<p>hahahah, fine. Well said.</p>
<p>Ohhhh, so you took the AP exams rather than actually taking the courses?</p>
<p>You do make a point. I kind of forgot about the, although pretty minimal amount, of financial aid I would need :(. Although I still believe I will be able to raise my SAT score 500 points… :)</p>
<p>But a kid can dream, right? :)</p>
<p>ok, what leads you to believe that? serious question.</p>
<p>What leads me to believe that I’ll be able to raise my SAT score by 500 points?</p>
<p>Well, I believe that several factors come into play. The first factor would be that, just like you said, I was able to increase my PSAT score throughout the years. And well, if the pattern continue I would be able to increase my SAT score by 150 points or so a year. So by the time I would take the SAT for the last time (October or November senior year if possible) my score would probably be around 1900. Now, that’s if nature takes its course, without any studying or anything - like I have been doing.</p>
<p>But, like I aforementioned, I am extremely determined. When I set my mind to something, I’ll do anything in the realm of possibilities to make it come true (well, of course there is a limit - I’m not going to go and commit a theft :)). I have several SAT prep materials (flashcards, prep books, vocab books, pdfs, and the number of a highly successful SAT tutor - in case I end up going that far). Also, let me remind you that I have all summer to prep (well, my internship takes up around 8 hours a day, but I’ll probably end up doing 2 to 3 hours of prep a night if I decide to). Now, imagine prepping ALL summer (two full months left). That would probably help me raise my score around 200 to 300 points itself, maybe even more. Also keep in mind the things I haven’t learned yet. So, by the end of junior year, I should most likely know everything one should know for the SAT. So, by prepping some more I should be able to use that knowledge wisely and do well on the SAT…but we’ll have to see. Also, since the boarding school is close to MIT, and since they have some sort of connection, it has come to my understanding that several students tend to take SAT prep courses every sunday in MIT ([MIT</a> ESP - SATPrep](<a href=“http://esp.mit.edu/learn/SATPrep/index.html]MIT”>MIT ESP - SATPrep)) so that could be a possibility also (I’m highly considering doing this - but I’m not completely sure yet :))</p>
<p>And, well, all in all, when I set up a goal, I wont stop until I’ve reached it. In this case, my goal is to get a 2250+ or so by the time I apply to colleges. And I WILL do it.</p>
<p>I hope that answered your question :D</p>
<p>and if you get a 1900-something in november?</p>
<p>you need to be prepared for that possibility.</p>
<p>November as in my senior year? Or this upcoming november? If you are referring to this upcoming november, I think a 1900 wouldn’t be so bad. Yeah, it would be a little less than I was probably hoping, but really, I’d still have a whole year left of learning and prepping (another full summer also, if I would really need to :))</p>
<p>Although I was actually hoping that the last time I’d have to take the SAT would be May of my junior year. But if I still haven’t reached my goal, I’d be willing to devote part of my summer to get the score I deserve by October/November of my senior year. :)</p>
<p>senior year. 1900s as your final score. </p>
<p>“score you deserve?” you don’t deserve any score. people who get 2400s don’t deserve them. people who get 1200s don’t deserve them. They got that score by getting a particular number of points on the test. Collegeboard doesn’t give a damn if you spent a year and a half of your life slaving over workbooks. That doesn’t get you bonus points. You are not entitled to anything.<br>
at a certain point, it doesn’t matter how many words you memorise or how many practise problems you do. it’s simply a matter of whether or not you can reason through certain problems correctly and quickly. and at a certain point, that ability cannot be trained in the space of a year and a half.</p>
<p>Why are you such a hater? 
</p>
<p>Ohh…well…if that does happen, I guess I’d have to change my college list drastically…but it’s NOT going to happen. I’m 100% sure of it. I’m not cocky, I’m just confident. I don’t know if you’re trying to bring down my confidence, but it’s not going to work. I’ll try as hard as possible to get the score I WANT (not deserve :)). Practice DOES makes perfect. Yeah, slaving over workbooks might not get me those bonus points, but at least it will get me somewhere - hopefully closer to my goal.</p>
<p>I know you’re trying to make me be more realistic, but I know how far I can push myself - and I WILL push myself to that 2250+.</p>
<p>Instead of bringing down my confidence, I think you’re just raising it 
I think you’ve even inspired me :)</p>
<p>Ok, so, after much deliberating (and arguing with a fellow CCer:)) I’ve decided to update my list a little. </p>
<p>So, so far it’s going to look a little like this (of course I’m going to have to narrow it down even more):</p>
<p>Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Duke *
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
Brown University
Georgetown
Rice *
Vanderbilt *
UC-Berkeley
Carnegie Mellon
WUSTL *
Tufts
U of Chicago *
University of Virginia *
New York University
University of Southern California *
UNC - Chapel Hill *
Tulane University *</p>
<p>I tried ordering them through selectivity. I also realize my list is extremely long, but I still have about a year to completely narrow it down to around 8 schools or less.</p>
<ul>
<li>Known for giving good merit scholarships</li>
</ul>
<p>As everyone has already mentioned, you need your SAT score to go up to at least 2100, preferrably 2250+, to be considered. Start your practicing now and you should be able to acheive a 400 point improvement with some hard work. You are on the right track otherwise!</p>
<p>hahaha, thanks 
I’ve already started practicing (started memorizing vocab words, have been reading A LOT - I’ve read 7 books this summer to be exact, all classics also, with a dictionary by hand, been writing several essays on various topics using the universal templet mentioned in the SAT prep section, but I haven’t started anything math-related yet) so, hopefully, by the October test date my score will be much higher.</p>
<p>Josh - I think some of the communication issues between you and IBM are likely cultural/English as a non-primary language issue. He could lay off a little, but you need to also understand that some of what you say comes across as kind of wishful thinking. Hey, if you do it, great. Then you can laugh and tell everyone you were right. I think the real issue is that asking people to chance you for those schools when you don’t have anywhere near those scores needed yet is rather useless. I mean what can people say? If you get 2250+, of course you have a chance at these schools. If you get 1900, not so much. Why not wait and see where you come in with your scores before wasting time on a chance?</p>
<p>BTW Duke, WUSTL and Chicago do have merit aid, but it is limited and very competitive. Tulane and USC are more generous, I don’t know about the others.</p>
<p>Thanks fallenchemist. You’re right. I didn’t really want this thread to come off as a chance thread, since I pretty much have over one full year before I even actually start to apply to these schools. I was simply asking if I was on track to becoming a successful applicant when the time actually comes. </p>
<p>I do agree that it might have come off as wishful thinking…but, at its simplest form, goals start out simply as wishes. I bet 5 years ago you didn’t think you would be at Tulane right now (is that where you are? or am I wrong?). Basically, what I’m trying to say is that my goal may seem a little unrealistic right now, but, as long as I believe in myself (which is really all that matters, right? I don’t need a couple of CCers telling me I can’t get in to my dream school) then I’ll be able to achieve my goal.</p>
<p>I really only started this thread just to see if I was on track to achieving my goal of attending one of my dream schools, while getting the advice of people who know more about the application process. But, the experience has been unrewarding - the only advice I’ve been given is to raise my SAT score (which, as I posted on my original post I was planning on retaking several times anyways - since I AM only a rising junior) by about 15 to 20 different people. They were practically stating the obvious (not that their input was completely useless :)).</p>
<p>Well, that is because except for your SAT score you are completely on the right track, lol. (Oh, one nitpicky thing. 4/65 is not top 5% technically, but it hardly matters) The SAT score is your only weakness and you have the right plan to do your best to raise it. So I guess the good news is what you are taking as bad news; that there really isn’t much else people can tell you. Just keep up the grades, stay involved in EC’s, and work hard on your SAT prep. Like I said, if you make the increase you desire you have a great chance. If not, there are a lot of really great schools that would love to have you and you can be very happy at.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with dreaming, or even wishful thinking, as long as one foot remains in reality. I think you are completely fine in that regard. Of course you have to strive to meet difficult goals. You are right, that is the point. But I think there is no other useful advice other than to come back on when you have what you think are your “final” stats and let’s see where the chips fell.</p>
<p>Oh btw, I am a Tulane alum. There certainly was nothing like CC when I went to school!</p>
<p>Thanks fallenchemist. And I actually noticed that right after posting the thread :D</p>
<p>I think I’m going to take a break and just focus on SAT prep during the rest of the summer and then I’ll focus on school and Ecs I guess I’ll be back in around 10 months or so (with a 2000+ on the SAT :)).</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help.</p>
<p>Hi Josh, after reading this entire thread, just reiterating the obvious, you need to raise your SAT scores by a substantial amount. OK everyone knows that, but have you ever considered taking the ACT? It’s considered to be easier, but unfortunately, some schools require you to send in ALL your SAT and/or ACT scores (i.e. Yale, even though it was from your first list). Thus, it may not look as great if you took the SAT 5 times and finally got a 2250, compared to taking the ACT two times and going from a 33 to a 35. I do believe that you can raise your SAT score by a large amount, but you do have to be prepared for not quite reaching your goal (unfortunately 
). I believe in you, raising your score that much has happened in the past, and it is bound to happen again in the future. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I think I might take the ACT into consideration. It’s just, I’ve already prepped so much for the SAT, and I don’t really want it all to go to waste But, I think I’ll still take it anyways As for Yale asking for all my test scores, would that be a good thing? It would show an upward trend? Going from 1730 to 2000 to 2300 (not that I’m gonna get that high, or even aiming that high, but still)? But what you said does makes sense. Thanks though :)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I can’t chance you with that SAT score yet. Study hard for it, and continue your extracurriculars.</p>
<p>^ Thanks anyways though. I’m planning on retaking it on either October or December, so I’ll post up my updated scores by then. The funny this is that at my current school (where the average is about 1400), I have what they call a "superb’, or even ‘extraordinary’ score. Thank god I’m going to a competitive prep school this fall :)</p>