Are my scores good enough for HYPSM?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys, I have been stressing over my standardized tests scores lately. I was just wondering if my scores make me a competitive applicant at HYPSM this year? Btw, I will be applying through the QuestBridge national college match.</p>

<p>SAT 1: 770M, 730WR, 580CR. Took three times so I am not gonna take it again.
SAT 2: 770 Math 2, 760 Physics
ACT: Took 9/13/14, hoping for a 33+
AP: Calc AB Subscore (5), Calc BC (4), Lang and Comp (5), Physics B (4), APUSH (4), Calc AB (4), World History (3).</p>

<p>The rest of my app is really good, especially my awards, ecs and letters of rec. from my counselors and teachers.</p>

<p>Just wondering if I should retake my SAT 2 tests to try and get 800s and if my CR score will kill my SAT?
Also, if I get under 33 on the ACT I will retake to try and get 33+</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>580 CR is wayyyyyy too low for HYPSM. Even if it’s the fourth time a higher score will look much better imo</p>

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<p>My son had 630 on CR (86th percentile), and I feel like he is doomed for <em>non</em>-HYPSM Ivies. Unless you have a learning disability, it would be hard to rationalize away a 530 CR, which is 58th percentile.</p>

<p>If your heart is set on HYPSM, and you aren’t diagnosed with a learning disability, contact your school about getting tested for a learning disability. Something has to be wrong to have such a low score on that test, three times, and have much higher scores across the board. It will be a huge plus for you to find out what is going on before you get into college.</p>

<p>I don’t know if even Questbridge could help you get in on a 530 CR. Your best bet would be to get into a position to be able to transfer.</p>

<p>So - would you consider non-HYPSM? What would make you change your mind if you would not consider non-HYPSM?</p>

<p>I am also thinking along the lines of Carnegie-Mellon or another more tech-oriented school based on your AP scores.</p>

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<p>@thegivingtree‌ Thanks for your opinion. If my ACT is 33+ should I just not submit my SAT scores?</p>

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<p>Well,I am just a humble high school student(senior class).Anyway,if I would be in your place I would take SAT 2 Literature test and I would aim for a 750-800 score.If you do this,from my perspective,your test problems would be solved + you would show that you can overcome tough obstacles.</p>

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<p>You have to check with each school, but yes, I would say that if they all take ACT, don’t even send your SAT if you do well on the ACT. If you are a senior though, I’m not sure if all the timing will work out for you, so check on that.</p>

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<p>@thegivingtree‌ that’s really, really bad advice. </p>

<p>If you get a 33+ on the ACT, you are fine. Its one or the other. Your SAT isn’'t that bad anyway, but do not retake- chances are you’ve hit a score plateau. Definitely do NOT retake the SAT 2s to get 800s, you’ll look score focused and its a waste of your time. Your scores are excellent. No school will accept or reject you because you have a 760 vs an 800.</p>

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<p>@guineagirl96‌ Thanks for your advice. I have heard that retaking high 700s looks bad so thanks for confirming that. Im really not that score focused, just trying to make sure my scores are good enough to make me competitive so that the other parts of my app can shine through. Thanks for your help!</p>

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<p>I disagree with guinea girl. They will be able to tell why you are retaking it. It’s not like you have 750s across the board, so she is wrong in that regard. You should take the SAT again. Don’t get into hypotheticals with the ACT. Take the SAT again and really push to bring the CR up to at least 650.</p>

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<p>Even a 650 will not be high enough for the Ivies. The ACT is your best hope. SATIIs are fine now.</p>

<p>Are your problems with the CR section from a language difficulty? </p>

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<p>@fauve You are heavily exaggerating the weight of test scores in the college admissions process.</p>

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<p>@AnnieBeats @fauve No I just really have trouble with the Critical Reading section. Everything else I am good at, math I missed one question and writing missed 3 with an 11 essay, but the reading I just have trouble with. I am just afraid taking it a fourth time isn’t going to do anything. Do you guys really think that one bad score in one section of my testing will hurt my chances that much?</p>

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<p>HYPSM level schools absolutely want very good CR scores. They know CR mastery is the key to succeeding in Ivy level courses, where reading and analyses of quantities of texts are crucial to passing courses. </p>

<p>A 650 or 680 might be overlooked, but 580 is a red flag. </p>

14

<p>So the fact that I have gotten A’s in every language class I have taken and I got a 5 on the AP Lang and Comp test won’t do anything to help reassure them? If my ACT is a 32+ should I just submit that and not my SAT because of my CR? Thanks for your input btw, I appreciate it.</p>

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<p>If your ACT is 32 and your reading score is decent, yes, I would submit that instead, along with the SAT IIs.</p>

<p>Do you have any interest in the tech schools, MIT, RPI, Caltech, etc, where the CR might not have the same impact?</p>

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<p>A QB applicant with a 32/33 ACT will make people notice. Best of luck to you</p>

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<p>@fauve those are the main schools I will be applying to. My top four are Stanford, Princeton, MIT and Caltech and I plan on majoring in engineering at any of the schools. On my post title I used HYPSM but I am only interested in PSM and Caltech. Sorry about that. Do you think this will make any difference?</p>

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<p>Thanks for your input! @T26E4‌ </p>

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<p>Btw, on my practice leading up to the ACT I was scoring in the range of 28-31 on reading. The real test yesterday was more difficult but I still think I scored above 28 on reading and pretty high on everything else. @fauve</p>

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<p>Great, keep at it and best of luck.</p>