Anonymous wrote:1490 vanderbilt. But then his brother did not get into vandy with better allover application and 35 ACT. Differnce was first kid wanted to be ( and is now) a high school chem teacher

Did he submit that score?

No one is getting rejected from a top 20 school because they "only" scored a 1490. That's 98th percentile, which is good enough for everywhere. Very often, students scoring in the 1400s bring outstanding ECs and colleges very much want those students. Even over students with a 1590 who aren't really bringing anything else to a college campus.

That being said, a high score is always better. If the kid is hitting a wall with the SAT, have them try some timed practice ACT tests. Generally, the ACT is easier, but faster. The SAT is harder, but slower. Different students have different preferences. And it often makes a difference at the marginal levels - 20 to a 100 points on the SAT or two or three points on the ACT. Every student will prefer one over the other.

And colleges don't care at all whether you take an official test once or five times. The score is just a data point. But obviously, being one and done is more efficient for the student, given all the demands on time for juniors and seniors applying to competitive colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has near perfect grades, excellent rigor, strong and unique but not mind-blowing extracurriculars, but hasn't been able to crack 1500 on the SATs. Verbal score is higher than math but not by all that much. Where did your kid with this profile end up (or get in and seriously consider attending)?

UVA. Brown. We chose UVA for obvious reasons.

LOL.

DCUM never fails to amuse.

If you aren’t chosing a school based solely on prestige, many kids will pick UVA (or Michigan, UCLA, or UNC) over an Ivy. I know people here don’t believe this, but social kids recoil after visiting some of these campuses. And you “LOL,” but Brown is 40% LGBTQ. That is a completely different school vibe for a heterosexual male than you get from a school like UVA. It is ok to prefer a big state school!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no one should be surprised at high 1400 kids getting into top schools. It is a holistic process. They will beat out higher scorers who don’t offer as much.

This is lost by many on this board, but 100 percent accurate.

All the time!

Junior year response: one and done, 1580!!

Senior year response: My 1580, 4.5 gpa was shut out of every ivy

Same person responding.

Meanwhile, my 1490 kid is at an Ivy.

Thanks OP for this post. Kid has a 1490 not superscore (3rd time taken, 1st two times score was around 1420). Wants to take it again to try for the 1500. Don't think that's smart but maybe we're wrong? Other kid had a 33 superscore on the ACT and ended up at UVA. It's hard to know if the high 1400s is enough for what our 2nd wants.

Columbia PP here. I was surprised where my kid got in with his score but agree I guess with the others here that his ECs - cool/all connected/ tied to service - were what got him in. He’s also a good writer and could kind of tie it all together with his essays.

But, and maybe this belongs to a different Lessons Learned thread, my older kids didn’t get into such prestigious schools and they are okay! Doing great! It’ll all work out, DCUM friends. Hard to remember especially with your first kid, but I promise it will!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents think they need to check all the boxes and 1500+ SAT is one of them.

The same parents who told me DC lost chances at a too school without AP Chem and AP Bio and AP Physics.

The whole process is so unpredictable and leaves so little room for individual agency. People understandably obsess over the few things they feel they can quantify and control.

Not me, but ok.

Anonymous wrote:Parents think they need to check all the boxes and 1500+ SAT is one of them.

The same parents who told me DC lost chances at a too school without AP Chem and AP Bio and AP Physics.

The whole process is so unpredictable and leaves so little room for individual agency. People understandably obsess over the few things they feel they can quantify and control.

Parents think they need to check all the boxes and 1500+ SAT is one of them.

The same parents who told me DC lost chances at a too school without AP Chem and AP Bio and AP Physics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no one should be surprised at high 1400 kids getting into top schools. It is a holistic process. They will beat out higher scorers who don’t offer as much.

This is lost by many on this board, but 100 percent accurate.

OP here, this makes sense for some extraordinary kids. But I’d assume that for most, being below the 25th percentile for admitted student SAT scores is unlikely to work out.

Yes, of course but top schools are looking for those extraordinary kids and it makes these kids stand out. A 1580, 4.5 kid without more does not stand out. And by "more" I don't mean SGA, 2 varsity athlete, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no one should be surprised at high 1400 kids getting into top schools. It is a holistic process. They will beat out higher scorers who don’t offer as much.

This is lost by many on this board, but 100 percent accurate.

OP here, this makes sense for some extraordinary kids. But I’d assume that for most, being below the 25th percentile for admitted student SAT scores is unlikely to work out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no one should be surprised at high 1400 kids getting into top schools. It is a holistic process. They will beat out higher scorers who don’t offer as much.

This is lost by many on this board, but 100 percent accurate.

All the time!

Junior year response: one and done, 1580!!

Senior year response: My 1580, 4.5 gpa was shut out of every ivy

Same person responding.

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely no one should be surprised at high 1400 kids getting into top schools. It is a holistic process. They will beat out higher scorers who don’t offer as much.

This is lost by many on this board, but 100 percent accurate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has near perfect grades, excellent rigor, strong and unique but not mind-blowing extracurriculars, but hasn't been able to crack 1500 on the SATs. Verbal score is higher than math but not by all that much. Where did your kid with this profile end up (or get in and seriously consider attending)?

UVA. Brown. We chose UVA for obvious reasons.

great choice.

Anonymous wrote:DC has near perfect grades, excellent rigor, strong and unique but not mind-blowing extracurriculars, but hasn't been able to crack 1500 on the SATs. Verbal score is higher than math but not by all that much. Where did your kid with this profile end up (or get in and seriously consider attending)?

UMD. Graduating next year with 4.0.