awkward SAT scores .. advice please?

Applying to College
1

<p>I have a major problem with my SAT scores:
my writing and critical reading are conducive of an Ivy League school, or at least another prestigious private school (720 critical reading, 740 writing); however my math is another story (590). </p>

<p>As I'm applying to schools I've noticed that at the majority of the ones I'm interesting in my english scores are either within or above the school's range but my math scores are usually below the range. Does anyone have any idea how this will effect my chances of getting into schools?</p>

2

<p>Lots of people have unbalanced SAT scores. From the looks of it math is not your strong suit. My guess is that math score is reflected in your math courses (did you only get through Algebra 2?) and possibly in your math grades. If everything else in your record looks good, take a shot at the schools you like.</p>

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<p>wow..my writing score is 590 while my math score is 750...how weird..</p>

4

<p>Yeah, don't sweat it. You can't be perfect at everything and as happymomof1 says, go for it.</p>

5

<p>Your scores remind me of a friend of mine who has an 800 CR / 750 Writing / 490 Math. Talk about unbalanced. ;)</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
My guess is that math score is reflected in your math courses (did you only get through Algebra 2?)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Why would a Math SAT score of 590 suggest that the OP couldn't have made it past Algebra 2?</p>

7

<p>^ agreed...that is faulty logic. i know somebody who got under a 500 in AP Calc...personally, i got a 640 before taking geometry or algebra II-it's about comprehension</p>

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<p>If you look at the common data set information, you'll see that your 720 makes you a strong applicant at all but the very top tier of schools.</p>

<p>I just reviewed common data sets for about 25 good schools for the same reason (my DD will likely have scores like yours, or a bit lower), and only one school (Colgate, IIRC) had more than 25% of their freshmen with 700-800 verbal.</p>

<p>I wonder if it's appropriate for you to call an AdCom and just ask: "am I a good candidate with these scores?" Perhaps a more experienced CC'er could weigh in on that suggestion.</p>

<p>Congratulations.</p>

9

<p>thank you for all your input
WinstonC-It seems that the majority of people taking the SAT end up with a higher math score, I'm just one of the weird ones haha. Overall when you look at a school's stats this is reflected which makes it easier to find a good fit school.
happmomof1-I actually used to take advanced math courses (my school has a weird system, math A, AB, B... I'm not sure what the courses equate to) but I'm a really bad test taker in math so I recently switched to the regular track- I generally get B+'s and A's.</p>