<p>4.4 GPA -- this is my gpa when you combine my gap from my roughly 2.5 yrs of high school -- 4.8 last term - take all the 5.0 courses possible, however it is impossible to make ALL my courses 5.0 bc some requires courses are on a 4.0 scale)</p>
<p>2100 SAT -- 730 reading, 750 writing, 620 math (eek..)</p>
<p>My ECs are strong, though I don't play any sports</p>
<p>My questions for you all are..</p>
<p>1) should I retake my SAT to try to bring up my math? I actually got a 188 on the PSAT (equivalent of 1880 SAT) and did not study for the SAT, So I was not expecting a 220 point rise in my score at all. However, now that I see I can get a strong score without studying, should I take the extra step of studying hard and maybe getting even better? Or should I consider myself lucky to have risen my score so much and just be content with it -- perhaps take a math SAT II subject test instead?</p>
<p>2) are my college ideas reasonable, and could you offer any suggestions? </p>
<p>No your college ideas are not reasonable. They’re all reaches for everyone schools - just read the “I’ve been rejected” threads here. There are many every day by students with higher qualifications than yours…</p>
<p>If you can prepare well, yes, retake the SAT. Work on your mistakes (use number2.com, a free website).</p>
<p>Sports don’t matter, but the schools you’re applying to consider “strong” to mean “national-level”. </p>
<p>Start by finding two schools you like and are sure you can get into (you’re well above the top 25% threshold). One of them would likely be your flagship’s honors college (or just your flagship, depending on your state… or, if you live in Virginia or Michigan or California, one of the public universities). Run the Net price calculator. Bring the results to your parents and discuss them.
Once you know what you can afford, find schools where you’re well above the top 25% threshold and apply there as soon as you can (rolling or EA).
Then, find 3-5 schools where your 2100 places you roughly at the top 25% threshold, can eb a bit below but well above the average. Run the Net Price calculators again and check you can afford them. If not, add 3-5 more schools where you’re at that rough level.
Then, add a few schools where you’re just average and where the admission rate is above 25%-30%.
FINALLY, and only then, you add your 5 “wild card” colleges.</p>