Am I ruined? :(

Applying to College
1

<p>Long story short:</p>

<p>I'm a senior.
I have a 2340 on the SAT1 (800 CR, 770 M, 770 W) from junior year
I have a 96%
National/International Awards
International student :( :( </p>

<p>But I ended up having to take my SAT2s VERY late because I was sick and stress and I don't know. So I took them Jan 2014 (I know, I know):</p>

<p>So I got 780 on Bio (decent, but I thought I managed a perfect score) and a 730 (!!!!!) on SAT Math 2. That's like 74th percentile!! I don't know HOW I made so many mistakes. I was nervous and didn't get much sleep, certainly, but I was scoring way better on practice tests.</p>

<p>The thing is, I took AP Bio junior year and AP Calc sophomore year. The last time I did precalc level stuff (and I never did an actual course) was freshman year, when I took Algebra 2 honours. Will universities cut me some slack? I'm applying only to highly selective schools.</p>

<p>I'm sorry for the hyperbolic title but I feel very depressed. I worked hard during high school for everything and I think my lack of sleep killed me :( </p>

2

<p>Calm down. You’re fine. You have a wide range of performance metrics, and you shine in all but one–and you didn’t do that badly in the one! Take a deep breath and try to refocus on the positive, and on the present. (And 74th percentile in Math2 doesn’t mean a C; it just means that a lot of other people are good at math, also. That is, the curve flattens out at the end.)</p>

3

<p>However, it’s a bad idea for anyone–even with perfect scores in everything–to apply only to highly selective schools. Apply ASAP to a safety, unless the prospect of waiting out a year to try again doesn’t scare you.</p>

4

<p>As marysidney says, your SAT does not “ruin” you but your decision to apply only to highly selective schools may. Didn’t you think you needed a safety?</p>

5

<p>I should’ve clarified - only highly selective US schools. I applied and got into a school with a large scholarship in my home country.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the advice. I was upset and overreacted a bit!</p>

6

<p>Many great schools do not even consider or require SAT2 score.</p>

7

<p>I know, but I applied to HYPCP + Emory. They do, and I thought I was at least a <em>reasonable</em> candidate otherwise.</p>

8

<p>Oh gosh. You’re fine…
My friend got into Yale (international student from China) with 2200 on the SAT, 800 in math, and like a 770 in history. Emory and HYPCP are also good and competitive universities but I mean…let’s be real. They look at a lot more other than your scores. So don’t worry. :slight_smile: You’ll be fine, assuming everything else stands out… :smiley: </p>

9

<p>“So I got 780 on Bio (decent, but I thought I managed a perfect score) and a 730 (!!!) on SAT Math 2. That’s like 74th percentile!! I don’t know HOW I made so many mistakes. I was nervous and didn’t get much sleep, certainly, but I was scoring way better on practice tests”</p>

<p>This is a joke, right?</p>

10

<p>I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, hah. I’m a bit tightly wound and was very surprised by this.</p>

<p>Oh well, I’ve already got into college. This is just a bonus. Thanks for the advice! </p>

11

<p>Yeah, you’re ruined. </p>