<p>So I have a 3.08 gpa, I've always been behind a year in math (I was suppose to take algebra 1 freshmen year but I took pre-algebra and then I took algebra 1 freshmen year and so on). I took 2 years of intermediate Spanish. I get mostly A,B, and C's rarely a D and I never fail. I'm taking a AP Class my senior year and honors philosophy. I have a classified learning disability. I've taken chem and I've did well in that class and Spanish and pre-algebra are the only not so smart classes I've taken. I go to a small catholic school and my class rank in the middle. But I really do not think I'll get in anywhere. I still haven't taken my SAT or ACT and I'm a really bad standardized test taker. I also play sports and do service hours all the time. I really want to get into slippery rock university or york college of pa but I'm scared I won't get in</p>
<p>Do you have an IEP plan at school for your learning disability? You can get accommodations for SAT or ACT like extra time, etc. have you taken practice tests of either one? Did you take the PSAT? If you really can’t do testing, you should look at schools that don’t require it.<br>
With your GPA and extracurricular efforts, you should be a contender at both schools with a sat of 1600 or an act in the 20s. </p>
<p>I do have a sevice plan and I’m using the extra time on the SAT and ACT. I did take the PSAT and did terrible. That one of the reasons why I’m so afraid. </p>
<p>I also have varsity letters and I’m captain of my XC team</p>
<p>The only things that will be considered for colleges in your case will be your grades and ACT/SAT. Your service hours and varsity letters will not be part of your evaluation. Please understand this.</p>
<p>You need to meet w/your guid counselors Tuesday, see where others of similar ability have applied/been accepted to in the past. Also, you must sign up for the next available ACT/SAT or your options in Sep '15 will be community college.</p>
<p>The good news is that it’s still August. You’ve still got time to shape your future, but you haven’t a moment to loose. </p>
<p>A good showing on the SAT or ACT can be your equalizer and open the doors that you fear are already closed. Pick either SAT or ACT test and start studying for it. Do not attempt to study for both, choose only one of them. You can self study or get a tutor or consider an SAT or ACT study class. If you’re not a solid self study person then I’d seriously consider signing up for a SAT or ACT study class. Pick the earliest test date you can based upon when you can complete a good study regiment for the test. Plan on repeating the test you choose in January. Why? You can study for the test again over winter break. If you do you’ll improve on your first test score results from the fall test. The average person raises their SAT score 100 points on the second attempt.</p>
<p>Make sure you understand all the accommodations that are possible. Pay particular attention to the accommodations you need. For many people that’s extra time, but extra time isn’t the only accommodation available, it’s just the default that everyone thinks of. Check out the SAT and ACT websites for details under registration. </p>
<p>Again, I would not be attempting to take both SAT and ACT in your case. You might simply choose the test that gives you the accommodations you need. No school you’re applying to requires both tests, that’s Ivy league stuff.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Are you a junior or senior?</p>
<p>If you’re in the middle of your class, there is a school for you. I can’t imagine there aren’t people in the bottom half going to 4 year schools. You may not get into the college of your choice, but there is always a school for you as long as you’re not failing. And, essays can give you a slight advantage if you spend a lot of time on them, showing your true passions.</p>
<p>Senior</p>
<p>You will get accepted somewhere, there are colleges (even 4 year colleges) with open admissions, although I think you can find a college without open admissions that will accept you. What score did you get on your PSAT?</p>
<p>I know I scored in the 30’s range for each section. I know I did really really bad. My grades never reflect on my standardized test scores though. I struggle so much with standardized tests</p>
<p>Right now, your PSAT is too low for SRU and some other PASSHE schools (not all). The good news is that you only need to bring it up a little, and with a tutor that is very doable. I bet you didn’t prepare seriously before you took the PSAT, am I right? So, with preparation and a good tutor, you can increase that score to at least 400-450 in every section.
Regardless, you have good odds if you apply to one of the colleges below. Some universities with “holistic” admissions would take your IEP and being captain of XCountry into account, further helping you. </p>
<p>Did you get all the accomodations you are entitled to? Check and make sure to request them before you take either the SAT or the ACT.</p>
<p>See your guidance counselor right this week to see if you could get a tutor. You need to spend the next two months preparing for the October SAT. Then plan to take it again in December in order to increase your score once you’ve seen what it’s “really” like (most people take it more than once, don’t worry about it.) Applying in the Fall-Winter (November to the lowest-ranked schools, December to to highest- ranked schools) gives you a better shot at admission and financial aid.</p>
<p>If you raise your score to 1400-1500, you’re good for SRU.
With 1450-1550 you can also apply to Lycoming, Eastern, Penn State Altoona, Penn State Harrisburg, Chatham, Arcadia, Messiah, West Chester, Lebanon Valley, Susquehanna (a very good university!), Mercyhurst, Siena (fancy NYC? It’s a train ride from the city!), Wells, Hartwick, SUNY Brockport, Molloy, Towson, Xavier, John Carroll, Rowan, Drew (also a train ride from NYC!).</p>
<p>Other schools you can aim for if you get to 1350-1400: Pitt Greensburg or Pitt Johnstown, Millersville, Bloomsburg, IUP, Cedar Crest, Cal U, Manhattanville, SUNY Old Westbury, Hiram (great school), Muskingum, Davis&Elkins, Montclair State, Rider, Fairleigh Dickinson.</p>
<p>If you get 1250-1300: Greater Allegheny, Penn State Beaver, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Brandywine, Mansfield, Pitt Bradford, Clarion, Lock Haven, University of Baltimore, Caldwell, St Peter’s.</p>
<p>That’s 11 colleges if you score about 1300; 26 colleges if you score about 1400 (with 11 likelies); 48 colleges if you score 1500-1500 (with more than a dozen safeties.) 
And I didn’t even look very far away: all of these are either in a state that borders PA, or within PA itself!</p>
<p>You didn’t mention your budget:
RUN THE NET PRICE CALCULATORS for each of those to see which ones are affordable.
Out of State publics are likely to be more expensive than in state publics, for instance - but with Pennsylvania, one of the costliest states for instate tuition, you never know! </p>
<p>But, in short: keep working hard. Prepare for the tests seriously and consistently. Request the accomodations you’re entitled to. Apply as soon as you can. And you’re SURE to get into not just one, but several colleges!</p>
<p>I’m taking the SAT in November </p>
<p>Then you have two more weeks to prepare for the test… but do plan to retake in December or, as someone upthread said, in January. :)</p>
<p>Have you checked out some of the universities above (website)?
Have you visited some of them?</p>
<p>I’ve looked at a few. Some of them are too expensive for me. But some are good. But I want to major in early childhood education/ special education and that’s one of the main reasons I want to go to SRU or York college of pa</p>
<p>Don’t say “some are too expensive” until you’ve run the Net Price Calculator - there’s “sticker price”’ the total costs that only a number of people would pay, and the “net price”, which you can estimate with the NPC and which is “what your family will actually have to pay”. There’s typically a big difference between “sticker price” and “net price” for private universities in particular.
Even if your goal is SRU or York, you can"'t just apply to those two. If you read this forum, you’ll see it’s common for students here to apply to 10-12 schools… And considering you have an okay GPA but a likely low SAT score, it’s important you cast a wide net to make sure 1° you get a variety of admissions and 2° you can compare financial aid.
After you’ve run the NPCs, you’ll see “net cost” is going to be very, very different at the different schools.</p>
<p>Note:
NET COST should be looked at WITHOUT ANY LOAN - once you’ve deducted the scholarships and grants, how much do you have to pay? This is what you need to compare.
(You, as a freshman, can only borrow $5,500. IF the college presents “PLUS loans” as “financial aid”, drop them immediately :)</p>
<p>If I may also make a suggestion to the OP, check out William Paterson. It’d be a good fit for students with your PSAT range</p>