@NYTOTX how did it go last night?
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IMVHO, a score of 1400 should be submitted. In that population of students (those w/ 1400-1600 scores), I think what sets a student apart from the rest are not 70 point test score differences, but everything else. I’d rather admit a student w/ 1400 score who appears well-rounded than a 1470 whose only interests are grades and scores.
My half cent.
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The score reported for the SAT is called a “standard score”. It’s exactly the same kind of score used to report IQs except that 1000 is the 50th %ile instead of 100. A 70 point difference between 1400 and 1470 sounds like a big difference because 70 is a big number. If the difference were reported as 140 vs 147 would it sound like a big difference? It’s only 7 points. But it’s exactly the same as 1400 vs 1470.
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Thank you for asking! My daughter asked about the letter of continued interest and a follow up letter from the guidance counselor. The dean of admissions said she can upload updates through the portal, including anything more she wants to say about her interest in Bowdoin and a few words from the guidance counselor. The dean emphasized that they are not looking for another essay or another formal recommendation. I think there was another student who had been deferred who asked about transcripts so that would also be sent in when ready. My daughter did not ask about test scores.
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Great way of framing the score. Thank you. And I think it comes down to a handful of questions? Funny thing is my daughter is the strongest student in her AP calc BC class but it just doesn’t transfer to the math SAT.
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Thank you for that. I saw somewhere that SLAC’s got more ED applicants this year? Students who would typically go for larger Ivy League schools are turning to SLAC’s maybe because of funding cuts and other controversies? I don’t know.
Surprised she didn’t ask. I was hoping she would. That’s why I suggested the session. Honestly surprised no one there asked ( ie other students).In the end, 95% of kids who submit as SAT have a 1400-1600 per CDS.
5% a 1200-1399. I’m guessing that 5% is hooked - athletes and the like. I wouldn’t want to be at the very bottom of that 95%.
From an odds POV, I think submitting is dangerous.
While the most recent posters said submit, I agree with two earlier posters @bluebayou and @Ephmen. I re- pasted their posts below their names.
All that said, the student clearly wants to keep the score in there so nothing else really matters. And as it’s her app, I think it’s great that she’s come to that conclusion. It’s so hard for kids to decide one way or another and she seems emphatic which is wonderful.
To me, it all depends on the average scores of the ED college. If the 1400 is above the average, then definitely submit. If that 1400 is say, bottom quartile, do not submit.
Sounds nice in theory, but test scores can matter in the rankings. A Regional Rep pitching an app that will lower teh college’s test scores is a harder sell.
They have a lot of first gen and low income there and I don’t think this is your daughter, but they are likely a large chunk of the over 50% that don’t submit. Short of a sports recruit, donor or must have kid, I don’t see why a school would want someone who hurts their statistics when they have many equal kids to choose from that won’t ? It doesn’t help their future profile. But it’s just how I think.
You’ll know soon enough and no matter the decision, we won’t know what, if any, impact the score had.
I wish her well with the rest of her apps and I hope you update us later on her search.
Update: ultimately rejected by Bowdoin. Rejected by Pomona. Waitlisted by Williams. Accepted by UT Austin (got the major she wanted in natural sciences college), Macalester (with merit money), Carleton, Bates, Colby, Middlebury, Hamilton, and Wesleyan.
As you know she submitted her SAT score to Bowdoin, but not the other LACs. I hope that last bit of info is helpful to others.
She is super excited with her choices. If anyone has any insights into these colleges, please let us know! There’s so much about each college that she loves, she’s having a hard time figuring out where she wants to go. We will try to go to as many admitted students days as possible, but Bush intercontinental here is a mess!
Thank you all for your advice through this process.
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Sorry just one more note— UT is already off her list. She wants to get out of TX.
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wow, all those places will be much colder than TX (Wesleyan probably the least cold-maybe?). my friend’s son went to Carleton and LOVED it- graduating this year and got a job working at a financial firm in the Bay Area. not sure you can go wrong with those choices - plan some visits!
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Amazing choices and amazing results!
Congrats!
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Fantastic choices! Congratulations!
In case you’re looking for insight, my D is a junior at Bates, my nephew graduated from Middlebury, we know people who teach at Macalester, and between my D and my S26, we’ve looked very closely at all the LACs you’re considering. If you have questions about any of these schools (especially the ones I’ve got more direct experiences with), I’d be happy to share!
Btw - if you can’t schedule admitted students’ days at schools of interest, you can still visit. Contact the admissions offices and ask for tours – they might put you on the standard admissions tour, or possibly they might give you a little more, since you’re considering the school, It’s worth a shot. They understand that not everyone can make admitted students’ days. It’s possible, though, that Carleton and Macalester schedule theirs on the same weekend (I know Carleton and St. Olaf do this – I don’t know if Mac joins in due to the likely overlap). More bang for the buck.
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Congrats. How awesome. Sounds like TO was the way to go but we don’t know the Bowdoin decision would be different.
I think - get to campus. It doesn’t need to be admitted student day. It can be any day. Walk the campus and surrounds. Stop kids and chat. Make an academic or club meeting of interested.
Don’t worry about an official day. Those are packaged and polished. While some are great, you may not get the true feel.
Note differences - for example airport access or Carleton, as an example, has three terms a year vs two - does it matter. Note the core curriculums - does one school suit her better than another, for example. Hamilton is always on the list of open curriculum schools - that may be worth investigating if of interest.
Fantastic results. Congrats
If you would like to read brief, subjective comments on several of your daughter’s potential destinations, see this post:
I’m guessing Macalester will be hard to beat in terms of cost of attendance. Wesleyan has a huge natural sciences footprint for its size and may have a new complex opening as early as this Fall. I wouldn’t worry about trying to size up Connecticut versus Maine and Western New York winters; there was plenty of snow everywhere this year (major EDIT: although Minnesota is in a category all to itself.) “Walkability” has become a catchphrase - you may want to look into that during visits.
Thank you all so much for your feedback and advice! We will be flying up to MN first weekend of April and then going up to the northeast a couple of weeks after that. We will keep you posted!
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Congrats on some amazing options!
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As others have said, you have some tremendous options here! D26, a quirky bookish type who also very much wanted out of Texas, considered most of these and visited several before ultimately deciding on Carleton. One of the differentiating factors for her was the trimester system - she likes the idea of being out of school from Thanksgiving to New Year’s and only focusing on three classes at a time, even if those classes move a little faster. Her second choice was Colby, as she’s clearly a sucker for the picture-postcard small town campus. I think Wesleyan could’ve been a great fit for her also, but we spent our NE trip mostly in Maine, and at some point you just have to narrow it down and make decisions.
I’m interested in hearing how your student feels about Mac and Carleton after visiting (assuming you are able to get to both); they have a lot in common, but the vibes are different enough that many students seem to have a leaning toward one or the other.
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That’s been the experience in my circles as well. In the end I am sure the OP’s daughter could thrive at many, maybe all, of these places, but hopefully she is particularly excited about one after visiting as an admitted student.
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This post expands a bit on the comments on Hamilton posted earlier: