<p>I read this somewhere on a forum post,
"Princeton likes kids with higher test scores whereas Harvard is looking for the most interesting person."
is this true? and if so, what kind of students do each ivy school most typically accept?
im just wondering since I'm a strong candidate for ivy league schools except the ONE thing holding me back is my sat scores (600/620/560). so im basically trying to find out the school to which after seeing that my sat scores are the only thing holding me back will still accept me on the basis of every other part of my app.</p>
<p>Good luck getting into any Ivy with those scores. </p>
<p>Each university looks for everything- they might weight GPA differently than test scores or whatever, but it really doesn't matter because they want EVERYTHING- talent, good GPA, good test scores, good essays, etc.</p>
<p>"I'm a strong candidate for ivy league schools except the ONE thing holding me back is my sat scores (600/620/560]"
Then realistically, you're not a strong candidate for Ivy's. Top GPA & SAT's are the first and most important "filters" when applying to top schools. In addition, they want students with talent, passion that they have shown committment to, good essays, etc. etc. So unless you are a DA at a particular Ivy, you need to widen you search.</p>
<p>What do you think makes you a strong candidate for Ivy League colleges (in general, with personally identifying details omitted)?</p>
<p>his chances thread...</p>
<p>A good GPA and EC's don't really make you a strong candidate... unless you have won Siemens or ISEF or something. Scores are extremely important. (Everyone who is a semi-qualified applicant AT LEAST has a 3.75-3.8 unweighted and decent EC's/awards.) However, if you're Native American or something like that, then you might get in solely because of that. Your scores may get you cut in the very first round, unless you have a humongous hook. Anyhow, it would be a good idea to only apply to one Ivy, if you must. The rest need to be reaches and matches that are not so high up. Good luck.</p>
<p>Scores are very low for the Ivies, sorry.</p>
<p>yeah u need to raise scores by like 500 points</p>
<p>How about you people respond in general to the original question? Of course everything is important but colleges are often renowned for their particular preferences</p>
<p>yea ur scores are too low. the first thing they look at are scores and gpa, and once i have an acceptable score and gpa, they look at everything else. but u still need to have the scores</p>
<p>okay in response to the original question, here are some preferences I've heard of for various ivy league schools:</p>
<p>Columbia-being a unique person, not very test scores driven
Penn- demonstrated interest, ED, why penn essay
Cornell- b/c it's a larger school it's more numbers oriented: test scores, gpa, etc.</p>
<p>If anyone else wants to add any other prefences for other schools, I think this thread could be more productive</p>
<p>YES, thanks lehcar. this isnt really about me. its about what the ivy's are generally known for or what das222 has said, "Of course everything is important but colleges are often renowned for their particular preferences"</p>
<p>so lets please stop talking about me and talk about the ivy's. thanks.</p>
<p>(btw my chance thread i started is so old like at least 6-7 months ago.)</p>
<p>hmmm well, your chances thread has a starting date written on there
09-03-2007, 02:31 PM</p>
<p>While SATs aren't everything, they are definitely something and, for many highly selective colleges, they are used to weed out the applicant pool. While other parts of your application clearly have some nice merit, your SAT scores place you in a very disadvantageous position. Considering that you have a CR/M SAT of 600/620 (and an Academic Index of 202 for a score of 3 out of 9), please understand how you compare to the students enrolling at the Ivies:</p>
<p>25th , 75th , Avg , </p>
<p>1370 , 1590 , 1480 , Princeton
1390 , 1590 , 1490 , Harvard
1390 , 1580 , 1485 , Yale
1330 , 1530 , 1430 , U Penn
1330 , 1540 , 1435 , Columbia
1350 , 1550 , 1450 , Dartmouth
1280 , 1490 , 1385 , Cornell
1350 , 1530 , 1440 , Brown</p>
<p>If you are an athlete (eg, running) or have some other significant hook, then perhaps you have a chance, but otherwise it appears that it will be difficult indeed.</p>
<p>richmerino -- I don't think you understand what others have said about the SAT scores being a filter.</p>
<p>Ivies get an enormous amount of applications -- and I can guarantee you that not every one of the thousands of applications gets the same amount for time for review. The school has to filter those applications in some way.</p>
<p>First filter -- SAT/ACT scores -- the SAT/ACT scores are the one factor that is standardized, so it is probably looked at very closely. The SAT/ACT score is "supposed" to predict how well a student will do at college. I am not going to argue whether that is true -- but it is looked at by colleges as a method to filter out those students that might not succeed at their school. In the case of a student whose SAT scores are questionable, they will look even more closely at the SAT II scores and the AP test scores. yours are not strong -- your strongest scores are in your native language, Spanish. </p>
<p>Only once a student has made it through that "filter" will his application really get some strong review time -- so that the admissions officer can see the other great qualities. personally -- I don't see you making it past that filter with those scores. My guess is that the filter is lower for URM, Developmental Candidates and recruited Athletes -- but I don't think it is low enough to help you.</p>
<p>Test scores get you in the door and are an equalizer. I recommend trying the ACT It seems to go better for students with low SATs but exceptional grades.</p>
<p>even recruited athletes will have higher scores than his.</p>
<p>I was wondering if any of you know what these "SAT cut offs" range around for the Ivies. Like I have 1480 CR+M and 790 W and a GPA around 4.4 would that make the cut at columbia princeton and dartmouth, the three that I'm applying for?</p>
<p>Yes, a 1480 would definitely make the "cut" at those schools. Just look at their middle 50% of scores. 1480 is in the middle 50% for all three of those schools.</p>