<p>For example, lets say you have scored a 2350 on the SAT and appear to be a solid student in mathematics, but there is another student who scored 2100 on the SAT who happened to complete original research in the field of topology that impresses a professor at Harvard. Guess who Harvard will be more excited about? (This happens more than you think!) If your only talent is scoring high on the SAT, you are not going to Harvard! Now a school like Harvard finds a number of genuinely talented and extraordinary students in a diversity of endeavors who actually score high on the SAT (some because they have been prepping for the SAT since grade 6), and that is why Harvards SAT average is so high. But understand that some 2400, 2300, 2200, 2100, or 1800 SAT scorers outshine other students with similar scores when it comes to talent and achievement (even at MIT and Caltech).</p>
<p>Consequently, since no one knows the extent of the talents and achievements of each applicant to Harvard better than Harvard does, stop comparing and judging the SAT scores of people who did or did not gain admissions. Yes, Harvard practices affirmative action, but the SAT scores of underrepresented minorities at the school meet and often exceed the ranges that some of you suspect. More importantly, each of these students demonstrates considerable or extraordinary talent and achievement along with the range of SAT scores Harvard likes to see.</p>