full of passion may back up for my low SAT score(I only got 1890), but unfortunately it doesn’t. Don’t they care about TOEFL for international too? I got a 90 on TOEFL which is not really high but much better than that of SAT. I think this is life!</p>
<p>@ghjk: Don’t worry too much about it. It might not true this year. You probably have done your best and there is nothing else you can do now but to have faith. And I’m not sure how Stanford weighs the TOEFL, but I’m sure they take it into consideration that you are an international student. And may I ask where are you from? :)</p>
<p>@Themust: Thanks for your encouragement, but I’m ready to face the harsh truth(yes, it’s too harsh but I have to accept it).
Regards to your question: I’m Vietnamese. How about you? Good luck with your app!</p>
<p>There might be tighter SAT cutoffs for internationals but I personally know of people in CA who have lower SATs then 1900 who got in. I’m sure they do some sort of screening process, but the fact that students all had a 1940 doesn’t mean it was the cutoff. It only means that the people with the appropriate GPA and other things all had at least a 1940.</p>
<p>MY friend (who is a total B**ch right now after she got into Stanford) had 2000 on the SAT, did some extracurricular activities, had OK GPA, and also Asian (Vietnamese) and got in. That means you also have a good chance. Don’t be discourage !</p>
<p>And plus, you know what? No matter what school you go to, you’d still be great anyways. I think I pretty much will end in some UCs but still, you must have faith in yourself.</p>
<p>@asian75: Thanks for your encouragement, but that sounds too much “culturalrist”(lol, I’m not sure if I misspell this word). I don’t think we are counted as “minority” group at admission’s officers, since most Vietnamese people(born in Viet Nam, not Vietnamese-American) I know who got into Stanford are super crazy and we have quite a lot of those guys!(e.g: you may know Pham Kim Hung, a super mathlete who published an international-sold inequality book when he was in high school). Even if we’re counted as “minority”, I would rather be rejected than get into Stanford that way. To me, “getting in” means absolutely nothing if I actually “didn’t” qualify for it:)</p>
<p>@archi92: Is your friend Vietnamese-American? The problem with your story is, she got a much higher score on SAT than I did, though my ECs probably outlast hers(and most of applicants this year, seriously!).Did she apply for aid though? I guess she didn’t.</p>
<p>I have realized that Stanford is kind of indifferent towards test scores/GPA, etc. I mean, sure, they will look at them as qualifiers</p>
<p>ie: is this person ‘smart’?</p>
<p>But I don’t think they will look down at you if you have a 2000+. Many people at my school applied, and only the one with the lowest test scores/rank got in. This has been true for 3~ years, at least for my school. That leads me to believe that Stanford puts heavy emphasis on other parts of the application.</p>
<p>PS. I only read the first page of this thread, so if my info is irrelevant, I’m sorry :-).</p>
<p>Getting over a 2000 “only” does not make you an average joe. That kind of thinking is illogical. Not getting into Stanford doesn’t mean you aren’t special. Seriously.</p>
<p>Well I don’t want to get into Stanford to be “special.” I just really love the atmosphere and as known it’s a really good school although I have to admit… it will make me feel a little special ;)</p>
but overall it seems positive… I think.</p>
!</p>