Why do Rice adcoms care about how you do on the math section of the SAT I?

Colleges & Universities Rice University
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<p>I was just thinking about this.</p>

<p>Why do Rice adcoms care about how you do on the math section of the SAT I? If you do well on this, all it means is that you are good at algebra I/ basic geomety. It also seems to me that all the people I know who are really good at math and get 800’s on the Math Level II and 5’s on the calc ap’s get really high sat I math scores, so it would make sense that the SAT I math section correlates pretty well with how good you are at math.</p>

<p>However, at Rice, many people don’t even ever take a math course, and there’s no math requirement. </p>

<p>So why do Rice adcoms care so much about your SAT I math score? A lot of people at Rice will never take a math course in college ever, so why does it matter how well they do on the SAT I math section?</p>

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<p>^so that you aren’t an academically deficient, warped, pigeon holed artist that can’t make change on the sale of your art-- just kidding. Don’t understand the question, obviously you have to have a basic academic background and for Rice to admit you, you have to do well in all subjects.</p>

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<p>because SAT scores go into the ranking system and Rice wants to be up there in rank so they can get more prestige?</p>

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<p>

I find that very hard to believe. Anway, they need a “objective” measuring stick to compare applicants and math just happens to be part of it.</p>

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<p>if you do well on it, it means you have basic math skills.</p>

<p>but if you score a 300, what does this say about you?</p>

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<p>Why do colleges care how well you do on the SAT I? Why are there standardized tests in general?</p>

<p>It’s not just Rice.</p>

<p>PS- You’re going to UVA next year, why do you keep asking questions about Rice?</p>

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<p>and a lot of the major ranking stuff (USNEWS for example) uses it as one of their categories in ranking schools</p>

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<p>Well, as you already know, any school that requires the SAT I is going to require one to complete the Math I section. I’m sure there are a lot of people who get 4s and 5s on the AP English exam and do very well on the SAT II Literature exam, so should they also be exempted from taking the SAT Verbal Section and the SAT writing section? So we might as well have no SAT at all, which I am down for. However, it will be nearly impossible for the admissions offices to distinguish between candidates.</p>

<p>Although there are many flaws with the SAT test, it’s one of the best measuring sticks to see how well people can reason and how much they have learned.</p>

<p>Plus, you will be surprised— there are many individuals who do very well in Calculus and so forth, but can’t do basic arithmetic in their head (I fall in this category although I am average in Calculus). It’s not that they’re not smart; it’s because we rely too much on technology.</p>

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<p>The SAT I math section is really easy. I think they require it as a first hurdle. If you do poorly, it reflects badly on your application</p>

<p>I think that regardles whether you take math or not, a basic amount of math (reflected in he SAT I math) is necesary</p>

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<p>I’m the same way Silk Nilk. I do great in Calculus and Statistics, but the math section of the SAT kills me. I don’t think that it accurately reflects my math ability…</p>