<p>So I just went to a college prep center kinda thing b/c
my parents freaked out at my SAT I score (2100 highest from each section, this June one was like 1920..urgg) This was my 3rd time.</p>
<p>Since I'm thinking of applying to Ivies, I was worried and then my parents got worried and yada yada.</p>
<p>So I went there (first meeting) and the conselor's like going crazy.
He said that taking SAT 3rd time is very bad and it would hurt me. (and cited Harvard's infamous FAQ "We consider a student's best test scores, but it is generally our experience that taking tests more than twice offers diminishing returns." BTW what do they mean by diminishing returns? do they mean during admission process or like the scores? and the best score from each subset regardless of date taken of what?)</p>
<p>Then he saw my GPA (my 9th and 10th good, but junior not so good) which is like 3.8 uw. and freaked out and like totally crushed my hopes of applying to Ivies. He said with that GPA it's hard to even apply to UVA. </p>
<p>So my parents were very disappointed and whatnot. He says with my academic stats, ECs won't even matter for they will almost certainly reject me.</p>
<p>He's suggesting I wait until the senior year to pull up my grade and apply early to wherever with 1st quarter grade as supplement. </p>
<p>So like my home's like torn battlefield right now...</p>
<p>No no no, a 2100 and a 3.8 (especially unweighted) will not completely ruin your chances. A 3.8 is relatively high, and should at least help make up for 2100 (little less that what would be preferred). But more important to your application will be how you show your character. At the top tier schools, most everyone applying is qualified academically, and so are you. Whether they weed you out or not depends on how your person shows through in your application. Again, your scores do not by any means rule you out or automatically throw you into the rejection pile.</p>
<p>Also, this parent thing sounds like a bother. Make sure you're applying to wherever you apply because YOU want to go there and not because your parents want you to. You don't want to be stuck someplace you don't want to be for four years do you?</p>
<p>I am assuming from your username you are from NOVA (Fairfax?), and if so, you are lucky to have UVA in your state. However, UVA normally has a lower acceptance rate from NOVA than they do from southern VA. So I would say you are probably a slight reach there. As far as Ivies, they are reaches for everyone. </p>
<p>My opinion: Take the ACT. See how you do. Take SAT IIs. Apply to UVA ED if you want to go there (it's an excellent school!). Improve your grades in Senior year.</p>
<p>I'm not applying to Ivies b/c my parents...
I'm actually one of the few people who actually want to go to Ivies in my school.
So my GPA WILL hurt me but it won't like totally destroy my chances?</p>
<p>also what does Harvard mean by the quote they have in FAQ?</p>
<p>Yes it will hurt but won't totally destroy your chances. People in your life need to stop freaking out. =P</p>
<p>About what Harvard said.. <em>sigh</em>. Go take an economics class. =P Basically what it means that increases in your scores will keep decreasing. For instance, the increase from your second to first take was 100. Third to second was 50. Fourth to third was 25. Your overall score is increasing, sure, but at a much smaller jump. Get what I mean? =)</p>
<p>And.. you shouldn't have to worry if you're instate for UVa. You have a pretty good chance to get in.</p>