Ugh, SATs

[lilkittyangel]

I have a LOT of trouble with math, and I basically bombed that section on the SAT. I did pretty well on the writing and reading and essay, but the math? Uggghhh. So my question is, did anyone here get into Stanford despite abysmal SAT scores? Or did everyone get really, really good scores? Like, how much does that matter in the application process

Comments

[spamchang]

abysmal is a relative term. you don't need a top 1% score, but if you don't have one, you should have other evidence of decent math ability--good grades in your math classes, for one, or a good recommendation from your math teacher(s).

[lilkittyangel]

Hey that is a pretty good idea, thanks! I got an A in algebra this past year, actually. I guess the format of the questions was what confused me.
:)

[magaliiiii]

um, all i can do is give you mine by comparison

math: 680
reading: 780
writing: 800

so yeah my math wasn't nearly as good.

also my friend got a 500 on math but she was also an affirmative action admit so idk.

[nyucknyuck]

"affirmative action admit"

Wow, so blunt with it. I thought people were usually a little more subtle...

I also had a 680 in math, which I'll admit isn't an abysmal score, but it isn't the best...

[magaliiiii]

Nah, she's the person who uses the term most frequently. She's not ashamed of it--she had a crappy upbringing in Philadelphia and had to learn math while dealing with a drug addict father and the lights or water going off occasionally when they couldn't pay. She'd never have gotten in by normal standards, but it doesn't mean she's not a smart kid or a hard worker. She's done better here than I have, lol.

[nyucknyuck]

Interesting. Why do you say she wouldn't've gotten in by normal standards? Didn't have the numbers? Or other parts of her application?

I'm a very low-income student (though I'm not an AA admit), and I think that had something to do with my being admitted. (Though I did get into some other equally selective schools, so I don't know to what extent it helped.) I suppose I'm open about that, but I don't often see people open about the AA issue. A bit too sensitive, I guess.

[lilkittyangel]

Dang! And you still got in? You must've had a really, really awesome essay or something...

[nyucknyuck]

480?