Black Brilliance: Student-Athlete From New Jersey Earns Perfect SAT Score
According to the College Board's 2024 Annual Report, there were 77,320 SAT test-takers in the state of New Jersey. 7,947 of these students were Black. Two percent of these Black students earned a score ranging from 1400-1600.
A cross-country and track athlete, Negassi compared taking the SAT to beimg prepared for race day. 'When you're on the line, you've already put in the work,' Negassi told PIX11 NYC News. 'Your body is already as strong as it needs to be. At that point, the race is the easiest part. So I just went into it with that mindset of just trusting myself.'
The first time Negassi took the SAT in May 2024 he earned a 1530. He retook the exam in June and earned his 1600. He tried to study every day, despite a rigorous schedule of extracurriculars. He never took an SAT prep class, relying on his AP coursework, Khan Academy, and YouTube videos.
Negassi's extracurriculars are a college admissions officer's dream. In addition to running, the student-athlete is also a member of the varsity chess team, president of the math team, plays the cello in the Royal Strings ensemble, spent two seasons on the color guard, and is part of six honor societies including the National Honors Society.
He hopes that his perfect score will help him achieve his dream of attending Harvard University and becoming an engineer or a lawyer.
'Give me 10 years," Negassi told Black News. "I'll be out in the world doing something more important than a standardized test.'
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