SAT/ACT Scores
Hi,
This is my first post on this forum. I just did an interview with a big bank on Wall St. (not GS) that asked me for my SAT/ACT scores. Let me just say that they were s***, in high school I was your typical American kid who didn't give a **** about school and all I cared about was girls, football, and cars. I did however attend one of the best high schools in my area, my grades were OK with about a 3.2 GPA.
With my s*** SAT/ACT scores I got into a top 100 college where I ended up graduating in the top 15% of my class, I was also a member of every honor society the school had and made deans list frequently. I grew up A LOT in college.
I think it is pretty obvious that my test scores from nearly 6 years ago are not a good indicator of who I am now. What should I do in interviews? Can I fibb about these scores or tell the truth then try and spin it with my turn around story? Did I really f*** my career over 6 years ago in high school? Should I just brush it off and mention my college GPA?
Thanks for your help.
You went to a top 100 (i.e. probably ranked 75-100), did poorly on the SATs, and are asking if you can lie about your scores?
Welcome to ops, my friend.
You are allowed to retake the SAT/ACT at anytime no matter your age....
youre a loser you bum
Yea, I know top 100 big deal. People on the east coast are really judgemental about where you went to college. I think it was in the mid-70's. Seriously though, how can one dumb test score really determine your future. My sister went to high school with a girl who got a 4.0 GPA and a perfect score on both the SAT and ACT. She was thought to be a 'prodigy,' she got into every Ivy league school she applied to. She ended up going to Harvey Mudd college in California where she dropped out and became an 'erotic' dancer at a night club.
SAT & ACT scores are totally bullsh*t if you ask me.
I graduated college with a 3.9 GPA, but since I got a crappy score on the SAT/ACT I have no chance?
Is your sister still turnin' tricks in Pomona?
Weak SAT/ACT scores are challenging to overcome from what I understand (this is certainly true for consulting). Many firms, however, accept GMAT scores in lieu of SAT/ACT (especially since those are used to screen MBA candidates already).
Taking the GMAT might also have more value to you (as opposed to re-taking the SAT/ACT), since scores are valid for up to 5 years.
Don't lie. Don't avoid any questions either since the interviewer will just assume you have something to hide and expect the worst. Tell the truth and tell your story.
Not my sister, it was some girl she went to school with. Your hilarious, but I am looking for advice
Thanks, I figure that they are not a deal breaker. People change in college A LOT, I just wish I would have cared more in HS...
Do they actually check your scores?
At what point should you consider putting your SAT scores on your resume? What would be the cutoff?
1400+ is the general cut off (pretty much median scores for most target schools)
When you submitted your application you essentially consent to them checking your scores via a background check, which I'm told they will inevitably run. In some instances they will perform the check even after you've received an offer and in certain instances have unceremoniously asked individuals to leave because of discrepancies. Your best bet is to feign ignorance and not reference it in an interview or put it on your resume. Given your supposed stellar GPA they would (or possibly SHOULD) not put too much emphasis on the lack of the SAT score, but you never know who may ask. As long as your SATs are 1350+ you should not have an issue (though 1400+ is ideal as usually people in the 90+% score in that range).
Your reference to the dancer classmate of your sister, however, leads me to believe you are quite possibly a troll, but here's to hoping otherwise.
for S&T they will matter a lot for banking im not sure
I never took the SAT only the ACT I think I got a 24 on it. I didn't really try as hard as I should have. I didn't start taking courses in 6th grade like everyone else, I just walked in and took the test, once. Since my score was good enough to get me into the school I wanted to go to, I never took it again.
I am not a troll, last time I checked.
That story about my sister's classmate was only to prove my point that a test you take in high school is not a good indicator of who you will be in the future. She was the kind of kid whose parents pumped her full of Adderall, violin lessons, and SAT/ACT prep courses at a young age. From the looks of it she was so burned out by all of it she went nuts when she got to college. I on the other hand had a normal childhood, I just never got serious until I was in college.
1600 does help very small, but they may ask you when you took Physics C and Linear Algebra in high school. They can what courses one has taken. But most important attitude matters a lot.
Sorry bro, I know too many rich and/or connected kids who are in Goldman, top PE firms, Top hedge funds, - they did not have any high SAT, or High GPA. Some of them were in Ivies and some of them were from lower rank colleges. It did not matter much, through connections, majority of them landed in very good firms and well paying positions. None of these kids got into any single Quant funds.
Now if you are like me, neither connected nor rich, then to break into top tier job you have to break your back and show the firm that you are ready to work by showing your work and your achievements. How do you do prove yourself to the company? Only through SAT, High GPA, very hard course load at top tier university, you can break the mold. Once you land summer internship that demand very rigorous workload and you prove yourself, you build relationships, and then only you will be invited to top places for final round of interviews. In addition, your attitude still matters a lot. You cannot just say look at me, and think world owe you. They owe you nothing. Nobody cares, you still have to have an attitude to be mild and willing to learn and help others. This is a team effort, not an individual marathon.
Lastly, many people who were not student stars and came from low rank colleges have succeeded in building relationships and earn the superior’s trust and have advanced in the finical markets. There are many many examples. Through their hard work, the superior can fall back on these people in their hour of need. This is a very slow, tedious and never ending work if you want to succeed, nobody can stop you. You can stills succeed without being a super star student. However, attitude is most important factor.
ACT/ SAT Score's Please Advise (Originally Posted: 01/14/2011)
Hi,
I'd appreciate if you all can offer some insight for me in respects to my low SAT scores. I got a 1200 on the SAT's 5+ years ago and recently when applying for an internship with a fund/ research company was asked to provide them. How should I respond?
Should I provide scores and mention that my GPA in finance is 3.7 with over 20 credit hours? Should I not respond to email and just wait for the phone interview I have next week with them...and bring up the question then?
Thanks
There's nothing really you could do. I'd say just be honest and provide them. No point in dicking around the issue
SAT scores aren't really a good measure of intellect anyways. Provide them, but just know that if you've got a strong resume, they take it with a grain of salt.
Thanks for the input; I really appreciate it.
Is it normal to be asked for your GPAs and SAT score in your 30s? (Originally Posted: 10/03/2015)
I don't have my GPAs listed on my resume because I'm over 30 years old. People can infer my age from my graduation date from undergrad. For some reason, I tend to get asked for my GPAs and SAT score during interviews. Is it because I'm interviewing for certain roles within finance or is it the way I'm coming across during the interviews? I interviewed with the CEO of a boutique company and he even asked me for my GPAs and SAT score which shocked me.
GPA would make sense but SAT probably not in the 30s. I think it depends on the job. I have never been asked either GPA or SAT score because of the brutal interviews in my field (software dev).
My MD never asks for GPA unless the candidate in his late 20s /early 30s lacks of relevant experience.
For top hedge funds yes it's asked
-30 something
SAT / GMAT score (Originally Posted: 04/15/2008)
do GMAT and SAT scores play more than a negligible role in interview selections for Associate positions at BB?
I do not select applicants or work yet in a bank, but when my father was looking at some research assistants for his company: a kid said that he got a 1600 on his SAT. My father had been hearing me bitch and moan about the SAT for the past 6 months, so he knew that 1600 was amazing. That was just another +1 for my father's hiring decision.
Remember, you will always be a salesman, no matter how fancy your title is. - My ex girlfriend
I can say with great certainty that IB/MC do look at gmat scores during recruiting and like to see a 710+ but again it is only one metric by which they use to compare potential hires (not a pre-req). Unless you scored a 1600 on your SAT there is absolutely no reason to have an obsolete HS data point on your resume.
I took the GMAT before recruiting for full-time and I got a 710+, it seemed to help me get first round interviews, which is half the battle coming from a non-target
did u get the ER position?
I've heard from multiple recruiters that if you are early in your professional career and your SAT score was very good, then you should include it. I can say that including it did not seem to hinder my ability to get interviews or a job in private equity. It's really just a matter of personal preference. If I had taken the GMAT and my score was good, then I would have included that instead.
well, i have a 700 gmat score. not top notch, nor overly impressive. i plan to apply to ER within my firm (one of the BB) a year from now after i've completed all 3 levels of the CFA designation. it seems that is not enough to give me an edge over other candidates. what else can i do to prepare for the interview?
ppl say follow stocks. that is too general for me to understand and implement. what EXACTLY are they looking for me to articulate? i've read both scoopbook's ibanking books but i am still clueless what answers ER is looking for?
ppl say complie an ER report. i can easily get one but reading one makes my head spin as it is so heavily versed on industry knowledge and jargon rather than really P/E, DDM valuation explanations....
What do you do know with the bank?
product control / derivatives / trader support
ACT and SAT Scores (Originally Posted: 11/16/2014)
Hey guys,
I've read that several banks/HF/PE request SAT scores (and section breakdowns) on their application or resume. I have a great ACT (99 percentile) but a poor SAT (sub 2000) that I took once.
Will all firms/headhunters let me put the ACT and omit the SAT (there was a thread last year about JPM's SA online app having a SAT space but not ACT) or will it bite me in the ass when recruiting for MF PE and HF (and possibly background check)? And I was wondering if I should take the SAT again considering that it'll change again in 2016.
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