<p>Just got my SATs back and I got an 1860 my girst time around. Now I have 4 months ahead of me to actually study. I plan on applying to Cornell, UPenn (Early Decision to School of Engineering and applied sciences.) SAT Chem: 650 SAT Math II: 660...will a 4 or 5 on the AP Exam offset my bad Chem score?
My Freshman Year
Geometry Honors: B+
Biology Honors: B+
Global Studies Honors: A
English9 HonorsA
Spanish 2: B
Sophmore Year
Trig and Alg 2 Honors A
Chemistry Honors: B+
Global Studies Honors: A
English Honors: A
Spanish 3: A
Health and Intro to Business: A
Junior Year (which I'm in now)
AP Chem: A-
Pre Calc Honors: first quater:84/100, second quater: 98/10, third quater 100/100, fourth quater: 98/100
My final grade for pre calc honors is an A
AP US History: A-
English 11 Honors: A
Intensive Italian: A
Engineering/ Future Design:A
ECs:
Top 2 spots on Varsity Tennis since seventh Grade, President of Italian Club, Treasurer of Chem. Club, volunteering at local hospital this summer, running a community tennis camp tbis summer while teaching at another camp that pays in another town , sales associate at adidas for the duration of junior year, running for vice president of NHS this fall, National Science Honor Society, helped teach tennis at my club on weekends during my sophmore year, Solar Car Club in 12th grade. Italian Honor Society
Awards/Nominations:
Tied with another student for the highest score on the Chemistry Olympiad in my school. Nominated for the departmental award for AP Chem, it was between myself and the same student I tied with and he ended up winning.
Placed second in the county wide high school tennis tournament last year and 3rd in the Section tournament. Qualified for the Empire State Games in 7ththe grade. I will compete for Haiti next summer in Junior tennis competition even though I was born here.</p>
<p>Rec: i will get my recs from my chem teacher who I had two years in a row and formed a close relationship with. Also from my pre calc teacher who saw my improveme t through out the year.
Other: I attend school in the inner city in the town with the highest murder rate in New York, Newburgh. I will mention this in some of my essays.
Ethnicity: My parents are Haitian immigrants but I was born here so Im black. But my brother is competing for Haiti in the Olympics and I am.competing for them next year.</p>
<p>Thank you to whoever takes the time to read it. Chances and advice will surely help. 'Preciate it and God Bless!</p>
<p>First thought: SAT is far too low for an unhooked candidate. 2200+ seems to be the threshold (based on conversion with alumns and observation)</p>
<p>Also PreCalc honors is somewhat concerning. Understandably, it might be normal for PreCalc Honors students to take BC Calc the following year – are you taking BC Calc next year?</p>
<p>Final thoughts: Sat Subject Scores? (Math 2 is required, btw)</p>
<p>I am a hooked candidate, Im African American…and is that first quater of Pre Calc going to mess me up because I’ll still end up having an A for my final grade. And my SAT IIs are horrendous, theyre listed up there…Math II 660practice Chem 650. Will a good score on AP Chem exam offset the bad SAT II score and Im going to retake Math II in December after the early deciaion deadline because I have to retake the SAT Reasoning</p>
<p>And yea Im taking Calc BC next year</p>
<p>If you’re a hooked candidate and you’re applying to engineering, I would worry about only two things this summer: increasing your SAT score, and your subject test scores.</p>
<p>If you get your sat above 2000 (2100 to be safe), and your subject tests up 50 points to 700 (this is really doable, believe me, you just need to get in the mindset that you’re just going to sit down at a table with some study books 5+ hours a day and just grind out that studying with some good resources), I think you have a good chance.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your math grade first quarter; it’s irrelevant, adcoms will only look at final averaged grades (they will see your math as an A), and they absolutely do not have the time nor inclination to be looking at quarters. Also, statistically speaking, the fact that you’re an african american candidate and you’re taking BC Calc is beyond impressive – you just need a little boast in your standardized scores to hit the ball out of the park. The PreCalc honors was only concerning if you weren’t following it up with BC Calc, and it’s only “slightly” concerning for a unhooked candidate. You are doing an excellent job to prepare for applications, so I commend you.</p>
<p>Also, as a hooked african american candidate, realize that applying to engineering school is a very smart decision from an admissions standpoint. Why? Engineering schools are primarily looking for two things right now: women and affirmative action candidates. Improve your standardized tests a little, and not only will you have a great shot at Penn’s engineering school, but any you apply to in the regular decision cycle as well.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thank you, I truly appreciate it! Especially the absence of a condescending tone when discussing my stats haha. I have one dilemma though and it is the fact that I can only either take the SAT Reasoning test or the SAT Subject tests before the Early Decision deadline. Im gonna study just as hard for whichever one and am actually excited to study for them and face that challenge again(I’ve already started). If I take the reasoning test over in October and I keep the Subject scores to send Early Decision, will they kill my chances? I’m going to take the subject tests over in November for the other schools I apply to though, I just want have the retake scores ready for the Early Decision deadline</p>
<p>any more opinions/advice will help</p>
<p>I would probably take the reasoning test again rather than the subject tests. I got in with subject test scores below 700, but having a score below 2000 on the reasoning test will definitely hurt you.</p>
<p>yea, I was kind of leaning towards that, will that be extremely hard to do, raise it to 2000?</p>
<p>I have no idea. I increased my score by about 150 points the second time I took them without really studying, but it varies from person to person. Just study as much as you see fit and then hope for the best.</p>
<p>ight, sounds like a good plan thanks man!</p>
<p>any more opinions/advice?</p>
<p>I agree. Hustle like you never have before to get that SAT score above 2000 (again, you REALLY want above 2100). This is your main objective this summer. If you are really aiming for these schools, realize that it’s not going to be easy. You NEED to be hitting the books every day, morning till dusk. Subject tests won’t “break” you, but a poor SAT will. Don’t give this 50%, give it 200%. Tell yourself you’re aiming for 2300; even if this is unreasonable, just the idea that THIS is your goal will push the boundaries of what “you think you can get.” For reference, I’ve known plenty of people who have improved from 1800 to 2300. There is a direct correlation between studying and obtaining a great score. The more hours your put in, the better you’ll do.</p>
<p>ight I’ll put in as many hours as I can, Im never scared to study hard especially when it means a lot. I really want it bad and I’ll do whatever. At first I was aiming fo high 1900s -2000 but I should be aiming higher, there’s no reason to limit myself</p>
<p>more advice/opinions?</p>
<p>Thanks for the chances guys, I got in</p>