Chances for FSU with low Test Scores, but everything else really good?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
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<p>How FSU calculates GPA: .5 for Honors, 1.0 for AP. In state.</p>

<p>I have a 4.19/4.2 FSU GPA and a really good essay (I actually think it's awesome heh, worked extremely hard on it, The grammar is near perfect, it flows well, the reader gets the overall impression). I got really great feedback from my college advisor from my school after I submitted it. I heard the essay matters as much as test scores which I hope is true because that can really help me.
3 AP Classes, AP Envi (12th), Psych (12th), Human Geo = I did take more, but I couldn't finish with reason stated bellow.</p>

<p>Any programs or activities that helped you prepare for higher education?</p>

<p>For one summer, I sold wrist bands with the St. Jude's logo on them to help raise money for cancer research. I did this because a family friend lost their seven-year-old daughter to brain cancer.</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities:</p>

<p>I was in the following clubs in high school: National Honor Society (10th-12th), Mu Alpha Theta (10th-12th), Science Club (10th), Science Honor Society (11th-12th), Spanish Honor Society (10th). </p>

<p>Two years Varsity Tennis 9th and 10th. I plan on playing again this year (12th grade). I played 10 hours per week between practice and matches.</p>

<p>Community service:</p>

<p>I did volunteer work at St Joseph's Hospital Tampa FL in the cardiac unit for two summers (over 100 hours) = It only shows 85 hours on my transcript, but I really did over 100 Like, 25 of my hours were unreported because of an error at the volunteer office at the hospital, but they said they weren't able to fix it because I didn't notice until much later and they lost record of it, but I didn't see a necessity of putting it on my app since they might think it was unreported community service. Cardiac Admissions and Recovery, working/volunteering in the gift shop, and at the Cardiac West Wing. I enjoyed helping out in the hospital, cleaning up, filing, putting away beds, providing food and drinks to the patients, escorting recovered patients in a wheelchair (mandatory for all patients) to their loved ones, and meeting the staff, the doctors, and patients in the hospital.
Having this experience helped me learn what having a job in the hospital would be like and inspired me to consider a career in medicine.</p>

<p>Volunteering in the hospital gift shop gave me experience of working in a small business retailer/establishment, which will be useful in the future.</p>

<p>I also did community service in and after school (helping out in the library, assisting and helping teachers in a classroom).</p>

<p>Honors, awards and recognitions. List each and describe the level and the number of
years of your involvement.</p>

<p>I received an academic letter in 9th and 12th and pins for the letter in 10th.</p>

<p>Also, I received an honorable recognition by getting a written article by me published in the Tampa Tribune Newspaper by "Writing to the Editor" on a current subject in the news. - 9th.</p>

<p>Additional Information [I stated this exactly on the app besides the last sentence of paragraph one which I forgot to mention. I did mention the summer camp sentences]:</p>

<p>During my Junior year, I became ill and had to drop out of my current classes at the time and take homebound courses (which didn't offer honors or AP courses), and 4 honors courses on FLVS. Before all of this, I was in 4 APs and 3 honors, but unfortunately I became sick a few weeks before the semester ended/exams. 1st quarter of these grades I received all A's. I had no time to take previous or new AP courses because by the time treatment ended, I wouldn't have them complete in time for the AP exams. I am currently finishing up pre-calc honors on FLVS, a course I was in last year. I am back this year to a normal schedule of a mixture of electives, honors, and AP Courses. Obviously my rank fell because of me being sick/what happened; from top 3% to 14 or 15% out of a large student body, but after first semester I'll probably be near or in the top 10%</p>

<p>On another note, I attended summer tennis camp at UF last year, and I got a general feel for the school by exploring the campus and living in the dorms. I have to say I fell in love with the school, and I'm determined to get in.</p>

<p>***24 ACT, they superscore right :P? If so, my score would be a bit higher. If they didn't 23.
SAT - Math: 570 Verbal: 550 Writing: 480 (I don't understand how I screwed up so badly on the writing section since that was my highest section on my ACT lol) Essay: 7 = 1600/2400</p>

<p>I think I suffer from test anxiety.... I basically freeze on these standardized tests and I never finish my sections on either test... Science on the ACT killed my score the most since that was the worst section that I couldn't finish (Like I always finished half lol) which obviously had my lowest subsection score.***</p>

<p>I took mostly honors courses besides spanish which had to be reg. (only level they offered). Along with AP's I'm doing now (2) and 1 freshman year. - was in 4 Junior year, but I explained what happened above.</p>

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<p>I looked it up. They superstore ACT. So yeah, 24.</p>

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<p>Uhh you didn’t have to put your whole resume out there… That’s kinda weird (and the first time I’ve seen someone do this). If you’re in-state, have rising grades that get you to that 4.2 instead of diminishing ones, you’re in.</p>

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<p>@Jake
Lol, I just copied and posted from a different forum, where other people do it also…</p>

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<p>Well FSU is big on having the minimum scores in each section. It’s 500 in each section on the SAT and I think I 21 math 19 reading and 19 Writing on thr ACT. I’m in somewhat of a similar situation. I didn’t get a 500 on one section (math) on the SAT and hadn’t taken the ACT yet (scores come out tomorrow.) I also have a high GPA and was deffered . I’m ****ed though b.c on the ACT the minimuim in math is 21 when I’m so much better at reading and writing lol. Oh well. Good Luck! If you’re instate and got the minimums then I think you’re in.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I hit the minimum on ACT easily. I have 25 on Reading, 24 on English and Math, and 22 on the section I always never finish and only get half-way through, Science. </p>

<p>Lol they always call time when I’m half-way through. Luckily FSU doesn’t have a minimum for Science.</p>

<p>I called FSU 2 weeks ago and if you hit to low on a section on the SAT, your ACT sub-section can replace it. </p>

<p>Like for me, I hit to low on writing so when viewing it they would take my 24 in English into consideration replacing the 480. </p>

<p>But I guess they would take my ACT more into consideration since it hits all of their requirements so they might not bother with my SAT? Not sure…</p>

<p>Good luck to you also!</p>

<p>Also, I won’t get my semester grades until February at the earliest? Which is probably past their viewing deadline for new semester grades while others may be able to send them in (and view them better?). What will FSU think? I don’t take my semester exams until the 2nd week in January hence the long delay.</p>

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<p>Fsu will still accept your semester grades in Febuary, if the last ACT score they accept is in Febuary for the March notifications. Call them January 3 to make sure. And which school is your #1 FSU or UF?</p>

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<p>I will thanks. UF, but if I somehow got into UF and FSU; I would visit FSU before making a decision since I only toured UF.</p>

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<p>Yeah, that’s how I was until I visited FSU in the summer. Good luck with your decison! :)</p>

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<p>They do superscore the ACT. I honestly think you will be fine. I was recently accepted with the same GPA as you and a 25 on the ACT.</p>

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<p>^Congrats! I agree that he should be fine,but at the same time I feel it might be different since he applied for the second wave of admissions notifications while you applied for the first like I did when it wasnt as competitve. But again i think he should be fine.</p>

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<p>I’m taking the SAT again to increase my writing score even though my ACT Score covers it. I called again to double check, but if they want to determine me getting in they would view my SAT scores right now as they are, but use the 24 sub-section for the writing section of the ACT. Btw, I only studied for ACT and took the SAT with no prep at all, so I think taking it again will increase my writing score for sure. :slight_smile: One of my classmates got in with a lower GPA than me and got 520M 540CR 580W. So if I raise my writing to 520 at least, my superscore will be the same as hers. Also, I’ve done a bunch of research on FSU lately and I’m really loving it. It sucks that I have to wait until mid-March for decisions though… :frowning: Btw they accept Jan. SAT and Feb ACT.</p>

<p>Also, does FSU even look at the science sub-section since they don’t mention it at all on the admissions page?</p>

<p>Lol, I just realized I accidentally copied something from my UF chance thread and left it accidentally in my first post in the thread. Oops…lol</p>

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<p>I am almost positive you will get in. You have a high GPA, good extracurriculars, and good community service. My friend got in during the first deadline on December 8th with a 1010/1600 and 1550/2400 SAT and a 22 ACT. She had a high GPA like you, many extra curriculars (one leadership position), and about 80 community service hours. Good luck!!!</p>

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<p>^ that’s amazing. If she got in with those scores than MetalMeatwad you should be totally fine. Do well on your tests. Don’t think about meetiing the desired score you set during the test, it will add more pressure. just focus on doing your very best. You can do it! :)</p>

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<p>Thanks. I’m basically just going to prep for writing like crazy and focus on that section the most during the test. I just found out today unless I raise my writing they’ll reject my entire SAT score, but my ACT will cover it at least, but to be safe… totally retaking the SAT. :D</p>

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<p>Okay, does your school give out the free SAT booklets with like one whole SAT? If they do get one of those and sit in a quiet place and actually time yourself to get prepared for the actual test date. If not, just go online to collegeboard.com and pratice the writing part on the website.</p>

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<p>this post is really making me a less worried.
like you guys. i am in a similiar situation. low test scores but a good GPA. i still have to do my resume and state my extra curricular activites and such.
i really want to go FSU and i am also an in-state student!</p>

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<p>oh and meatwad. read the “how to write an essay in 10 days thread” . it really helps you hugely! i got an 11 on my essay. all u gotta do is,write the entire 2 pages and state your points clearly. no big vocab words needed and simply u get an 11…like i did
i met all the minimum subscores for FSU and i really hope i get in
i just need to finish up my “florida claimancy” stuff and i should be good to go</p>

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<p>^ good luck, hope you get in! :slight_smile: what were your stats?</p>