Oh how I wish there was a test that tested procrastination…big problem with two of my three kids! And while I do think the SAT’s and ACT’s are decent indicators of success in college, they definitely aren’t everything. I think studies show that GPA is much more indicative of success in college, and it sounds like that is the case with your daughter for sure. She sounds not only bright but also like she is a hard worker. The combination is sure to make her a success.
I agree that the ad coms don’t have the time to sift through all applications as holistically as they would like to and that someone must really stand out to get that deeper read. However, I do think the top schools must attempt to maintain their stats and will make sure the class that they accept more or less has the average test scores they are looking for. But there are always outliers that make it in for some special quality that pops out. That’s great for your daughter that she stood out.
I’m also glad your daughter didn’t stress herself out too much with test prep, didn’t kill the test, and still did so well. I hope that reassures some of the students that are reading this thread that they do not have to be defined by the SAT or ACT.
My middle child is my child that doesn’t procrastinate. She is graduating high school this coming Thursday and is the valedictorian of her class. People ask me all of the time if it was stressful for her and what it must have been like living with such an over-achiever. My response is always the same…she is no brighter than my other two, and probably no brighter than many of the kids in her high school. She made it look easy. The secret for her was her time management skills. She always started her homework as soon as she got home and started longer term projects ahead of time. She never really let herself get too stressed either. She just plowed through and wasn’t too hard on herself. If she felt she studied enough, she went to bed. I’m not sure there is any test in the world that could test for this quality.
As I type, my valedictorian is tucked away in bed…her brother is at the dining room table still studying for his math final. Her sister, who is taking an on-line summer college class, is up in her room trying to finish an essay that is due. Her brother and sister procrastinated which continues to cause them stress because they are trying to do well, but can’t seem to stop their self-destructive procrastinating behavior.