I was fortunate enough to get accepted into many of my reach schools. As of now, one of my reaches is definitely one-of-the top schools that I am considering attending. I like most of what it has to offer, and the variety of clubs, the mass people and the campus itself. The only problem I have is that, although my GPA was slightly higher than their average, my SAT just made it over the 25%. I’ve been told that SAT isn’t everything, but it definitely made me feel a little crushed that I didn’t do as well as I thought I could and that it was less than the schools admitted average.
I’d like to consider everything before I choose a school, and i’m sure this question is not very easy to answer, as there are many aspects that need to be taken place. But I know there are many people who have attended a reach school, and i’m just curious if you found it much harder than many of the other students and if you needed to put more time? Do you feel you could have been a bit more prosperous elsewhere, like a target or a safety school? Not being in the top of the class, did you feel that you were left out, or feel like a small fish in a big pond? Did you enjoy your time at the uni?
Maybe i’m overreacting a bit, especially since it was just the SAT, but the SAT is a major part of the application process. As I said earlier, i’d like to consider everything before choosing a school, and this was one of the questions I had in mind.
Admissions committtees are not in the business of making mistakes. They know that you have what it takes to be successful there, that is why you got in. If you can afford this place, and you really like it, trust the judgment of the admissions committee, and stop worrying about your SAT score.
For lots of fun reading on the utility, and lack thereof, of standardized test scores, see www.fairtest.org
As the other respondents have stated, the SAT score isn’t everything. However, I wouldn’t dismiss the concerns of the original poster out of hand. Some students do end up better in life by attending a less competitive college, as Malcolm Gladwell writes in his book David and Goliath. A lot depends on what major you are considering, whether you are planning to go to graduate or professional school, how you might perform in a more competitive environment, and the relative value to you of the signaling and human capital aspects of your college education.
We don’t know what the reach schools are and if this student has to apply to his/her major… or if it is direct entry. I know too many students who attended their reach school and subsequently did not get the major they wanted. When you have a very specific career goal, and have to apply to a competitive program that only accepts X amount of students, this can be a problem.
@Jven01 if your reach school is a state flagship and you will have to apply to a competitive five year OT program as a sophomore, it may be tough (SAT is not everything and it may not be tough, of course). Would you be prepared to give up OT or find another way to achieve this goal if you do not get in? I have seen this happen to students who attend their reach.
I don’t think we have enough information about the schools, major, career path etc. Did you get into Wharton and are stunned and nervous? That… I would understand .but I would tell you not to worry…Or… did you get into UDel as a reach and now have to apply to a very competitive nursing program alongside others who used it as a safety?
I don’t think we have enough information to answer the question.
Occasionally even a top student can find themselves in a situation where they are the weakest student in a class. This is an absolutely panic mode, self-esteem destroying circumstance. There’s nothing worse than a smart person feeling stupid. OPs reach schools mean that each section is loaded with former high school valedictorians and salutatorians. The minute the OP takes a course outside their specialties, it could get tough, fast. Tread carefully, tough call. Good luck.
Some kids do best as the big fish in the small pond, and panic or feel stupid if they’re the weakest in the class, doing their best work when they’re starting at the top.
Some kids do best as the small fish in the big pond, doing the bare minimum to maintain their desired grade if they start at the top, but digging deep and working their tails off if they start off way behind.
I recently had this same discussion with a senior who was shockingly admitted to UCLA through the ROTC program with a 3.4 GPA and a 1200 SAT. He mentioned the admittance in passing without any idea UCLA was a prestigious university! He and dad had simply Googled programs with an ROTC program one weekend in October and applied to them all. Even though it was a government sponsored full ride, we mutually agreed that Montana State would be a better fit. (For more reasons than just academic, I’ll concede).