Here's what Admissions committees won't tell you about your GPA, class rank, and SAT scores: above a specific level, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
College admissions is a tough game - but there are rules to getting into the best schools like Princeton and Stanford. I worked in the Admissions Office of a Top 20 school for 3 years, so I've had plenty of experience figuring out what really matters for high school students.
With your GPA, class rank, and SAT, there are only 2 rules that you need to know - following these rules will SAVE A LOT OF TIME during the college admissions process.
1) Try to be in the top 3-5% of your class in terms of GPA and ranking, and you'll be strong enough for consideration at most top schools. Being valedictorian just doesn't mean that much these days, and Harvard values other accomplishments equally
This varies depending on school. If you're at a tougher school, you'll have more latitude.
2) Get above a 2100 on your SAT and you'll be covered. Of course, this is the minimum cutoff - but there's no need to stress about a perfect score
Now, don't just AIM for a 2100 only. You should aim for a 2400. But my point is that your time and energy can be better spent elsewhere - for instance, in your tennis competitions, your Science Club, and your student government role
One more caveat - it's CRITICAL that you take every AP or IB class that your school provides. Admissions officers always review your transcript - and you can't come across like you're slacking off or it will hurt you.
Follow the rules above, and you'll have a great chance getting into the school of your dreams.
Finally, the single most critical advice I can give you in Hopeless to Harvard is this: it's all about telling a cohesive, convincing story about your life. You do this through your EC involvements, your essays, and your teacher recs - not your test scores.
College admissions is a tough game - but there are rules to getting into the best schools like Princeton and Stanford. I worked in the Admissions Office of a Top 20 school for 3 years, so I've had plenty of experience figuring out what really matters for high school students.
With your GPA, class rank, and SAT, there are only 2 rules that you need to know - following these rules will SAVE A LOT OF TIME during the college admissions process.
1) Try to be in the top 3-5% of your class in terms of GPA and ranking, and you'll be strong enough for consideration at most top schools. Being valedictorian just doesn't mean that much these days, and Harvard values other accomplishments equally
This varies depending on school. If you're at a tougher school, you'll have more latitude.
2) Get above a 2100 on your SAT and you'll be covered. Of course, this is the minimum cutoff - but there's no need to stress about a perfect score
Now, don't just AIM for a 2100 only. You should aim for a 2400. But my point is that your time and energy can be better spent elsewhere - for instance, in your tennis competitions, your Science Club, and your student government role
One more caveat - it's CRITICAL that you take every AP or IB class that your school provides. Admissions officers always review your transcript - and you can't come across like you're slacking off or it will hurt you.
Follow the rules above, and you'll have a great chance getting into the school of your dreams.
Finally, the single most critical advice I can give you in Hopeless to Harvard is this: it's all about telling a cohesive, convincing story about your life. You do this through your EC involvements, your essays, and your teacher recs - not your test scores.
About the Author:
Have an average GPA? Low SAT score? Hopeless To Harvard is an insider's account of how a B+ student got into Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Click here to learn how any smart high school student can get into an Ivy League school. Get into Harvard now!
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