Don't Stress About Scores

Colleges & Universities Yale University
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<p><em>I’m writing this to not show off or make students with high scores angry. I’m doing this to show everyone that scores are truly not everything, and that a number will not hold you back</em></p>

<p>I attend a low-income school where the majority of students don’t go on to college, and less than half of those who go, go on to attend a four-year institution. My school only focuses on state exams and pushing the students to graduate on time. With this fact, standardized testing is not stressed at all. My school is definitely not the only one out there like this as I am sure there are thousands of other schools across the country like mine. </p>

<p>Students who thrive to succeed in this environment often share a dream that is often unnerving: they want to attend a great university (for academic and financial purposes) to escape. This daunting task is troublesome for all, but for students where resources are limited, they are starting the race of college admissions a mile behind. A major hindrance in this race to the finish is standardized testing.</p>

<p>For my school, the average SAT score is in the low 1200s and the average ACT score is an 18 (I’m sure other schools fit this description). When students who have aspirations to go to a great school go to school with such low expectations, they are confused with how they will do in the college process. They excel in the environment that they live in, and when scores come back they surpass their high school’s average, but unfortunately do not meet their dream school’s average. </p>

<p>This is a problem that a lot of students worry about. I stressed over it countless times, but in the end I realized it was a waste of time. Scores are scores. Granted they are a part of your application, but they are not everything. As students we need to realize that scores are only ONE PART of our application to college, and we should focus on other aspects such as grades, extracurricular activities, and the essays more heavily.</p>

<p>Although I stressed over my low scores, I put a major focus on the other parts of my application. I made sure I took a course-load that was vigorous, but also made me happy. I will have taken 8 APs by the time I graduate, but I made sure I took classes that I thoroughly enjoyed to keep me sane.</p>

<p>For my extracurriculars, I put my all into them. I played to varsity sports, followed my love of art, volunteered, did student government, and was able to conduct research. With passion for my research project, I was able to win awards at competitions. Coming from a town like mine to compete in research competitions, let alone conduct science research, was a feat I pushed myself to do. It is an extracurricular where everyone is truly brilliant and have standardized scores to match, and being up to par with students who I thought were so smart was amazing and daunting at the same time. </p>

<p>I also spent a lot of time on my essays, as well. I had numerous people read them to critique, and took every criticism openly. In the end, however, I wrote the essay how I wanted to. Some bashed it, and told me to completely change it, but I kept it because it was my voice that was in that essay and that what a college should see if they are reviewing my application.</p>

<p>With all the time I put into grades, extracurriculars, and essays, I didn’t do the same for the ACT/SAT. I rarely studied. I know I will probably get bashed for this, but I put my all into all the other things I never took out time to study.</p>

<p>When it comes down to it, everyone should follow their passion with extracurriculars, keep good grades, and pour their heart into their essays. THESE are the parts that make your application YOU. These are the parts that made me, ME. </p>

<p>I got a 29 on my ACT, an 1800 on my SAT. I put my all in my extracurriculars. I kept good grades. I made sure my essays had my voice in them. And I was completely and utterly blessed to be accepted into the Yale Class of 2015. </p>

<p>Seeing the Bulldog and hearing the music is a moment I will never forget. I was completely shocked that I, a student from the town that everyone believes no one succeeds, was accepted. Being accepted, showed me that scores truly aren’t everything. It made me realize that with every SAT/ACT average that a school puts up on their website there are 25% of admitted students below that average. Schools want students with character that will do their best with what they have and have a passion for something. Find that passion and indulge yourself in it, and trust me you’re golden. I understand standardized test scores are a part of one’s application but it is not a major hindrance if you have other stuff to prove that you can and do succeed. If you are one of the people who are scared about having your score below average for a school (like myself), don’t stress over it. Every school has students with scores below that average. Why can’t you be one of them?</p>

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<p>I love it. I agree completely, and I utter to people how much more important the rest of the APP is than the scores themselves. The way I see it is if you’re within the 50% range or a little below the 25% give it a shot. Kudos!</p>

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<p>@WantsToLeave, do you have hooks that you are aware of? For example, URM (underrepresented minority), athletics, legacy, first-generation college?</p>

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<p>lol. of course someone would ask if he’s “hooked”</p>

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<p>1029384: Look up his prior posts. He is Hispanic.</p>

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<p>Lol @ 1029384. Not even a ‘congratulations’?</p>

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<p>Awesome WantsToLeave (and now your username makes complete sense :)), very happy for you. I may see you there :)</p>

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<p>Yes, 1029384, I’m an URM. I’m the first male to attend college, but I don’t think that counts for anything.</p>

<p>Thanks Idiosyncra3y! Hopefully we do! =]</p>

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<p>Congrats! I think it’s really awesome what you were able to accomplish.</p>

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They do. Regardless, congratulations.</p>

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<p>Agree with Jersey, they do and congratulations In addition, the fact that you attended an underserved HS counts as well. Please read some of the threads on the Hispanic Students forum for some comments about how college admissions assess Hispanic applicants.</p>

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<p>can you tell me more about the song that’s played with the bulldog? i wanna make sure that IN CASE i got accepted, i’ll hear it too :smiley: but since the admissions decision reaches you by e-mail, i’m having a hard time imagining how the sound is supposed to work. thanks and sorry to steal the post</p>

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<p>^ The e-mail tells you to open another site and log-in. There you’ll see your decision. If you get the song, you’ll hear it on the acceptance page. Just make sure you have your sound on :)</p>

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<p>^^ You access your decision by logging in on the Yale admissions page, not by e-mail.</p>

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<p>Entomom: I understand that being an URM “helps” I said “I don’t think that counts for anything” for being the first male to attend college, but I guess know that it helps, as well.</p>

<p>inb4bs: Yea you get your decision on the admission website. The song, if I heard correctly is “Bulldogs, bulldogs, bow wow wow, Eli Yale” haha. Anyone can correct me if I’m wrong.</p>

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<p>Congrats WantsToLeave! Kind words for all. However, if I may caution. I recruit at a large urban district. Your words would well serve potential applicants from my recruiting pool. However, you also need to understand that many Yale applicants are not in a similar situation as yours. </p>

<p>My daughter (who’s also a legacy) is definitely going to need superior SATs to be considered. She’s an all A student in a very well resourced school district. But her evaluation is necessarily different than the context of the same kid at the top nearby urban high school. I understand it completely. </p>

<p>To randomly say “don’t stress about your scores” without looking at the bigger picture would be too optimistic, IMHO. For many, scores are and will be a detrimental factor.</p>

<p>Enjoy New Haven!!!</p>

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<p>^ Exactly. The story is cute and all, but a blanket statement that anyone can get in with low scores is going to do more harm than good.</p>

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<p>WantsToLeave, my most sincere congratulations! This was a beautiful and inspirational post. It bothers me greatly that people have to ask “whats your hook” etc etc. Theres so much more than that and so much more to the application. And you’re a great example of it.</p>

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<p>Lola122–</p>

<p>When athletes are admitted because of their sport, they take pride in it. When you and Wantstoleave are in all likelihood admitted because you are Hispanic, why do you work so hard to deny it?</p>

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<p>I totally agree with T26E4. The reason why I referred the OP to the Hispanic students forum is because they would see there that even within Hispanic candidates, many factors (eg. country of origin, SES, first gen, HS attended, etc.) affect how much leeway on things like test scores a student will be given.</p>