Could I get into Stanford or Princeton?

You could probably get into UCSB with those stats. The others might be a bit of a reach with your SAT score.

Not even UCSB with those low standardized test scores. And UCs don't weigh teach-to-the-test scores that much atall.

Don't they take into consideration the fact that I am a foreigner who has grown up speaking a completely different language and has to compete with american students that have spoken english their whole lives? My math score was pretty good, it was only the english score that kinda sucked because of my mother tounge, so I thought I would have a pretty good shot?

I have a translated GPA of 4.0, if that helps.

there are other applicants in your position of english being a second language who do well on the writing/reading SAT. i imagine if you do exceptionally well on the TOEFL, it would not matter AS much.

that said, are you rich? it will really help your chances of admission if you are.

Btw, I have already registered for a new SAT this fall. What would I have to perform on it to get into these schools?

Every applicant at UCLA, Cal, Stan, Prince has a 4.0 GPA and 98.5% percentile SAT. Expert ability to rote learn does not mean you will do well at a Top 10 school. You have to have extra-curiculars to be noticed bu admissions officers. Also keep in mind that if you are Asian your chances at Stan and Prince are 1/2 that of Whites due to racist exclusion quotas.

It'll be hard to get in running 1:54. You won't get any help from a coach. Run 1:53 or faster and they might take a longer look at you. If you have an indoor season wherever you are, run fast.

You could get into Princeton and Stanford with those scores if you were a foreigner and had like straight As (the best grades) as they'd understand you arent trained for the SAT.

But your times would need to be WAY faster. Neither school is going to recruit that.

Princeton would likely want 48.7 and 1:51 - maybe faster for those scores. Stanford 47.7 maybe 47.0 and 1:49.

People may think those marks are too fast but they aren't. 800 guys provide very little value to a team unless they can score as they can't do xc.

I've been doing some research and I really don't think that their SATs are THAT good. According to the collegeboard only 62% of the students that got admitted had 700-800 as their critical reading score.

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/stanford-university

Btw, I'm not asian. Caucasian.

But lets say I managed to run 1:52.xx and 49.3 pretty soon. What would I have to perform on my SAT to get admitted by Stanford or UCSB? Do you think 2100 does it?

Cause I doubt I'll be able to run sub 1:50 and 47,xx..

bump

ex ivy league coach wrote:

You could get into Princeton and Stanford with those scores if you were a foreigner and had like straight As (the best grades) as they'd understand you arent trained for the SAT.

according to this document I have straight As

so what is your first language?

norwegian

Unless you have a neat story ... think rags to riches story, your standardized test scores need to be near perfect, as others have stated.

And your reading/writing sections will definitely need to be above 700 at a minimum. You need to shoot for a 720-740. 750+ heightens your chances, but with so many good applicants it's so hard to tell.

I've learned that athletics at those types of schools don't really help you in the "rack and stack" process.

So with 740+ math, 720+ reading, 720+ writing, 1:52.5, 49.0, your chances are better but not guaranteed.

Tiger Pride wrote:

So with 740+ math, 720+ reading, 720+ writing, 1:52.5, 49.0, your chances are better but not guaranteed.

That's for the top notch schools, right? I hope I don't need those credentials to get into UCSB?

Btw, I don't have any rags to riches story. Not too late to make one, though? Any ideas? The closest I get is having dropped from 2:34 in the 800 as a 13 year old to 1:54 as a 17 year old.

Just curious, but why these three schools? Have these coaches already contacted you?

I know Coach Samara (Princeton) was in Germany this past weekend as he was the head coach for Team USA at the Thorpe Cup (decathlon competition), but he might be receptable to an email in the next few weeks. You could ask him what he looks for in international students and could give you a more realistic idea on what it would take to get into Princeton. You could do the same with Stanford and UCSB. Right now is the beginning of the recruiting season for people expecting to enter college in September 2013 and it's ok in NCAA guidelines for prospective student athletes to initiate contact with the coaches.

I have been contacted, but not by coaches at those universities.

I did some research and figured that those are the places I would be the happiest. Great combinations between athletics and academics (I'll probably study engineering or computer science or math or something) along with beautiful enviroments that are great for distance running. What other universities offer that?

Do you run anything other than 400/800? No 1500 or 5k times?

The very high SAT scores being quoted by others are not needed if you are actually being recruited and the coach is supporting your application. One score over 700 and the other two 650 range will get you in if they want you. A 2100 would be very good. And I know what I'm talking about - personal recent knowledge. But they have to really want you, and your current times are not quite there.

If you are not recruited, however, you will be competing with the general student body. And not even 800 SATs will assure you of getting in. Both schools admit well under 10% of applicants and most are very well qualified. It's pretty brutal.

I know an 800 runner with numbers very similar to yours who did not make it into Princeton - he spoke with the coach but they didn't push his application. But he was accepted by another very well known, prestigious Ivy League school that had more need for a runner of his abilities.

Stanford currently is without a distance coach or head coach. Hopefully they will bring someone on board soon. So recruiting will be on hold most likely for the next several weeks. Just so you know.

Thanks!

I haven't ran anything else this year, but plan on running a 1500 this fall. I ran a 1600 (mile) XC in 4:31 last year though, but back then I was in 1:58 shape for 800, so I could probably do alot faster this year.

I'll just concentrate on getting the 1:52,xx this year and work my but off before my SAT retake then!