<p>I attended a public high school in 9th and 10th grades. For my junior and senior years I transferred to a sports specific school. I graduated earlier this month and now I am heading full force into the application process. I am applying to:</p>
<p>Colby
Middlebury
Dartmouth
Harvard
USC
USD
Denver University
Williams.</p>
<p>I applied to Harvard Early Decision (mainly as a dream) but if I am not accepted early I will drop my application completely and apply EDII to Colby (school I am really thinking I have a shot at getting into). </p>
<p>Now to some of the raw data:</p>
<p>3.95 GPA</p>
<p>SAT- 1830 ~580 Critical Reading, 580 Writing, 670 Math
ACT- Best Composite: 26 Best Subscores: 31 English, 24 Math, 25 Reading, 25 Math, 8 Writing
(Doesn't make sense does it? Great ACT English, terrible math. Great SAT Math, terrible english.)</p>
<p>Extra Curriculars:</p>
<p>Ski Racer - Prospective NCAA Athlete, hoping to get a push from the coach.
Senior Class Representative (Significant of President/Vice-President).
Tons of Community Service at Animal Shelter, Disabled Skiing Program (Wrote my essay about this).
Busser at a local fine dining establishment. (10th-12th)
JV Golf - Freshman & Sophomore years.
Rotary Club/NHS (9th-12th)</p>
<p>Rec's I know will be great.</p>
<p>I am mainly concerned about my test scores. Do you think I am better of trying to take the SATI again and try to get my scores higher or am I better off sending in mediocre SAT/ACT scores along with SATII Subject Test Scores (Haven't taken them yet). Not being able to know my scores before sending them in (Which could be just as bad as the regular SAT).</p>
<p>I think you should take another shot at your test scores. Mine jumped significantly. You seem to have a decent amount of Gpa/extra curriculars but do you have any volunteer work you could do to add to your application? Volunteer work is always good for resumes and for people as a whole. I think you will get into Clby.</p>
<p>Defintly get your ACT and/or SAT above the 2000/30 level because its hard getting into a few of those good schools without a min of atleast 2050 or similar. Your ECs are good (like the ski thing too! talk about it in ur essays maybe?)
u shoudl get into a few of ur list but I would not go as far as USC or Darmouth or any of those top 30 schools without atleast a 2100 or 31-32 ACT…</p>
<p>With your current scores basically all of those schools are high reaches, with better scores you will have a decent shot at a least a few of them. Retake both the SAT and ACT</p>
<p>Are you being recruited by any coaches for the ski team ? Harvard, Williams & Dartmouth are reaches even though your athletic talent & Utah residence are distinguishing aspects. Contact the ski coaches/instructors at the targeted schools which have a downhill racing team & ask for their help.</p>
<p>From what I remember, Colby is test-optional…don’t send them your scores! I think you have a pretty good chance there.</p>
<p>What about other test-optional schools? Bowdoin is a lot like Middlebury and Colby. I don’t know much about schools like Connecticut College/Bates/Hamilton (which is test-flexible), but they’re all great schools and could be good fits.</p>
<p>And yeah, I think you might as well retake if you can afford it – I don’t see how it could hurt.</p>
<p>@jakjak1 & artsygirl13: Yea my test scores are low and they are my real concern but now I am in a time crunch. Do you think it is better for me to leave my test scores where they are at and use my last attempt at these tests and have a complete application or am I better off having an “incomplete” application because of my lack of SAT Subject tests, but yet have another shot at doing the SAT.</p>
<p>@Axelrod: Is this Max? If so, PM me. I have contacted all of the coaches and visited them. I’m most likely not going to get help from Dartmouth, my points are just too high, but the others are certainly possibilities.</p>
<p>@tarmiriel: Colby used to be test optional but now they require either SAT, ACT, or 3 SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>I appreciate all of your input and would love to hear back from you. </p>
<p>Thanks a million, the nerves are killing me…I’m so unconfident right now.</p>
<p>I would definitely try to raise the ACT and/or SAT score. They are really low, especially when compared with your almost perfect GPA. RAISE THEM!</p>
<p>Good GPA
Average-Good ECs
Sports is really bringing your chances up
Scores are hurting you but good schools are always looking for athletes and their willing to be lenient with scores if the rest of your app is strong. If you’ve already taken the SATI twice, then take SATII and send those scores, won’t hurt, and it will definitely complete your Harvard/Dartmouth apps. Otherwise, take the SATI again to try to raise it again and you’ll get into Colby no problem.</p>
<p>Colby - Low reach
Middlebury - Match
Dartmouth - reach
Harvard - High reach
USC - Match
USD - Match
Denver University - Match
Williams. - Match</p>
<p>Harvard, Dartmouth, Williams, and Middlebury are super high reaches with those test scores, even if you’re recruited. Colby also will be a reach, although not as high as the others. Denver University is probably a match.</p>
<p>So I now have to ask the question to all who have responded to me: Am I better off leaving my SAT Score/ACT Score where it is right now and try my hand at the Subject Tests or should I try my hand at the SAT one more time and leave out the subject tests (required by Williams & Harvard) before everything is all said and done?</p>
<p>I would do the SAT and ACT once more, realistically you will not have a high enough score increase for Harvard and Williams to be realistic (and high enough subject test scores on the first try when it is clear that standardized testing is your weak point is unlikely).</p>
<p>Williams requires subject tests even with the ACT, although it is also highly unlikely you would be accepted there without bringing up the SATI or ACT. Bates isn’t on your list and yet it seems like a potential fit for you as it is definitely test-optinal and they have a ski team. Most skiers already have their coach support and know exactly where they stand at this point. You ought to call any coaches where you have received positive response and ask them if they will be supporting your application. Have you considered CU Boulder. Great Club and NCAA ski programs and your stats would put you in good stead there.</p>
<p>@Reallypeople: First off I’d just like to thank you for your input. Bates was on my list until I visited the school, I didn’t really like it at all and the town surrounding the school sketched me out. I am definitely in the process of contacting coaches to double check that I have their support where I thought I received a positive response. CU Boulder would be on my list except skiing for them really isn’t the realm of possibilities at this point in time. Their ski team is full of World Cup Athletes and that isn’t me at this stage of the game.</p>
<p>To your second post: I’m not sure? Although it says required my sister applied to Georgetown never having had taken any subject tests and she got in there so…required is a rather relative term I suppose?</p>
<p>I am not sure when your sister applied, but these days with as competitive as top schools are required is required. There are schools that won’t even look at your application if you are missing a component, also with low SAT/ACT scores it looks bad for you not to submit the other required scores.</p>
I think that could help you have a better shot at those “dream” schools</p>