I come from a terrible (academically) school and I didn’t find out about the SAT until the beginning of 2015! Our school is very small and it is very religious, but it has never sent a kid to Harvard. My average is fairly decent (in the 95 range) and my extra curricular activities include all leadership roles, and I started a charity. I have taken all the APS my school offers and I had an internship last summer and hope to get one this year. The SAT scores are a KILLER though, so what would I generally need (im in the 1900 range). PLEASE HELP
I’ve heard the rule of thumb is 2250ish. But you can get rejected with 2400, of course.
The 1900 range would probably put you in the lowest 5-6% of the entering Frosh.
You figure it out.
Are you a recruited Varsity athlete?
@bodangles does that mean that anyone with less than a 2250 is automatically rejected? And would Harvard be able to see the predicament I’m in ? Because if I knew about the SATs in freshman year I’d be scoring 2300’s guaranteed! My friend has been studying for the SATs since 8th grade, he’s at a 2380, hoping to apply to MIT. His mom has been forcing him to do so, so would Harvard understand that?
http://features.thecrimson.com/2014/freshman-survey/admissions/
Unless you are a recruited athlete, a 1900 is NOT good enough. To be a competitive applicant for Harvard your SAT score should be around the average score for freshman in the class of 2018, which is 2228.
@gibby I was waiting for you to reply to me ! Thanks ! But will Harvard see my predicament because I’m not a URM and I’m applying from a religious school (I read somewhere that only 7% of Harvard Students come from religious schools). I will try however to get by SAT score to a 2200 (300 point increase), can you give me any advice?
@Justonedad I realize that, Im still a junior and I still have time, thats why I’m asking for “Advice”(so to speak)
Colleges judge you in the context of your high school, which means that if you are applying from a religious school that doesn’t have the resources of a private, or high-end public school (a gazillion EC options and lots of AP courses for example), they will take that into account. However, no matter what high school you attend, if you have a 95 average with an SAT score of 1900, a college (any selective college) is going to think your grading system at your high school is too easy, or your high school has grade inflation. So, to be a competitive applicant with a 95 GPA, you need that 2200 SAT. That’s true for HYPSM, the rest of the ivies and the “little ivies” including Williams, Middlebury, Amherst etc. Google SAT test taking tips, and practice on your own.
@gibby I hope to get that 2200+ and it is also interesting to note that even though my school had LITERALLY THREE ! Extra curricular activities when I came there, I started many many clubs, founded many academic teams and even went to mc (ALONE) and hope to attend MUN in april. Anyways, back to the real deal, can you give me advice
Or try the ACT.
@gibby is the ACT easier? What would be an ACT cutoff for Harvard?
My D’s friend (and our valedictorian) made a 2400. One sitting.
He was deferred and is likely to be rejected.
@southernhope why?
Have you considered the ACT? I found that it was much easier to raise my ACT score compared to my SAT score.
@NAT97XO no i haven’t but I plan on taking a practice one this sunday, and what would be a harvard cutoff for ACT
Who knows? Harvard. You so crazy.
In any case, life has worked out for him…he’s already won a full 4-year scholarship (with study abroad) at UNC Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt, University of Southern California, and Duke. With a handful of other good offers on the way.
@southernhope, any Ivys ? Did he have a good enough average? Were his Extra Curricular activities on par? Its very hard to get into these schools, and thats why Im bugging out
Honestly, no matter what school you went to it is kind of hard to believe you just had never heard of a high school standardized test. I don’t think Harvard will cut you any slack on that end. In terms of SAT you probably need 2200+ and for the ACT you probably at least need a 33+ to be competitive. You need to get a review book and try to increase your score.
@envro55 MY SCHOOL IS A RELIGIOUS SEMINARY YESHIVA! WE HAVE 8 KIDS IN A CLASS AND OF THOSE 8, 7 GO TO ISRAEL AND ONE GOES TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SO NO, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE SAT! And isnt 32 a good ACT score
@verizonwireless Calm down man. We get it. Firstly, it’s not that unreasonable for Harvard to expect that anyone interested in them to have done some amount of research on their requirements. You sound like you’re trying to convince us that Harvard owes you admission. You have to understand that Harvard and colleges similar to it are a complete crapshoot for anyone. And I really do mean anyone. They gleefully reject people with prefect test scores, perfect academics, who have also won major awards and honors. All you can do is take advantage of all the opportunities you have, make yourself the best applicant possible, send out your application, and hope for the best. Maybe it’ll happen. But, there’s a 94% chance it won’t. There’s not use in getting too stressed out over it.
Now, a 32 would put you in the 25th percentile for Harvard. So it’s certainly possible. But it won’t be helping you at all. And while they will look at your application in the context of your school, it’s not exactly an excuse. Fantastic test scores can come from small and poor schools, even without significant preparation. I’m getting a feeling that you see Harvard as your main goal in your life right now, and you need to know that that’s not practical or healthy for anyone. Do and be your best, apply to several great colleges, include Harvard if you want to, and let the cards fall where they will. I promise it’ll be the best for you.