<p>Hey guys, can anyone help me out and give me some advice?</p>
<p>The first time I took the SAT with little preparation earlier this year I got a 1750 (yeah..yeah..terrible). I took it the second and last time this month. The scores came back 2 days ago and they were LOWER than the 1750. I studied for months, skipping weekend outings, etc.</p>
<p>I guess I'm not a test-taker.</p>
<p>So I'm applying to about 10 schools. The top school I've been hoping for is Yale. At this point, I don't know. NYU is also one of my top schools. I am applying to George Washington and American as well.</p>
<p>Aside from the test, I have an OK GPA: 3.5. The things that really make me stand out are my extracurriculars (founded small company, overseas work, etc).</p>
<p>Supposing I have good essays, amazing extracurriculars, an OK GPA and a bad SAT, what should I do? How should I approach applying to NYU? </p>
<p>Should I try to justify my SAT score by writing an essay and attaching it to additional information? Is there anything else I can do at this point for NYU at the least. I'm still going to apply to Yale and other ivy leagues. < Any advice?</p>
<p>What do you think about February ACTs? Would it even work. I don't know how well I would do considering two bad scores, but I have been getting around 1900 during my SAT practice tests.</p>
<p>I'm taking SAT II's this January. Please reply! Thank you!!</p>
<p>Definitely try the ACTs. I know some people who just score terribly on the SATs but the ACTs work much better for them because of the science section. Your GPA is on the low side, but if you’re applying to CAS, you still have a good chance, especially if your extracurriculars stand out. I will note that NYU considers SAT/ACT scores as more significant than grades, so do try the ACT and aim for a great score.</p>
<p>Alright, I’m definitely going to sign up for them. For now I’m going to submit my applications with my current scores. Where would I state that I’m taking the February ACT.</p>
<p>Also, would this accept my chances in any way? Or would they wait until my ACT score comes in to chance me?</p>
<p>What kind of financial aid can I receive for NYU? Any more advice? Thanks!!</p>
<p>My suggestion is find safeties. Or even matches. Because at this point with a 3.5 GPA and 1750 SAT, the Ivies and NYU are NOT very likely. You really, really need schools that are in a better range.</p>
<p>Possibly state schools or schools like Northeastern or Syracuse would be high matches (so just below reach). GW and American are also towards the upper match area.</p>
<p>As for explaining the low score, maybe it’s not such a great idea. Without a legitimate reason, it comes off as an excuse. A reason and an excuse are different. You don’t want to be tossing out exuses at colleges.</p>
<p>Northeastern is one of my targets/safeties. I have a state school and another good safety too. I’m also applying to Boston U and American U. Should be fine, right?</p>
<p>NYU CAS is still the school I am aiming for. What else should I do to better my chances? This year they only require one SAT and no subjects, so I guess the SAT scores I sent + the subjects and maybe a good ACT score should be good.</p>
<p>Ivies are never likely, but I’m still gonna try. Gonna take the ACT in February and see how it goes. Is this the right path? How else should I stand out?</p>
<p>Feb results will be way too late for most colleges. By the time results are available, many/most decisions have already been made. You can check a college’s website to see if they even accept late scores.</p>
<p>Sorry to say, but a 3.5/1750 is not worth the app fee to Yale, IMO. A 1750 is even low for recruited athletes as the Ivies, which generally need to clear 1800. But as the Great Gretsky was fond of saying, 'You miss every shot that you don’t take".</p>
<p>All the websites I checked say that the latest ACT score accepted is February. Some of the colleges say it’s fine and others, like Yale, say that they “can’t guarantee” that it will come on time. Is it worth it?</p>
<p>I just checked the ACT website and they state that with priority sending the scores would come within 2 - 3 business days. This is electronic, not like SAT rush right?</p>
<p>Again, I believe that it’s up to the extracurriculars. I know a few people (not recruited athletes) who got in because of the things they did outside of school–with an 1780/1800 sat and a mediocre gpa.</p>
<p>I’m not giving up.</p>
<p>At the least, how should I prepare for NYU CAS? The same route?</p>
<p>“By the time results are available, many/most decisions have already been made.”</p>
<p>That’s what I’m worried about. After I submit my application, and they decide on no, then I send in the ACT scores, would they review the application again? Or would I put somewhere in the Common App that states that I am taking the February ACT. Then they would review my app almost in last place, and lower chances?</p>
<p>Boston U, American, and Northeastern are all a bit higher than target. I’m just going by what I know from my school, which gets a good number of kids in to each every year and is a highly regarded public school. According to Naviance, the average at my school for Northeastern is around 3.7 UW GPA and 1850 SAT and we get in over 25 every year. For American it is about 3.72 UW GPA and 1900 SAT and we get in around 30 every year. Boston U is 3.73 UW GPA and 1940 SAT and we get over 20 in every year.</p>
<p>So I’d definitely check out at least 2 real safeties.</p>
<p>Also, what exactly are these ECs? A lot of people claim theirs are “incredible,” but few are good enough to overcome a 1750 and 3.5 GPA to get into Yale. A debater ranked in the top 10 of the entire nation didn’t get into Yale EA this year, and he does a lot of charity work, had a 35 ACT, and was in the top 10 of his grade. So your ECs will have to be absolutely spectacular.</p>
<p>My school is very similar. The average applicant accepted to NYU from my school has a 4.1 gpa…The average gpa of an accepted student to nyu in the nation last year was 3.6. </p>
<p>Sad how it’s all up to a test…I guess I should do the ACT option then?</p>
<p>I want to say that the sat does not reflect me at all. I have spent my time volunteering, running a business, working at companies and studying abroad. </p>
<p>If I take the ACT, how would the colleges review my applications? How would my chances lower because of the late score? </p>
<p>Don’t forget about Rutgers. It seems you would be a great business major. Rutgers is awesome for that field. My kid did fair on the SAT and ended up in the 99th percentile for the ACT – hire a tutor and take the ACT. We did not even bother sending in the SAT scores to his top college choice (he got in!). The ACT really measures your academic achievement more accurately. The SAT in my opinion tests you on your ability to take the SAT and not much more. The SAT 2 subject tests seem better.</p>
<p>Thanks! I don’t know if I can afford a tutor right now but I’m definitely buying ACT books and studying for February. </p>
<p>I’m actually going to major in international relations or political science with a focus on international relations. Rutgers is pretty good in both. If anyone has answers to my questions can you let me know?</p>
<p>I don’t know if colleges will take the February ACT though. You may want to check that for each school. With that SAT score, Yale is probably not likely…but if you have a great ACT score and Yale takes it, you still have a good chance.</p>
<p>Dreamoftravel, your GPA and your SAT scores will not be mitigated by even a stellar ACT score as far as Yale is concerned. You have no chance for Yale. I’m not trying to be mean but as a parent (whose child is not applying there), I would counsel you to put your time and energy (and application fees) where they can do the most good. There are many thousands of applicants with 2200+ SATs and 4.0 GPAs who are ahead of you in line for Yale. Sorry.</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about nyu so can’t help there. But I have relatives who have graduated from Yale and some who more recently have been denied admission, and based on what I know about them, with your stats, I think 1% is wildly optimistic. Good luck and do add some safeties which realistically I don’t think you have on your list.</p>
<p>Dreamoftravel, you are right. Give it a shot. Why not??? I heard Harvard rejects the 60 percent of the applicants who have perfect SAT scores. I don’t think they just look for numbers. And time and money are totally worth it. Why not spend some more time and only 80 dollars on your dream school??? right??? So just go for it.
Georgetown is, I heard, the best school for international relations.</p>