The TRUTH About SAT Scores

Applying to College
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<p>If you are one of those people that are fretting about a low SAT Score, I have good news for you.</p>

<p>After six months of research and talking to different admissions officers, I have reached to a conclusion about SAT Scores, If you are one of those “low” scorers, read this and ease your mind.</p>

<p>The SAT is an exam. Just one exam. Proving that you can get a perfect score on it, doesn’t mean that you are a perfect student. Lets accept that and move on.</p>

<p>The scores are in three different sections ( as we all know) : Mathematics, Critical Reading, and Writing.</p>

<p>(i) A VIEW ON THE SAT:</p>

<p>Heres how the admissions officer looks at the SAT score.</p>

<p>Lets take an example student “John”.John gets the following SAT Score:</p>

<p>Math: 760 Reading: 540 Writing: 700
Thats a grand total of 2000.</p>

<p>Lets take another student “Pete”. Pete gets:</p>

<p>Math: 650 Reading:600 Writing: 640
Thats a grand total of 1890.</p>

<p>An admissions officer prefers Pete’s score to John’s because Pete is more well balanced. A low reading score could really damage your application ( as can any low score, but reading is just worth more). </p>

<p>(ii) WHAT ABOUT THE HIGH SCORES?</p>

<p>Okay I know you are about to yell at me; “What about those people that get 2300s or 2400s, they have to be well balanced for them to get that score?”</p>

<p>Well that is generally true, in order to cross a score of 2100, a student has to be around 700 in each section (give or take a few), but take into consideration the amount of time he/she had and what they put into achieving that score. Not everyone who wrote the SAT did it in a period of two years of practice, some have done it in two months (yours truly) . I take this reference to mostly international students, having financial issues, or time constraints, lack of facility etc. Basically guys and girls don’t worry about not getting an extremely high score, its not the end of the world.</p>

<p>(iii) The SAT Score Ranges</p>

<p>200-800: Never Insult the test again</p>

<p>800-1400: You picked up the book once a week.</p>

<p>1400-1750: The Average Student’s Score</p>

<p>1750-2200: Above Average</p>

<p>2200-2400: God gifted intelligence + A lot of hard work</p>

<p>These are pretty much the basic score ranges for the SAT.</p>

<p>(iv) A GOOD SCORE</p>

<p>“Okay Mr.Smart Alec, what IS a good score then?”</p>

<p>A good score can be termed if someone can define the word “good.” A good score is one that is balanced, what I mean to say is: 600’s in each section won’t kill a person, nor will 700’s in each section guarantee admission. There have been many cases where a 1900 student was preferred over a 2200. </p>

<p>QUOTE MIT: 600s, 700s, 800s all fall into the same range of students.</p>

<p>QUOTE Anonymous: In a holistic approach to admissions, a SAT score is just one small piece.</p>

<p>The SAT is a very important part of the application, not to be shunned away, but not to go crazy over it either. If you have the time, give it two or three attempts. If your first attempt is going to be your last, then make sure you make it count. </p>

<p>(v) ESSAYS:</p>

<p>After your SAT, essay is a very important criteria. It can be the point of decision or rejection. Do not take your essay lightly. Do not cut paste the same essay to 3 or 4 colleges.</p>

<p>All the best to everyone, and I hope that this cleared up some misconceptions.</p>

<p>Sincerely,
Yours Truly.</p>

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<p>Nice effort but lame post. SATs are more important than you are making them about to be, but yes, they are just one part of the application, and applications are viewed holistically.</p>

<p>However, don’t fool yourself into thinking a low SAT doesn’t hurt your chances. Have scores that are in the bottom 20% of the freshman pool make it that much more difficult to get in. The statistics don’t lie.</p>

<p>It also doesn’t take studying to get a good score. SAT skills are learned by 7th grade, other than the tougher vocabulary.</p>

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<p>I know people who have gotten 2200+ without cracking a book open. You can’t make generalizations that everyone who scores over 2200 puts in a lot of work. I improved my score to a 2240 by taking 8 or 9 practice tests. Is that a lot of effort? I wouldn’t say so. I actually enjoyed taking them at the end to see my progression. My friend scored a 2250 and never cracked open any sort of study guide or practice test.</p>

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<p>Lordabhi, I clearly recognize your effort and time to bring us some noteworthy pieces of information. Mind me asking, however, what were the main sources that guided you toward the aforementioned conclusions?</p>

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<p>@Everyone who replied: Thank you for your replies, which were actually what I was after. I am conducting a mini experiment in psychology. My post is written in such a way as to diminish the importance of an SAT score, but not as to tatter its reputation. Anyway @Kodubnik : You said your friend scored a 2250 without any studying, that is the fact that he is just used to the basis of the exam. Again thank you for your replies, I will tabulate them into my data.</p>

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<p>First the MIT quote, as MITChris has posted repeatedly on the MIT forums, is that all 700+ scores are equivalent not 600’s. </p>

<p>Also, this debate on the weight of SAT scores will never be settled without access to one of HYSPM/Ivy League schools/Other top tier schools applicant databases because:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The high-weighters say “Look at the data! High scorers are admitted at higher rates than low scorers! Higher scores mean better chances!” </p></li>
<li><p>Low-weighters say “These schools use a holistic review process! They want to know you the applicant not how well you did on a 4 hour test!”</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Correlation does not prove causation. Maybe high scorers tend to be more intelligent in other areas so that their EC’s/Grades/Recs/Essays also are better and that is the real reason why they are admitted at higher rates not because of a higher SAT score per se. </p>

<p>Yet maybe the reason why high scorers are admitted at higher rates is precisely because these schools want these semi-objectively more intelligent students over the less intelligent ones. </p>

<p>If we could look at say Harvard’s applicant database and see what the correlation between acceptance and SAT scores when controlling for EC’s/Grades/etc., then we could find out the definitive answer. Otherwise, this debate is guesswork.</p>

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<p>@HitMan: Thank you for that correction. MIT does say 700s not 600s. And yes both your arguments are valid and both are correct. So to anyone who does read this post what I say is: After your application is sent, sit tight and wait for the results.</p>

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<p>@meteman: Thank you for your opinion. There are many views on this topic. Could you please elaborate on “more than you think.” That is, only if your mental capacities could facilitate you on providing an adequate response. Thank You.</p>

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<p>you made a mistake in the original post. you said Pete’s score would be preferred because of the higher reading score. John had the higher reading score. Writing is still not as important, as they are still gathering data on that one at most schools. The 760 John got in reading looks great. This is a stupid thread. Psychology experiment??? Don’t think so…</p>

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<p>I will tell you from personal experience, many high scorers do worse in admissions than above average scorers. There is much more to a college app these days than a SAT/ACT score and top schools are looking for students who will add something to their school. I have two children, both with similar TAG IQs. First child had near perfect test scores, excellent essays, rigorous math/science based course load, with less than stellar GPA and ECs. Very intelligent kid, near perfect test scores as a freshman, not engaged in high school scene at all, lackluster results in admissions. Second kid, above average test scores but not up to CC standards, very good essays, but not as good as first kid’s, excellent GPA with most rigorous humanities based course load, fully engaged in high school experience, excellent ECs showing strong commitment to several, with excellent admissions results. Yes, these are just two kids, but I have seen similar results over and over at their respective schools, one a small, private prep school, the other a large, suburban public. As someone who has spent more than ten years working with middle and high school students, I can pretty accurately predict admission results for the kids I work with. Admissions officers are pretty good at identifying the kids that will bring something special to their community, and not just superior test scores.</p>

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<p>@Fishymom: I thank you for your reply. Again SAT scores have many perspectives, and ways that people take them in. With the analysis Im doing; people with high SAT score tend to shun the lower scorers saying that they have no chance. People with low SAT scores tend to grab any positive influence they can find in order to convince them self that a low SAT score is not the end of the world. Put these two groups aside, and then theres a third group: Those who are not involved at all with the SAT (adults, other peers et cetra): who seem to think that a low SAT score will affect, but not disastrously, the application. Again thank you for your time.</p>

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<p>@swimmer726: Please understand before you comment, the 760 was in mathematics not reading. Thank You.</p>

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<p>I TOTALLY agree with you^^^. I think the most important thing is strength of schedule and grades.It seems that colleges like the hard worker, the dedicated student. Having some talent helps, but it’s all about someone who’s engaged and interested. It also seems colleges like kids who look beyond themselves in some sort of meaningful volunteer or work experiences. I also believe that they are looking for honesty and integrity. In this age of internet and electronic communication, I think that cheating and “cutting corners” is all too common in universities. Most of it can go on undetected. A strong conscience and strong sense of personal integrity can’t be overlooked these days and essays can reveal that.</p>

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<p>@swimmer726: Agreed completely.</p>