Chances at MIT, Wash U,...

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Well, first I will say I haven't taken the ACT yet. I plan to take it February, April (already signed up) maybe June, and October. (Our school district pays for 1 ACT our junior and 1 ACT our senior year...plus I get a waiver for one.) ANYWAY, I was wondering what I probably need my ACT/SAT scores to be for chances at these schools.</p>

<p>My counselor said I should still take the SAT but I think thats dumb because even MIT and Harvard and the schools I wanna go to accept the ACT...So do I really need to take it still?</p>

<p>So my stats are:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted on 4.0 scale (4.5 weighted b/c of half Honors courses)
Class Rank: 1/425 (tied with 2 other people I think)
PLAN Composite: 25
PSAT: Math-65, CR-59, Writing-65 (Selection Index=189 93% tile AGHHHH)</p>

<p>Right now I'm taking the heaviest course load possible at my school: AP US History, Hon. PreCalc, and Hon. Spanish III (No AP classes offered freshman and sophomore years...Only honors freshman and sophomore years was math (geometry, then "advanced algebra")</p>

<p>Next year, I'll fill up with all AP/Hon (Is this a good thing?)</p>

<p>Really bad stuff: I've never had a job (but I really want one!) and I don't play any sports</p>

<p>But where is there time for jobs and sports in the middle of being in every single play/musical since freshman year (a total of 8 so far) and I'm in Mu Alpha Theta, NHS, Student Council, "Peer Leaders," and treasurer of Thespians. (Theatre is my sport I guess...)</p>

<p>Um...so yeah. I know there are people who do have a job AND a lot of homework AND tons of EC's, but I don't...</p>

<p>So where do I stand? Dream college=MIT, Wash U is close by and good also.</p>

<p>Any other great engineering/math schools I should consider?</p>

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<p>Not having a job is not "really bad", and neither is playing sports. However, your PSAT math score is simply not in the range for MIT. Your score on the SAT needs to be much much better to have a shot at MIT.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I know. I am going to work on getting those scores up. Looking back at the questions I missed, they were really stupid mistakes (missed 2 easy questions!! UGH) </p>

<p>Thanks for the reply!!</p>

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<p>Anyone else have opinions? lol</p>

<p>Reading these boards makes me feel very insignificant..Maybe I'll just go to University of Missouri-Rolla (Huge safety school)</p>

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<p>Your school must be really easy because if you're getting perfect grades but your PSAT is that low, then your grades really don't reflect much knowledge.</p>

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<p>Um, thanks?</p>

<p>Yeah, I would agree that my school is easy...My PSAT score and PLAN score were the highest in the school.</p>

<p>However, that does not mean I don't have much knowledge. It's not just like its really easy to get straight A's...You still have to work hard and study, etc.</p>

<p>And I don't think that those PSAT scores are that low because it was still the 93 %tile, so thats waaaay above average still. And, it is after all, just the PSAT...</p>

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<p>"And I don't think that those PSAT scores are that low because it was still the 93 %tile, so thats waaaay above average still. And, it is after all, just the PSAT..."</p>

<p>Well, if you translate those to SATs, they'd be waaay below average at MIT and Harvard.</p>

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<p>Yes, but it is just the PSAT still. I will take the SAT in March, which brings me back to the question</p>

<p>Do I still have to take my SAT even if those places accept ACTs? Whats the point? (My counselor says I should take both though.)</p>

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<p>Your counselor is right you should take both. Though SATs and SAT IIs are not required if you take the ACT, most applicants submit the SAT, and it is a very god idea to take SAT IIs and submit them, even if taking the ACT, since the competition is fierce.</p>

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<p>Well I though SAT IIs were still required even if you take the ACT because, for example, MIT's website says:</p>

<p>"We require the SAT Reasoning Test with the writing component or the ACT with the writing test. We do not prefer one over the other. In addition, we require two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m). We do not have a preference as to which science you take or which level math you take."</p>

<p>So yeah, I gotta do the subject tests regardless =/</p>

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<p>More opinions/suggestions/HELP? :P</p>

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<p>^Bump.....</p>

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<p>Only taking the ACT limits your ability to apply for outside merit based scholarships. Even if you don't think it'll help you, I'd take the SAT so that you don't artificially close off any future possiblities for yourself.</p>

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<p>Get your SAT scores up or schools will just think you had an easy high school. I mean, I got the 97% percentile as a sophomore, and I'd never think of the Ivys. My school only has one 4.0, and she's got like a 2250. When schools see someone who is ranked the highest with terrible testing scores, they often think the school is easy, or the student can't take long tests (which reflects how you'll work at an 8 hour job).</p>

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<p>Take the test that you think you'll score the best on. To better gauge this, you should take as many practice tests as you can. I never took the SAT because I knew I would bomb the math section. If a school accepts both, what's the point of taking the one you know you won't do well on? It's not worth the money or the stress. </p>

<p>Also, like the others have said, you don't have a shot at MIT unless those scores improve dramatically. Are you really sure that you bring up your scores that much? It's going to take a lot of studying.</p>

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<p>How can you have a 4.5 GPA if you're taking non-Honors classes with few APs? Your school sounds like mine, in system.</p>

<p>Did you calculate this yourself? You ought to go ask Guidance for your real GPA if you did, because I get the feeling you're pretty off.</p>

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<p>I think the Reading section on the ACTs is much easier than the SAT's Critical Reading. I did terrible on the SATI CR...only a 610. However I knew that reading was my best area. When I took the ACT, I got a 34, with only 1 question wrong. Even on my SATII for Literature, I got a 670 (73%). I got a 31 on English also.</p>

<p>The math on the ACTs is a bit easier too. I got a 30 on ACTs but a 650 both times on SATs. A 30 is solid at most competitive colleges, where as a 650 is not. However, watch out for the Algebra I stuff...its so easy it tripped me up. I got a 16/18 on Plane Geometry/Trig...but a 13/18 on Algebra/Coord. Geometry...that's just sloppiness.</p>

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<p>karot: Thanks, that makes sense...I've heard that from others as well.</p>

<p>MLEVINE07: You'd never think of Ivys with 97% tile?? What score was that??...I thought math on ACT was harder.</p>

<p>sous_: Yeah, I've expanded my college list a lot more since my post. Not even sure I wanna go to MIT (It's sooooo hard to get into! Ack!...Maybe Cornell??)</p>

<p>Prescited: The way our school (like most schools) do our GPA is a 4 for an A, 3 for a B, etc. (There is no A+ or A-...A 92 and above is an A) Now, for an honors class, you get a point more for an A or B. So, an A is worth 5 and a B, 3. My schedule (w/ grades) is:</p>

<p>Chemistry-A
H PreCalc-A
English 11-A
Modern Media-A
H AP US History-A
H Spanish III-A</p>

<p>So, my GPA is (4+5+4+4+5+5)/6=4.5
The advantage of taking an H class is adding a point to your GPA (and a more rigorous curriculum)</p>

<p>Oh, and so you know my 4.5 was on my latest report card...Just wanted to explain it</p>

<p>Thanks for all your responses. More input appreciated!!!!</p>

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<p>Most colleges, as far as I know, use the +.5 for Honors, +1 for AP...if they even weight the grades.</p>

<p>My school uses a sucky system...+1 for Standard, +1.5 for Advanced, +2 for Honors, +3 for AP....minimizes the advantage.</p>

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<p>Wow, what a rude group at the beginning of this thread. You took the PSAT and everyone of the first group of people made fun of you since you didn't do better than 93%. Crazy. I'm glad the later posters were much more reasonable.</p>

<p>Look, what you get on the PSAT and what you will get on the SAT or ACT are in no way correlated. I've seen people get 70% on the PSAT and 98% on the SAT and I've seen people get 99+% on the PSAT and get 80% on the SAT. Personally, I never studied for the PSAT, so I only had about a 92%. I studied for the SAT and achievement tests and got two 800 scores, a 770 score, and a 700 score. So much for the PSAT being a good predictor. </p>

<p>Forget the PSAT and just make sure you prepare for the next test you will be taking. Apparently money is tight, but try to get a book at the library or from a friend that is a study guide for the ACT and one for the SAT.</p>

<p>As far as the job thing--that's not a problem--but what is important if you want the higher-level colleges is that you start participating in leadership activities, volunteer services, and in academic competitions. Start doing this now--(get into clubs that you care about like key club or interact for public service, sports activities that you excel at, or get into student government). Start seeing if you can get on a debate team or a math team or participate in theatre productions, etc.).</p>

<p>What the top level schools look for is five things: (1) grades, (2) test scores, (3) leadership/awards/volunteer service, (4) passion for some cause, and, when applicable (5) special skills, like music or scientific study or accomplishments. Try to get at least the first four into your background.</p>

<p>Also, don't give up on these things so easily. You want to get these things in your resume because they also will determine how much money you get in financial aid--both at the better schools, and even at the other schools like U of Missouri-Rolla. Keep this in mind, since even going to UM-Rolla isn't cheap.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>