Advice for a junior please!

<p>Hi! I have a 4.89 weighted GPA and 3.97 unweighted GPA. I've taken the SAT twice--2180 on the first try; my math score plummeted 50 points on my second take, and I ended up with a 2130 on my second try (March 10th). </p>

<p>Since I'm taking 2 subject tests in June, the only other SAT slot I have left is in May. I'm currently taking 8 classes a day, starting from 7:00 AM zero period to around 5:00-6:00 pm with lacrosse. Both of my weekends are filled with extracurricular activities. My mother refuses to allow me to take the May SAT, seeing that I don't have much time after I get home every day. I know she has a valid point, but not taking the SAT in May means that my next chance will be in October, meaning that I'll be stuck with the two scores I have now for EA.</p>

<p>Is this a good idea? I know that a drop of 50 points is detrimental toward college applications. Should I even bother applying for EA next year? I'm taking Biology and Math 2 SAT II's this year, and I'm studying to get 800's on both of them. I have taken 2 subject tests last year, Chem-770 and Chinese-800. </p>

<p>Do you think I should wait till next year to take the SAT again and study over the summer? Also, if I stick to my scores now, should i bother applying for EA Universities such as Brown or John Hopkins? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your input.</p>

<p>With your GPA, current SAT scores and current SAT IIs so far, you have a Academic Index of around 227. Since it takes about a 214 + or so for Brown and just slightly less for John Hopkins, I think you are foolish to worry about the SAT scores. </p>

<p>I'd only consider retaking them if you plan to apply at HYPS, MIT, Caltech, Dartmouth or Columbia. Otherwise, your scores are perfectly fine.</p>

<p>It's more important to keep up the grades, and work on the ECs, like your lacrosse, your volunteer work, and leadership activities (clubs, academic competitions, etc.)</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>Calcruzer,
i;m in the same situation..my SAT is 2180 (first try)..
what do u think i should shoot for next time , if i'm thinking about HYPS, MIT, CIT....? 2200+? (i have a strong GPA)</p>

<p>thanks in advance,</p>

<p>Those schools require about a 2250+, but the resume needs to show strong leadership, volunteer work, or academic achievement.</p>

<p>The one other possibility to get in is if you excel as an athlete, have a famous father/mother or are a music prodigy (this is why top musicians and people like John McEnroe and Tiger Woods get into Stanford, and why George Bush Junior got into Yale and Harvard). Oh, and I almost forgot famous actorsactresses (think Jody Foster at Yale). She was a movie star at the age of 7.</p>

<p>I think it's worth mentioning that some schools super-score the SAT. That is, they take your highest subscores from all your SAT sittings and consider that (best possible) score for admissions purposes. So while they would see you lost 50 points on your 2nd take, by policy, the admissions folks wouldn't consider the drop.</p>

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Those schools require about a 2250+

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<p>False statement. There are no "required" SAT scores for these schools. I've seen kids with SAT's as low as 2080 get into Harvard, with no "special" advantages like URM, legacy, etc. I think a 2180 is fine but if you think you can do better, then by all means go for it, just don't think that having a 2180 completely slashes your dreams of getting into Brown or Hopkins.</p>

<p>Agreed with Spiffy. I think you guys need to realize that while getting a 2250+ increases your chances, there are many people that are accepted without it.</p>