<p>Hi I’m an Asian. my current SAT score is 2290. My ECs are decent but not spectacular so EC alone cannot guarantee me a place in Yale. I know I’m in the most competitive demographic group. Every Asian seems to have at least 2350. Should I sit for SAT again? Taking SAT just wears me out but if it’s necessary, i will retake it. </p>
<p>Another question. Do you think the undergrad education experience is substantially better than that in Dartmouth/Duke/Amherst?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wouldn’t bother. Your scores are high enough. College admissions are not a competition to see who can get the highest SAT score. </p>
<p>As for the relative merits of the schools you mentioned, they’re all top-notch schools, and you’re going to need to do your own research to see which ones are the best fit for you – the culture at each school is quite different. One easy thing you can do as a first step is to make sure the schools have strong academic offerings in your field of interest, if you have chosen one.</p>
<p>And for the record, since you asked a bunch of Yalies, of course Yale is infinitely superior to any of those other schools ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I’m interested in economics and all the schools I mentioned have pretty strong econ department. I’ve done my research and I don’t favor one school culture over another. </p>
<p>And precisely bcos it’s in yale forum, I really want to hear what u say from ur experience. Is there anything that can make yale stand out from all the schools I mentioned? I’ve read a lot about things like “you’ll be surrounded by AMAZING people” "YALE is peerless in brand name " Any other things?</p>
<p>And I’m not terribly interested in arts so yale’s vibrant art scene may not appeal to me a lot.</p>
<p>And are yalies focusing more on extra curriculum like harvardians, or focusing more on academics like MIT or Pton students? </p>
<p>I know many yale students go on to pursue phd after graduation so many are really those academic type. But I also heard a conflicting view that because of grade inflation, yale are less vigorous academically. Which one is more true?</p>
<p>^^^ You really need to do some more research about selective college admissions at schools such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton and MIT. </p>
<p>First off, harvardians ARE NOT focused on extracurrriculars, and Princeton and MIT students are NOT more focused on academics. Those are generalizations that are simply not true!</p>
<p>Second, please read this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html</a>. Although the advice is about Harvard, it could just as easily apply to Yale, Princeton, or MIT.</p>
<p>Lastly, use google to find out what makes Yale unique: <a href=“what makes yale unique - Google Search”>what makes yale unique - Google Search;
<p>Thanks you so much!! Maybe I read too much stereotypes about students in each school XD</p>
<p>The reason why I’m worried abt my SAT score is that all the Asian Yale admits that I know so far all have very very high SAT scores. So I’m just afraid my chance will be severely diminished by a relatively low score in this demographic group. But thank you anyway. You are really super helpful :)</p>
<p>Schools use test scores as an indicator of “college readiness.” The lower a student’s SAT/ACT score, the more an Admissions Director will ask themselves, “If I admit this kid, will he struggle with the work-load on my campus? Will s/he become a ‘B’ student or a ‘C’ student?” If I had to pick a “safe” number, it would be 2100. Admissions Committee’s assume that students with a 2100+ SAT (or the ACT equivalent) are prepared to meet the challenge of college work. That’s why it’s important to remember that the higher your score, the more a committee will think you can succeed at their institution.</p>
<p>That said, test scores are really secondary to teacher recommendations, guidance counselor’s Secondary School Report (SSR), essays, extracurricular activities and “wow” factors. My kids are perfect examples of how subjective and random the applications process really is. My daughter had a 2280 SAT and was rejected from Yale and Princeton, but accepted to Harvard. My son had a 36 ACT and was rejected from Harvard (even though his sister attends there), but accepted to Yale and Princeton. Does it make sense? Not from my point of view, but whatever thought process went into the decisions, I’m fairly certain that test scores were secondary to whatever the Admissions Committee’s were looking for.</p>
<p>You’ve cited your Asian heritiage a number of times. What you need to do to stand out amongst the other highly qualified (and perhaps high SAT scoring) Asians is to stop being test obsessed like them. Like Gibby says: your scores get you in the door. Your next step is to be unique. What will you bring to the college besides the fact that you’re studious?</p>
<p>I was accepted to multiple Ivies despite having a SAT/ACT about the 30th percentile of the entering classes. But I had a compelling and atypical story than other Asian applicants. What’s your story? You may or may not have one, to be frank. This is your hurdle.</p>
<p>Thanks guys! Maybe because of all the stereotypes( may be true) about Asians, I fall into that trap. Your posts really enlightened me! Thanks!</p>
<p>You also have to remember that colleges are looking to build a vibrant community of people who will be together for an entire four-year period. Do you think they’re going to use people’s performance on a single Saturday morning to construct this community? As the above posters have noted, not once the applicants in question score within a certain range. You’re definitely in this range. At this point, you should continue to do what you love outside the classroom and try to develop a passion for it. This in and of itself should set you apart, as so many student nowadays are focused on resume-building and doing activities just to get into an elite college. Next, you’ll have to write sincere essays which discuss something meaningful to you in a writing style that reflects your own voice. When you write these essays, focus not on getting in but rather on representing yourself authentically.</p>