<p>And when looking at the middle 50th % SAT scores expatCanuck references in the CDSs, keep in mind that those figures reflect the scores of the enrolled students and not the accepted students. So……the middle 50th% of accepted students will be higher at a school with a lower yield. Not significantly, but I have seen a 30-50 point difference across each section for some schools. (Can you tell that I spent a bit too much time trying to make college admissions a data-driven process! A hopeless task….)</p>
<p>expat–I agree with your guess about where CB obtains the scores and think the same is true for Fiske, although complicated by publication date of Fiske guide and lags in reporting of CDS by colleges. As in, you can’t be sure if the 2014 Fiske guide includes Fall 2012 of Fall 2013 CDS figures.</p>
<p>And, agree with mathmom, as that is what I recall doing 30 years ago, to the extent that I recall anything from 30 years ago.</p>
<p>CollegeBoard must supplement its data by direct school request. Some schools (e.g. - Susequehanna) withhold their CDS, but cBoard still shows quite a few stats.</p>
<p>
Trying to wrap my head around this … in other words, if a school accepts (e.g.) 70% of students who apply, the displayed middle-50th will be higher than the student population who in fact attend (as contrasted with a school which admits(e.g.) 10%, in which case there will be little/no discrepancy)?</p>
<p>Expat—now you are trying to make me think too much! I have looked at it from the yield perspective, instead of the acceptance rate. As an example, Harvard has a very high yield, so most of the students who are accepted choose to attend. I would expect little variation between the middle 50th of accepted and enrolled students. </p>
<p>Using Lehigh as an example, only b/c I can put my finger on the #s, the Fall 2013 CDS reports CR 580-670 and Math 640-740. Their Class of 2017 summary (cannot locate URL as I saved as PDF) CR 620–720 SAT and Math 670–755. So, a 40-50 point difference in CR score and 50-35 points on Math (25th-75th range). Their acceptance rate and yield were both 31%. If yield were much higher, I would expect less of a variance between accepted and enrolled students.</p>
<p>Did that help of just confuse the matter more?</p>
<p>And, I agree that some schools really make it difficult to find the CDS. I could not locate it for Babson. Then there are some schools that list so much info. I love that MIT posts the RD acceptance rate of those deferred from the EA round. Not that knowing all of this will do me any good, but I felt that my son who had a relatively weak GPA needed to be sure his SAT scores were at or above the 75th. I am fully aware that scores are not everything but I figured it couldn’t hurt to have the scores in range for an otherwise unhooked applicant.</p>
<p>Thank you guys. I think I understand now how it works. Is anyone familiar with The Real SAT Study Prep book? I just bought that for him to read over and take sample tests.
<em>**One more question. Can my son qualify for first generation if I only have my associates and his dad died while in college so he did not finish his bachelors? And if he can apply first generation, does that really help or do you think it does not make a difference? Thanks for any thoughts as I am new to all of this!</em></p>
<p>In case the link is XX’d out—Official SAT Study Guide. It is blue. Book includes ten practice tests and I think the advice is to use the seven at the end first and save the first three for last and I can’t recall the explanation. Something about the first three being more ‘real’, but that that explanation with a grain of salt as I am uncertain. CB also includes one downloadable practice test on-line each year. It is often recycled from previous years so before you print it all out, make sure it does not already appear in the Blue Book.</p>
<p>I have no idea on your 1st G question. I wonder if the response would vary by college? It seems like there are so many criteria considered that it would be difficult to say how much one factor helps. (Geographic distribution, male/female depending on course of study, URM, athlete, 1st G in America, etc.)</p>
<p>My daughter had a 3.x unweighted (4.2 weighted - want to say unweighted was 3.3 or 3.4) and only a 28 on the ACT (worse SAT). She got accepted at University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, Wright State University, and Ohio State University. She even got into OSU’s engineering. She’s pretty much set on OSU unless something drastic happens. </p>
<p>Your child only counts as first generation if neither parent has any kind of degree. An associate’s counts as a degree as far as I know.</p>
<p>@jashton02 - I’ve heard of ‘The Real ACT Prep Guide’, and indeed purchased it for expatSon. It <em>did</em> help – he raised his composite score by a couple of points by doing the diagnostic tests & following some of the outlined strategies. And IMHO, I don’t think he made anywhere near optimal use of the book.</p>
<p>Depending on where a student starts & his/her diligence, most any guide will help. And I think that the lower one’s starting point, the more most any guide will help. Once one gets into more rarified territory (say, above the 90th percentile (which is where expatSon is for Reading & Science)), I’d expect that more focused guides/advice/prep is needed.</p>
<p>Op,
This book has the 10 real SATs, released by college board, for timed practice. There is also a SAT prep section on college confidential. Elaborating on what CT1417 said, the first 3 tests in the book give you and actual score. The last 7 tests will give you an estimated score range. Take test 1 first; then decide how you want to take the remaining 9 tests.</p>
<p>My oldest had a 3.5 gpa and a 26 on his ACT, but not much discussion is necessary when he is only applying to one college where he is auto-admit. I forced him to apply to a second in-state college just in case the Earth opened up and swallowed #1, but it was a wasted $50.</p>
<p>My D, a senior this year, is a little more academic with a 33 ACT so required a little more research and applied more broadly, though there is a high likelihood she will attend the same school as her older brother. In her case, the auto-admit comes with auto-merit money.</p>
<p>EDIT TO ADD: First-gen usually refers to a kid whose parents never enrolled in any college classes (first to attend, not first to graduate).</p>
<p>First-gen is different from college to college. Some said no college at all, others said an associate’s and others said a bachelor’s. For state schools, it won’t matter much for admissions, but could make a difference for scholarships. You’ll need to look at each college individually.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! I am going to have him try the books you all listed for studying the SAT and ACT. And tell him to just keep practicing the tests. It’s good to read examples of kids with similar GPAs and where they were accepted, denied so thank you for that! I wasnt sure if first generation was different for each college, or just general for all colleges, so thanks Yankee Belle!</p>
<p>stressedoutmama, did your daughter apply to the school of engineering for all of the schools she was accepted to, or just Ohio State? Also, should he apply to the school of engineering or undecided? Would applying undecided give him a greater chance of acceptance? Is there anyway you could apply to the school of engineering and be denied but accepted to the college? Thanks for any insight!</p>
</em></p>