siserune

That's it in a nutshell. There are more like 6000-8000 unhooked places, and the number of high scorers is larger than 250 due to the uncertainty of scores and the use of per-section highest scores compressing the range. The guy with 2350 might be better at testing than the one with 2400. The calibration becomes better when you add more tests, so 2400 is really a shorthand for very high performance on the SAT I + II + AP + (whatever else). People with perfect SAT were getting in at around 40 percent probability at Harvard over the years, 40-60 percent at other Ivy League schools, Duke about 50 percent for 2300+ SAT, 60 percent for 2350+ SAT. Add 10-20 percent to these numbers for applicants with grades in the top decile of one's high school (RP and Early Admissions Game study data that I mentioned in recent threads).

That's per school. Unless there's something about an applicant that shuts him out of all the top schools, the numbers game is overwhelmingly in favor of acceptance at one or more of the best schools for someone with OK grades and monster scores.

BananaSandwich15

a 2400 SAT is not a real accomplishment. sorry.

You're good at taking a standardized test. That says nothing to your leadership ability, concern for the community, ability to thrive in college, ability to succeed... so id say it's certainly possibile especially if the SAT score is all the student has.

schee410

How is getting a perfect score on a test, any test, NOT an accomplishment?

All tests are the same in that they test your proficiency in a certain area.

BananaSandwich15

it's an accomplishment, but not a significant one.

how does a perfect SAT score help you in life? it may get you into a good college. maybe. but it won't do anything else. so after a while it won't mean crap.

like i said before having a perfect SAT score does in no way shape or form predict your success in college or in life. it just means your good at taking a standardized test

Hunt

But note that she wasn't so arrogant that she only applied to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. It may be that some of the top stats students are in fact rejected by all the Ivies to which they applied.

noimagination

A valedictorian at my school a few years ago (great grades, ECs, etc.) applied to nothing but Ivy League schools. He was rejected at all of them and had to attend UAA for a year before transferring.

Moral: apply to more than the US News top 10.

tokenadult

Saying that a 2400 on the SAT isn't an accomplishment is about like saying that a gold medal in the 100 meter dash at the Olympics isn't an accomplishment. Sure they are both accomplishments. Nay-sayers who can't do either accomplishment shouldn't deride either accomplishment.

BananaSandwich15

a standardized test for US children is certainly not on the same level as a world wide competition like the olympics and certainly not as important. though with that logic it could be argued that an olympic medal means nothing. actually it could be true unless the athlete's medal somehow effected the world or his country. then it would matter

i said it wasn't a significant accomplishment and it isn't

whatever. there is no point in fighting. we'll just disagree.

IBfootballer

Ok, fine.

a 2400 SAT score shows that you are able to think critically, analytically, and quickly on a variety of subjects and over a long period of endurance. You can solve difficult math problems, understand the intricacies of literature, have an extensive lexicon, and have a very good mastery of the specifics of the english language. Any idiot can't get a 2400. It takes a person who is very, very smart.

That said, it should not be a guarantor of admission. These very selective colleges don't have to have a reason that seems fair to you in order to reject you. They can take anyone they want for any reason.

silverturtle

"a 2400 SAT is not a real accomplishment. sorry."

I don't think that the SAT is a great measurement, but your statement goes too far.

mikemac

I don't think it is meant to be taken literally, just to mean that top schools can reject very strong (on paper) candidates.

1down, 1 to go

I think the 2400 scorers who have trouble with admissions often do not have the high GPA to correspond with the high SAT score. I know 2 boys with B averages but perfect SAT scores......

lockn

There are actually real numbers somewhere for students in that situation? Can this data be found online?

ChaoticOrder

a 2400 SAT score shows that you are able to think critically, analytically, and quickly on a variety of subjects and over a long period of endurance. You can solve difficult math problems, understand the intricacies of literature, have an extensive lexicon, and have a very good mastery of the specifics of the english language

difficult math? lol it's not like they put thought-provoking math questions on there: the AMC 12 has more depth than the math on the SATs. I do think that those who perfect it are smart, but so are those who score 2100 +. How can one distinguish the intelligence of a perfect scorer and those with 2100+? The difference in questions correct on a saturday morning achievement test?--because that's what it's evolved into over the years, not an aptitude test.
Additionally, I don't see what a 2400 does for success beyond college admissions. i doubt that every single nobel prize winner/ field's medalist was a perfect scorer on the SAT-- i guess they weren't as accomplished as those elite perfect scorers.

IBfootballer

You can get a lot more problems wrong on the AMC 12 and still end up with an excellent score, whereas with the SAT, the margin of error for the top scores is very, very slim.

I did not say that a 2400 on the SAT is the supreme accomplishment. But it is definitely a very substantial one.