I would appreciate an objective answer to whether the top schools (ie. Ivy League’s, CMU, Duke, Stanford, MIT) truly use a wholesome approach to the application process, and read every student’s essays.
The school of my dreams is Penn, and I would like to know whether my application will be thrown out due to my scores before my essays and individual accomplishments are actually read and considered.
I scored a 1460 on my SAT1600, and SatMath2: 740 and SATPhysics: 740
I have never been a strong believer of using a test score to determine a student’s value and ability, however, I realize its importance in the application process. I think I have done some pretty cool and impressive things outside of my scores and plainly put, I want to know that my application will not be thrown out because of my scores and that my accomplishments will be considered.
At the more competitive schools, standardized test scores serve as a threshold that must be passed in order for the rest of your application to be considered holistically (schools use a “holistic approach” not a “wholesome approach,” btw; there ain’t nothing “wholesome” about the admissions process). Your scores certainly pass that threshold.
@abmp22
First, the thing that is probably most difficult to recover from is a combination of a low gpa and lack of rigor. I would put test scores third.
Second, while a 1460 is not amazing on cc:, but it is a very good score, and clearly not instant elimination level. I would be willing to bet that every school you list will have some students admitted with your score.
Essays definitely carry significant impact, however test scores from what i’ve heard from past admissions officers are more important than schools lead on --especially at a school like Penn which is super Math heavy. It definitely looks like your scores are in the safe range though, so that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Have you looked into taking an ACT to see if you score higher?
1500 seems to be the bottom of the mid-50th percentile. You are going to need to be extremely strong in other areas, and probably be hooked. I would take the test again, and have a list with match and safety schools.
