Silverturtle's Guide to SAT and Admissions Success

[kingsize]

<p>

@silverturtle

Although applicants are not pitted against each other, if someone from your school has a higher GPA and applies, it will hurt your chances a bit.

</p>

<p>This is a common myth.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

I time myself down to 20 minutes, but still wonder if I should use only 15 and leave the last 5 for checking, and hence 10 when it comes the actual test?

</p>

<p>Slow down your speed. It is relatively difficult to check your answers during the test.
If you do, do it only in the Writing section. Check the answers that you circled “No error”.
Those ones are the trickiest.</p>

[silverturtle]

<p>

This is a common myth.

</p>

<p>No. Logically, additional qualified (perhaps more qualified) applicants from the same school are certain to hurt one’s chances.</p>

<p>

Does being from a country with such a low admittance rate [1-2 per year, 6 UGs are there total] make applicants from my country URMs?

</p>

<p>No, the typical URM concept does not really apply to internationals. Some countries are certainly a bit easier than others, though.</p>

[silverturtle]

<p>

I time myself down to 20 minutes, but still wonder if I should use only 15 and leave the last 5 for checking, and hence 10 when it comes the actual test?
but as of now I still struggle to finish the section up in 20 minutes, and when I go over I have to start from the beginning. Should I do it? do you guys do it? do you do it, silverturtle?

</p>

<p>Which section are you talking about? </p>

<p>Also, as I have indicated, there is no general rule about timing. You need to experiment with different paces and approaches until you find a satisfactory combination. If you are prone to small errors, dedicating more time to checking may be worthwile. For others, though, the time is better-spent in working the questions out originally.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

@silverturtle

Although applicants are not pitted against each other, if someone from your school has a higher GPA and applies, it will hurt your chances a bit.

</p>

<p>

@silverturtle

No. Logically, additional qualified (perhaps more qualified) applicants from the same school are certain to hurt one’s chances.

</p>

<p>Having a higher GPA does not necessarily indicate work ethic and courseload.
Transcript and courseload along with test scores comprise the bigger part of the academic component of your application.</p>

<p>Thus, it will be foolish to assume that GPA will greatly affect one’s potential chances.</p>

[kevmschmid]

<p>You’re right. There are other things that lead to being qualified. But silverturtle’s statement that LESS QUALIFIED applicants from the same high school will have LESS CHANCES is correct.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

@kevmschmid

You’re right. There are other things that lead to being qualified. But silverturtle’s statement that LESS QUALIFIED applicants from the same high school will have LESS CHANCES is correct.

</p>

<p>Correct. The Admission committee reads each application with a holistic approach. Subjective factors and soft factors (recommendations along with extracurricular activities) come into play.</p>

<p>Yet, this is a common myth. They do not necessarily compare applications.
Imagine having 100+ applications from TJ alone.
Do you think the adcoms will spend extra time comparing each student?</p>

[silverturtle]

<p>

Having a higher GPA does not necessarily indicate work ethic and courseload.
Transcript and courseload along with test scores comprise the bigger part of the academic component of your application.</p>

<p>Thus, it will be foolish to assume that GPA will greatly affect one’s potential chances.

</p>

<p>Nothing you are saying is contadicting what I have said, so your characterization of what I said as a common myth is thus-far unsupported.</p>

<p>

Yet, this is a common myth. They do not necessarily compare applications.

</p>

<p>The fact that applicants are not directly compared does not mean that putting another highly qualified applicant into the mix won’t decrease a given applicant’s chance, especially when those applicants come from the same high school.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>You have clearly stated:

@silverturtle

if someone from your school has a higher GPA and applies, it will hurt your chances a bit.

</p>

<p>There was no mention of courseload and SAT scores.</p>

<p>

@silverturtle

The fact that applicants are not directly compared does not mean that putting another highly qualified applicant into the mix won’t decrease a given applicant’s chance, especially when those applicants come from the same high school.

</p>

<p>I have clearly elicited that they are not being directly compared.
You have changed your main thesis by indicating a new insight.</p>

[silverturtle]

<p>

There was no mention (sic) courseload and SAT scores.

</p>

<p>There need not be. The mere fact that another applicant has a higher GPA will negatively impact an applicant with a lower GPA.</p>

<p>

I have clearly elicited (sic) that they are not being directly compared.
You have changed your main thesis by indicating a new insight.

</p>

<p>No, I stand by what I said originally. What insight are you referring to, and when did I indicate it?</p>

[PioneerJones]

<p>

@silverturtle

The mere fact that another applicant has a higher GPA will negatively impact an applicant with a lower GPA.

</p>

<p>Perhaps, if you’re speaking of GPA alone. The possibility remains that the applicant with the lower GPA could be more qualified in other areas, making him a more attractive candidate.</p>

<p>Yes, a lower GPA puts you at a disadvantage, but only in the GPA aspect of the application. Considering how most universities tote the virtue of holistic admission, being weak in one specific area isn’t likely to damage your chances very much.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

@silverturtle

Although applicants are not pitted against each other, if someone from your school has a higher GPA and applies, it will hurt your chances a bit.

</p>

<p>

@silverturtle

There need not be. The mere fact that another applicant has a higher GPA will negatively impact an applicant with a lower GPA.

</p>

<p>If you can refer back to tokenadult’s sagacious advice: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/588508-tips-college-admission-process.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/588508-tips-college-admission-process.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>This thread opens new insights and thus demystifies arcane preconceptions:

@tokenadult

Over and over and over, what college admissions officers claim to look at most closely as the main admission factor is a student’s “transcript.” Note that the word is “transcript,” NOT “grade average.” A Yale admission officer says, “We will look holistically; we will look at everything in your application. . . . We look at how much challenge you have provided yourself.” An MIT admission officer says, “What correlates best with grades in the junior and senior years of college is taking the toughest courses in high school. Most students admitted to MIT have a healthy mix of A’s and B’s.” A Duke admission officer says, “Duke asks the question, ‘How have you challenged yourself?’” A Harvard admission officer says, "The most important is high school courses and grades. Take good, tough courses.

</p>

[Jersey13]

<p>

Perhaps, if you’re speaking of GPA alone. The possibility remains that the applicant with the lower GPA could be more qualified other areas, making him a more attractive candidate.

I think the assumption that all other factors are being held constant in regards to Silverturtle’s statement concerning GPA’s is a safe one to make. </p>

<p>

This thread opens new insights and thus demystifies arcane preconceptions

Arcane preconceptions are pretty antithetical to common/widespread preconceptions, which is what I think you are referring to. In any case, I’m not sure what part of Silverturtle’s post is a preconception. I don’t see how Tokenadult’s post contradicts anything Silverturtle has said thus far. Yes, the transcript is usually singled out by admissions officers as being the most important aspect of the application, but that doesn’t mean the GPA is completely disregarded. It is only logical to assume that other factors held constant, a lower GPA results in lower chances.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

@PioneerJones

Perhaps, if you’re speaking of GPA alone. The possibility remains that the applicant with the lower GPA could be more qualified in other areas, making him a more attractive candidate.</p>

<p>Yes, a lower GPA puts you at a disadvantage, but only in the GPA aspect of the application. Considering how most universities tote the virtue of holistic admission, being weak in one specific area isn’t likely to damage your chances very much.

</p>

<p>That is what I strived to illustrate.
A GPA proctor won’t get anywhere, especially seeing that a 4.0 is relatively easy to attain in American public schools.</p>

<p>Two cases: </p>

<p>[ol]
[<em>]A is valedictorian. He has 5 AP courses to graduate. 4.0UW, 4.5W
[</em>]B is in top 10% of the class. She has 10 APs to graduate. 3.9 UW, 4.3 W.
[/ol]</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

@Jersey13

I think the assumption that all other factors are being held constant in regards to Silverturtle’s statement concerning GPA’s is a safe one to make.

Thank you for your clarification.</p>

<p>

I’m not sure what you are trying to say by labeling these “preconceptions” “arcane”. I don’t see how Tokenadult’s post contradicts anything Silverturtle has said thus far. Yes, the transcript is usually singled out by admissions officers as being the most important aspect of the application, but that doesn’t mean the GPA is completely disregarded. It is only logical to assume that other factors held constant, a lower GPA results in lower chances.

</p>

<p>As far as I know, silverturtle has explicitly admitted that having a higher GPA from a same school will yield higher chances. I wanted to correct this myth, flummoxing CC.
However, seeing as that we have a safe assumption that silverturtle meant all other factors are also being considered, I full-heartedly agree with the aforementioned conjecture.</p>

[Jersey13]

<p>

Yes, a lower GPA puts you at a disadvantage, but only in the GPA aspect of the application. Considering how most universities tote the virtue of holistic admission, being weak in one specific area isn’t likely to damage your chances very much.

Silverturtle has only stated that a lower GPA will put you at a disadvantage in one aspect of your application, so are you agreeing with him?

That is what I strived to illustrate.
A GPA proctor won’t get anywhere, especially seeing that a 4.0 is relatively easy to attain in American public schools.

A blanket statement that is largely untrue.

Two cases:</p>

<ol>
<li>A is valedictorian. He has 5 AP courses to graduate. 4.0UW, 4.5W</li>
<li>B is in top 10% of the class. She has 10 APs to graduate. 3.9 UW, 4.3 W.

Why must those be the only two scenarios? What about A and B with identical transcripts?</li>
</ol>

[Jersey13]

<p>

As far as I know, silverturtle has explicitly admitted that having a higher GPA from a same school will yield higher chances. I wanted to correct this myth, flummoxing CC.

I don’t see how what Silverturtle stated is incorrect. When people on this site state that being an URM or having a standout EC helps an applicant’s chances, it is implicitly assumed that all other factors are held constant. In a similar notion, a higher GPA yields higher chances.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>

Silverturtle has only stated that a lower GPA will put you at a disadvantage in one aspect of your application, so are you agreeing with him?

</p>

<p>Kindly indicate where this piece of information is found.</p>

<pre><code>

A blanket statement that is largely untrue.

</code></pre>

<p>[The</a> State of Education in the United States: Why America is Behind Other Countries](<a href=“Suite 101 - How-tos, Inspiration and Other Ideas to Try”>Suite 101 - How-tos, Inspiration and Other Ideas to Try)</p>

<pre><code>

Why must those be the only two scenarios? What about A and B with identical transcripts?

</code></pre>

<p>As far as I know, we have not discussed about the third scenario yet, since this is not the main issue of our posts.</p>

[kingsize]

<p>So “it is implicitly assumed that all other factors are held constant” serves as an axiom to the equation. </p>

<p>Thank you for your addendum.</p>

[silverturtle]

<p>Nothing that tokenadult wrote contradicts in any way what I have said. What you are saying, kingsize, is analogous to claiming that the number of questions one gets right on the SAT is completely irrelevant in college admissions because only the scaled score is considered. The number of questions correct affects the scaled score.</p>

<p>

As far as I know, silverturtle has explicitly admitted that having a higher GPA from a same school will yield higher chances.

</p>

<p>On average, yes. This is not a myth; it is a logical necessity. What I did not say was that having a higher GPA necessarily means that that applicant has a higher chance than an applicant with a lower GPA.</p>

<p>Nothing I have said even requires that all other factors be held constant.</p>