1730 ok for harvard?

ttan
Sat, 31 May 2008 19:47:46 +0000

Lionheaded-

So we do agree on one thing- that he should work on his SAT. However, you believe it is his #1 priority, while I believe it is #2 to ECs. (this goes back to your “Whoever told you that ECs were more important than SAT scores was trippin’ solid acid.”) One of my friends spoke the truth when he said that “GPAs and ECs take years to build, whereas the SAT takes a couple months to a year in extreme cases.” Colleges are starting to look towards ECs more and SAT less. Depending on the applicant pool, they take the high-achieving 2200 with rich ECs over the 2400 with little involvement. That’s stretching your words to an extreme, but the exaggeration proves my point of how SATs are becoming less as the most important admission factor and more as a reinforcement to academic success. I’m not staying he shouldn’t put in extensive study, but rather that he should take out hours he would devote to raising his (hypothetical) mid 2200 to a 2400 and put them into ECs.

And, as I said before, he is just beginning high school. A 17-- is obviously far below the average for competitive schools, but then again, how many of us scored a 22–/23-- when we were Freshmen??? I remember when I took the SAT in middle school (the old one), I got a humbling 1000/1600. Rohin shouldn’t be thinking too much (if thinking at all) about the SAT at this point-the most he should do is experiment to see where he’s starting at, something he has already done. As time goes on and he learns more in high school, he’ll most surely improve. I wouldn’t be surprised by a 190 or even 200 next year when he takes the PSAT. He shouldn’t be putting focus into getting a high score now- he will improve as time goes on and stressing now will only add unneeded pressure and take away precious time.

Another thing I have to remark is that my activities are seen as something for college, but I am not doing them/trying my best in them to get into Stanford (where I want to go). I became DECA State President not so it would look good on a transcript, but to prepare my self for my life after college. Back then, for me, it was a choosing SAT or DECA. I chose DECA. Believe as much as that as you want, but it’s how my life as been. A point about my life that should also be taken into consideration is that I did not dream/desire of going to a highly ranked university until right before Junior Year. Nonetheless, I was already committing tremendous amounts of time and energy to cello and swimming in Middle School. Maybe I’m one of few, but that is truly how it has played out. Or maybe it’s the drive and ambition seen among my family that makes us work hard not because of a goal but rather because it is the least we expect of ourselves.

Rohin- I strongly want to emphasize how you shouldn’t let your drive for Harvard consume everything you do. There is life outside of high school other than SATs, getting into college, etc. Make the most out of it. Enjoy it while you can, you only get one chance in life to go to high school =)

(but don’t think that means slack off or anything around those lines- always work hard and do your best! You can still have loads of fun in high school while working your @$$ off)