I'm kind of disappointed in my SAT score..I got a 2210 (710 math, 690 CR, 800 writing) and was wondering if this is even close to competitive for Yale's RD pool. I'm a 1st generation college and a half hispanic student...
some encouragement would be nice but now I don't know if I should even bother applying
Mmm. So technically (for Yale), my CR:760, M:770, and W:690 puts me in the exact same (questionable) position as you.
It's okay... we'll weather our chances with the (mercy of) Yale admissions officers.
Guys, I get the feeling that @ CC, SATs are way overrated. We had 5 college presentations at our school from deans of admissions and admissions officers from BU, Suffolk (ok, i know, not that great), Swarthmore, Harvard and another one, and all said the same thing: SATs are not top on their list. The absolute top is grades, and SATs are the least important factor: they just allow colleges to get an overall view of the candidates, cuz it's the same test for all. The thing is, spiffystars you are within the Yale range of SAT scores, so it's neither gonna get you in, nor bring about ur rejection, IMO.
We've heard the same message, debate_addict. Admissions stats show many admits with less than perfect scores at top schools. CCers would do well to figure out what those kids are doing besides test prepping. My guess would be they are pursuing something of real interest and/or are engaged with other people in something productive. I'd also wager that these kids never had admission to a selective school in their minds when they planned their day, but were simply following their muse. I'm suspicious of kids who's passion is high standardized test scores. The world isn't a giant testing center but a place filled with people, music, real problems, mountains, and so on. The real measure is how you engage with the world, not with the SAT.
My observation is that CC has a lot of both extremes - people who think very high scores are enough, without realizing that high scores and grades are tablestakes for most applicants, and people who think that a middle-class non-legacy non-URM non-recruited-athlete with typical 'standard strong' ECs (ie: strong in the local context, but not outstanding in a national pool) can get by with very average scores (700 being below average in the Ivy league) and make up for it with great essays and other means of showing individuality.
All the books written by admissions officers including a recent one edited by a former senior Yale admissions officer say that at the top schools, one is playing with low odds with that assumption, but everyone hopes they'll be the person who beats the odds....
So my observation is that there's a lot of unfounded optimism at both ends of the spectrum...
Excellent post, Ailey. The OP is freaking out about a 2210. That's what concerns me most! If that score was acheived without sacrificing all other interests, then she should be able to write a mightly strong app!
Very true! And the OP has a bit of a URM hook, and a first-gen college tip, so I agree that focusing on turning in a great app is the right approach...(along with the usual caution never to fall in love with a school until after you have been admitted!)
thanks everyone.. I guess I am freaking over nothing.. I'm just going to let it be and focus on other things that are more important to me.
Good luck to anyone else applying!
And the OP has a bit of a URM hook, and a first-gen college tip, so I agree that focusing on turning in a great app is the right approach...(along with the usual caution never to fall in love with a school until after you have been admitted!)
