Bad SAT I turnout...

<p>Just got back my Oct test score. I was hoping for a 2100 but this is what I got at the end:
CR - 570
M - 780
W - 590
(1940/2400)
I've already send my scores to Cornell, Duke, Dartmouth and Penn. Though I think i'm pretty much hopless with my SAT I scores. What should I focus on next to increase my chances of being admitted. Thx.</p>

<p>Well, I don't know that this is hopeless. It could be that your grades and accomplishments will get you in to one or more of these places, anyway. Plus, your math SAT is near the top. Still, you're right to think that your chances probably would be better had your SATI scores been higher. As you know, SAT scores are part of the Ivy League academic index.</p>

<p>Really, there's not much else to do at this point. If you've already applied, you must be a senior, and the first semester of your senior year is nearly done. I'd take a close look, if you haven't already, at some more realistic matches and safeties. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Take the ACT quickly.</p>

<p>I would suggest taking the ACT because frankly 500s in two out of the three sections doesn't really cut it for the schools your aiming for. In fact, even 600s aren't great for schools like Penn and Darthmouth.With that said, keep in mind that a high GPA can save a bad SAT score (in some cases),while a good SAT score NEVER makes up for a low GPA.</p>

<p>I think the ivies weigh testing higher than grades...</p>

<p>when I was at Penn, the officer said that "4 years of schooling will always be more important than a 4 hour test." I'm also applying with pretty high marks and activities but more modest SAT's (2090), so I'll be hoping for the best like you</p>

<p>Honestly they will all say that. Its been my overwhelming experience that test scores matter a lot. I would take the ACT and retake the SAT. In my years of Ivy interviewing I've never seen a non-hooked candidate get in with less than a 1400 M+V.</p>

<p>Yeah, so i retook the Nov SAT. Hopefully I'll get a better score this time. Since i took the test as a standby, i would expect the score to be out later than three weeks. But right now when i checked on my SAT account, nothing from the November test is shown, not even an indication that they did received my registeration from. Is it necessary for me to call up the customer service to comfirm the test registeration or should i just wait a bit and check back later.</p>

<p>Benson416</p>

<p>It's not likely you'll raise your SAT scores enough the second time around enough to meet the Ivy hurdles. Unfortunately, CR is the toughest to raise and one of the two most important in the SAT portfolio (with math). If you can figure how to write the kind of essay they want on the SAT (it's different than a regular school essay), you can, perhaps, raise your writing 100 points.</p>

<p>The ACT idea is OK, but your schools will already have your SAT scores, and despite their recent comments, Ivy adcoms, in my opinion, are predisposed to the SATs. </p>

<p>I think it is important, at this stage of the game, to select schools more in line with your scores. Unfortunatley, short of a "Hail Mary" SAT sitting, the Ivies are out of reach.</p>

<p>Here is the result for my November SAT:
CR - 670
M - 770
W - 570
Math and Writing went down.. but I've raised my Critical Reading by 100 point.
So overall it's a 70 point increase.</p>

<p>Oh, and i added UCLA on my list as a safe school.</p>

<p>Benson,</p>

<p>This is excellent. Congratulations. The CR score is a very important piece of the SAT portfolio and it is great that you got it up. As you know, many schools don't even look at the Writing section score. Check out which ones.</p>

<p>1440 is very good, and, I believe, very acceptable to those Ivies who don't look at the Writing section</p>

<p>Bravo!</p>

<p>UCLA cares about SAT score. SAT score is under the "very important" category. See UCLA's common data set</p>

<p>Benson,</p>

<p>If you post your whole profile (grades, scores, ECs, interests, special interests, hooks, etc.) and your current choice of schools, the group is often very good at giving a perpective on your list in terms of reach, match and safety.</p>