would you submit an SAT score that is 10-30 points below 25th percentile?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My unhooked DD submitted a score 10 points below the 25th percentile with a little over 50% reporting. Accepted ED1. We asked AO and were told to submit. I think they’re increasingly mindful of their submitting percentage and want that over 50%. DC did not have amazing AP scores so just listed the award but didn’t submit those scores. If DC had a bunch of 5s, probably would have gone to for SAT. Calculate what is probably the approximate median SAT score for accepted students, presuming that all who didn’t submit were below the 25th percentile. Are you near the 50th percentile?

Did you show the AO the transcript too? Was this fine in a phone call or by email?
If email, how would you suggest phrasing the question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are all treating the scores like they are more important than they are. If the score is 20 points below "acceptable" then make sure the rest of the application is better to compensate

I'm really just asking whether to submit or not submit. We would put our best foot forward with the rest of the application regardless of the test score. It's not like if the score were above the 25th percentile, we would hastily assemble the rest of the application.

Fwiw:
My son did not have success with any T25 when submitting scores below 50% this cycle; he did have success at T25 when applying TO this cycle.
From a rigorous private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone had an honest conversation with an admissions officer about how they see this sort of situation? There seem to be two variables. One, the desire to make the scores higher for the class. Two, a genuine desire to understand the capabilities of the applicant.

I’d love to know this too.
And should the parent actually be having this conversation or should it be the student?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would

[Anonymous]

No. Definitely not.

[Anonymous]

OP: This is most unhelpful! Is there at least unanimous opinion that you submit if your score = 25th percentile?

Does anyone else perceive a mathematical problem here? Assuming the applicant pool has a stable test score profile, every year the bar will be raised, if every student who scores below the 25th percentile of the prior year does not submit. So 25th percentile this year will become the 1st percentile next year. Until finally only 1600s will submit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My unhooked DD submitted a score 10 points below the 25th percentile with a little over 50% reporting. Accepted ED1. We asked AO and were told to submit. I think they’re increasingly mindful of their submitting percentage and want that over 50%. DC did not have amazing AP scores so just listed the award but didn’t submit those scores. If DC had a bunch of 5s, probably would have gone to for SAT. Calculate what is probably the approximate median SAT score for accepted students, presuming that all who didn’t submit were below the 25th percentile. Are you near the 50th percentile?

Did you show the AO the transcript too? Was this fine in a phone call or by email?
If email, how would you suggest phrasing the question?

It was in person, which I think makes it easier. I’m not convinced they’d really answer via email because that puts it in writing. But if you have an opportunity for a call. That’s easier to do at a SLAC than a big school. Transcript wasn’t discussed but it was very strong.

[Anonymous]

It depends! Did they take it only once? My DD went TO and did not get into any of her top picks, but she got a 1380 and took the test only once, so I wonder if she should have submitted it after all — they would see she took it only one time and not 5 times like her peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends! Did they take it only once? My DD went TO and did not get into any of her top picks, but she got a 1380 and took the test only once, so I wonder if she should have submitted it after all — they would see she took it only one time and not 5 times like her peers.

Public or private school? That matters when TO.
If public, you need to submit AP.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Do you think it helps the application?

For context, it is a male applicant, with high GPA and rigor, at a need blind school. Strong ECs but not hooked.

Majors?

Not STEM

Yes, scores are must if in that range. Majority of non-stem are not able to score high.

Interesting--never considered that angle. But don't non-stem applicants do well on verbal? or do STEM applicants even outperform on verbal?

To the first first question, yes non stem applicants do well on verbal. Second question, no, STEM applicants do not typically outperform on verbal. Pp doesn’t know what they’re taking about

Do you have stats to back this up? The fact that they're STEM applicants doesn't mean they can't score highly on verbal. DC was a STEM applicant but scored pretty evenly accros the board.

[Anonymous]

What I find crazy here is that if a kid doesn’t submit a score, the obvious presumption is that he or she scored below 25th percentile. So it should come as a relief that the kid scored just below that threshold. Yet reporting the score could get the kid rejected because it hurts the school’s range of reported scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it helps the application?

For context, it is a male applicant, with high GPA and rigor, at a need blind school. Strong ECs but not hooked.

Majors?

Not STEM

Yes, scores are must if in that range. Majority of non-stem are not able to score high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think it helps the application?

For context, it is a male applicant, with high GPA and rigor, at a need blind school. Strong ECs but not hooked.

Majors?

Not STEM

Yes, scores are must if in that range. Majority of non-stem are not able to score high.

Interesting--never considered that angle. But don't non-stem applicants do well on verbal? or do STEM applicants even outperform on verbal?

My stem kid got a percent verbal score, so yes many do.

Posted by someone who would struggle if there was a logic section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I find crazy here is that if a kid doesn’t submit a score, the obvious presumption is that he or she scored below 25th percentile. So it should come as a relief that the kid scored just below that threshold. Yet reporting the score could get the kid rejected because it hurts the school’s range of reported scores.

That’s not always the presumption from the AO.
Have your kid talk to AO when they come to school. Give them the actual scores and gpa and ask for their opinion…

[Anonymous]

So much bad advice. If your kid really likes a school then apply. Just apply. The very worst that can happen is you will have wasted the application fee. Big deal! Chances are you wasted just as much money on carry-out or dessert or an Amazon impulse purchase.

If you are trying to protect your kid from hearing "No" at this age then you are not helping them transition to adulthood.