<p>As a URM, is it "worth it" to prepare very well for the SAT's, perhaps hire a tutor with some money one has worked for, and rock the SAT or will adcoms see that as a place where AA does not apply given the high SAT score (even if my PS is all about the disadvantages posed as being a URM)? </p>
<p>And what about colleges (Amherst) that do not require the SAT's?</p>
<p>This is just sad. So you’re a URM and you want to utilize that status fully, so you want to do worse than you possibly could on the SAT so they can pity you and blame it on society’s influence rather than your actual learning potential.</p>
<p>People like you are the reason that AA is such a controversial topic.</p>
<p>No, I’m not saying that at all. I am going to do my best on the SAT regardless. My question is if it’s worth it to improve one’s SAT score beyond an already good score by paying for extra tutoring and practice, reason being that a higher score is obviously better but on the contrary could warrant some speculation as to whether or not one is “truly” a URM. </p>
<p>In other words, if I already have a good score, should I do everything within my power to get an even better score which might include spending saved up money for a tutor or will this just be seen as “upper middle class supposed URM” (even if that is not the case at all)?</p>
<p>You took things completely out of context-- obviously to promote your agenda.</p>
<p>Lol. Yeah my agenda. Thats it. </p>
<p>You want to know whether getting the best score you possibly can on a standardized test will affect their perception of you as a URM? So if you test high enough, you think they’ll consider you a normal applicant? URM status is the same regardless of w/e you score. The fact that you can pay for private tutoring however, undercuts your essays purpose about overcoming the URM experience.</p>
<p>That isn’t true by any means. URMs who score on par with non-URM applicants are considered to have had the same socioeconomic advantage which as you said undercuts the value of URM-status. As I said before, working to save up money to actually afford tutoring is what’s going on here. I’m simply asking if I should bother, not getting into an AA debate.</p>
<p>I don’t think your assumptions are true: </p>
<p>high SAT score => assumed mid to high SES => undercutting of URM status</p>
<p>AOs know that a high SAT score can be accomplished many ways: very smart kid who is a good test taker, expensive prepping by tutor, inexpensive prepping ala Xiggi’s method, etc. A high SAT score is always good, period.</p>
<p>A student’s SES is assessed many ways: the HS attended, zip code, content of essays, ECs, FA information if need aware, etc. These are the things that will tell an AO if a student has had socioeconomic advantages or has had obstacles to overcome, not their SAT score.</p>
<p>IMO the SAT score and SES can potentially affect URM status in various ways and can only be assessed given the entire application.</p>
<p>As far as your question about raising your SAT score, if you’re a jr transfer it doesn’t seem worth the effort as your college record will be more important. It also depends on what your already ‘good’ score is and what else you could be doing with your time and money to show what kind of applicant you are.</p>
<p>That’s one of the worst syllogisms I’ve ever seen. I think the admissions process steals intelligence away from kids. Does anyone really think the admissions counselors sit there and say “hm. This URM has a 1600. He must had enjoyed normal white privilege, because no way is the SAT in anyway a reflection of individual ability; no admissions preferences for him.” A high SAT score is always better than a low one, just like: n+1 > n</p>
<p>Easy’s got it right.</p>
<p>just get the best score you can afford to get (if there is room for significant improvement, and you can afford to spend your saved money…). they aren’t going to say that you must of had tutoring, you can still write your essays about whatever you want, they’ll never know or care that you had a tutor. if anything (though this could be a little risky), you could write essays about having to work to save money to enjoy the same academic privileges that your peers do</p>
<p>btw, are you a transfer, if so why are you worrying about sat scores, especially if you already have a “decent” one</p>
<p>lol, you gotta love his logic. Good thing he’s not taking the LSAT.</p>
<p>I’m sorry I was so harsh but your proposal just seems ridiculous. You can achieve a high score through hard work and tutoring and w/e and still maintain w/e innate advantage you have because of w/e. Different factors determine that.</p>
<p>What you’re basically saying is that an adcom will see your lower score and say, Oh he’s a URM, let’s give him points for even getting this high. </p>
<p>You kind of embarrass the people who actually want to score higher but can’t because of limited resources and such – by thinking the way you do. If you can utilize the resources, then do it.</p>
<p>Read some good books. Don’t waste money on SAT prep. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/447748-do-you-really-believe-expensive-test-prep-courses.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/447748-do-you-really-believe-expensive-test-prep-courses.html</a></p>