<p>I saw this on the Sparknotes about caltech’s admission:</p>
<p>ADMISSIONS FACTORS:
Very Important
Extracurricular activities
Character/personal qualities
Secondary school record
Talent/ability
Important
Essay
Recommendation(s)
Considered
Minority status
Class rank
Standardized test scores
Volunteer work
Work experience</p>
<p>Stannardized test scores is only considered? let’s say if i have taken some good number of science and math courses at nearby college, will take balance off my low SAT score?(verbal and writing)</p>
<p>I think SAT scores are only “considered” because most people have very strong SAT scores – it’s just not something you can use to distinguish between smart applicants and phenomenal applicants. I think Ben has said before that anything below 1520 raises red flags. Below that, as halfthelaw says, it depends how low.</p>
<p>Edit: I just realized that 1520 is an old SAT score. You’ll have to search Ben’s posts, or wait for him to come by, to find out what’s expected on the new SAT.</p>
<p>Minority status shouldn’t be on that list; I don’t think it’s taken into account at all, and performance on standardized tests is certainly weighted more heavily than minority status.</p>
<p>As for SAT scores, you should always, definitely get above a 700 on the math, a bove 750 preferable but not absolutely essential. If you’re a native speaker of English, you should get at least a 700 on the verbal reasoning section, but if you’re not, then above a 600 will often do. (However, if your verbal score is on the low side, your math score should probably compensate). The writing part doesn’t matter all that much, just don’t embarrass yourself.</p>
<p>alleya’s explanation for why SAT scores are only “considered” is exactly right. They get you past the first cut, but beyond that, other things make the difference.</p>
<p>Ironically enough, my math score was the lowest of my SAT scores. It still wasn’t that low, but it’s anecdotal evidence (if that’s not a contradiction in terms) that there are other, more important parts of the application.</p>
<p>It’s like a chair, if one leg’s not that strong, the other three have to be stronger to support it. However, if it’s too weak, it’ll just snap and make it off-balanced.
Like for me, my SAT scores were around 2200 which if you do the math is not above 1500 in the old scale, but I had very strong research experience, teacher recommendations (make your guidance counselor know who you are) and personalized (for caltech) essays which got me in early action.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the responses! As for my SAT score, i have a 780 on math, but i could get a 800 next time if i bring my watch -_- and 500 on the verbal. So if i raise my verbal score to 600, would i pass the SAT requirement?</p>
<p>Yes, there is no SAT requirement. A 780 in math is fine, you don’t need an 800. I would highly suggest that you raise your verbal score significantly, especially if you are a native english speaker.</p>
<p>If you’re not a native english speaker, you still need to raise the score, but you also need to take TOEFL.</p>
<p>From caltech’s website:
If your native language is not English, and you have not studied for at least two years in an English-speaking country, we encourage (but do not require) you to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).</p>
<p>By the time i apply to caltech, i will have studied in US for two and half years. Do i still need to take TOEFL?</p>
<p>If you did take the TOEFL and got a good score, it would help compensate for your SAT verbal. But since you’re a nonnative speaker, even a 500 is not particularly bad for you (especially since you only arrived in the US recently).</p>
<p>I disagree slightly with #5; Minority status is /not/ considered by the student-influenced portions of admissions (early and regular), but when it comes to the wait-list, admissions staff are allowed to ‘shape’ the incoming class slightly… you still need to be good enough to get in, but extra factors are considered</p>
<p>Is 500 on the verbal considered acceptable by most colleges?(refer to post 13) Because i ll apply to other schools other than caltech, (although caltech is my TOP choice) i don’t know if my score is ok for other not so science oriented colleges. If not, what are some good verbal scores for intls?</p>
<p>I am going to say this I was more than likely the odd one out in this years class. I had low SATs like 1290 low but I got in off the waitlist. I assumed with those SATs my I would have no chance but I kept getting second chances. Moral of this story is apply and see what happens. the only thing you have to loose is the $60.</p>