Will DM you.
1 Like
I would send it. Those are excellent scores.
14% of the actual freshman class didn’t submit any standardized test scores. Assumedly their scores were not superior or they would have submitted them. So, compared to the entire freshman class, including the non-submitters, your son’s scores look even better and are certainly above the 25th %ile of all students.
1460 = 96th %ile. That’s excellent! Top 4% of all test takers. So why would he not want Wesleyan to know that he’s in the top 4% of all test takers?
Look at Wesleyan’s scores from 2 years ago. 1430 was the 50th%ile and 1300 was the 25th%ile. So, obviously there is considerable volatility from year to year. Maybe that’s because Wesleyan doesn’t pay much attention to standardized test scores in making admissions decisions. In point of fact, they tell us exactly that. Standardized test scores are not an important criterion for admissions. They will be considered if submitted, but they are not important.
So, submit the scores. They will enhance his application. If he doesn’t get admitted, it will not be because of test scores. 1460 is not a number which gets you ruled out.
2 Likes
Thanks for the insight. Unfortunately, Wesleyan has posted on its website SAT Scores for the Class of 2028, I believe, that’s vastly different from their CDS. This is what was discussed on this thread. See below. I don’t know which one my son should use as a guide.
Source: (towards the bottom of the page): Application Process | Wesleyan University
I think the difference between those numbers and those in the CDS is that those refer to admitted students, which I assume is all admitted students, while those on the CDS refer to the freshman class, who would be only those admitted students who actually enrolled. Take your pick as to which you want to focus on.
Regardless, this doesn’t change the fact that 1460 is an excellent score and would not keep anyone out of Wesleyan. It doesn’t change the fact that there are students who submitted no test scores and a comparison which includes the elevates the relative value of 1460. And it doesn’t change the fact that standardized test scores are NOT an important criterion for admission at Wesleyan. They state that flat out. They do a holistic review of a student’s application portfolio and make their decision based on the totality of the student’s accomplishments, interests, and abilities. All that’s needed from a test score is to be in the ballpark and 1460 is certainly there.
4 Likes
I think not. That score is, at worse, a net zero for Wes, but most likely viewed as a good score that will support his good GPA. What is the HS average score? That is an important factor that many overlook when deciding to submit or not.
The submit or not decision needs to be a holistic one. SAT scores are always viewed as in context. IMO there is no objective cutoff, but scores in the 25+ range should probably be submitted.
1 Like
Thank you. I will let S26 know and let him decide if he wants to submit or not. It’s so easy to get swept away by everything you read/hear about gaming the system - to submit or not submit, to be above the 50% percentile, etc, etc. - it’s what S26 and his friends talk about too. I’m realizing now that in the end, the SAT is just one aspect of the college application. I will remind S26 that. Thank you!
@TonyGrace You bring up a good point and something I forgot to consider - the context of my S26’s SAT score. His HS’s average score is 1088 according to the latest School Profile from 2023-24. They have not released the School Profile for 2024-25. Thank you!
2 Likes
That is barely above the national average and pretty low in the context we are talking about. It won’t have changed significantly. AOs on popular podcasts (ie Yale) have stated that when you are looking at 250+ above the average from such schools, the score is usually seen as a positive.
3 Likes
Thank you! A student’s SAT score seen in the context of their HS’s avg SAT score is something so many students/parents fail to consider when determining whether to submit or not. I guess so many feel that colleges “protect” their score averages for marketing purposes and so students err on the side of caution and choose not to submit to leverage their chances of acceptance.
2 Likes
[quote=“TheMonaLisa, post:47, topic:3687272, full:true”] It’s so easy to get swept away by everything you read/hear about gaming the system - to submit or not submit, to be above the 50% percentile, etc, etc. - it’s what S26 and his friends talk about too.
[/quote]
I understand. I’ve seen the “gaming the system” conversations in action too. There are places where you can game the system, but Wesleyan isn’t one of them. They are very selective and with a 16% acceptance rate, they can afford to pick and choose.
If he wants to enhance his chances of acceptance at Wesleyan or other schools like it encourage him to focus on the things that are important to them and that are within his control:
- Write a truly authentic essay. No BS. Do NOT try to impress them or show how good a writer he is. Focus on showing them what kind of person he is, what makes him tick. Write from the heart.
- What he has going for him in applying to Wesleyan is his basic interests in Writing and History. Creative Writing is VERY important to Wesleyan. They began hosting a summer Writing Institute back in 1976 both for professional writers and for aspiring writers where writers came for growth by seeking criticism from others. Over the years it has been a celebration of writing. It has recently evolved into their Summer Writing Intensive. On campus they have the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing and Criticism. They offer a major in Creative Writing. They are not looking for students who have it all together at 17-years-old. They are interested in students who are self-reflective, who have some understanding of their shortcomings, who are open to criticism, and who are interested in growth. Let him write about that. That would impress them.
- Wesleyan has an open curriculum with some self-selected distribution requirements. A student needs to have some maturity to deal with this, to have their own internal compass, to have some idea of where they want to go and who they want to become. A student at Wesleyan has to plot his own course - with the support and mentorship of a faculty advisor of course. Let him impress them by showing that side of himself. It will impress them a lot more than a few SAT points.
- The open curriculum provides many opportunities for interdisciplinary study. His distinct interests in both History and Creative Writing already have him on that path. As such, he would be a good fit at Wesleyan academically. He can tell them more about that.
- Wesleyan is interested in students who want to make an impact on the world. They want students are passionate about that. What are his passions? I know from what you have written about your son that he does have passions. He should tell them about those. If he already wants knows that he wants to be a writer, then it’s in his soul. Let him show them his soul.
- Finally, he’s just a kid. He’s vulnerable. He should not be afraid to show them that. He’s at the stage of wonder. Show them that. What in the universe fills him with a sense of wonder, of awe?
2 Likes