Chances? (Get ready to laugh at low SAT scores!)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
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<p>I hate chances threads as much as the next person, but I'm going to do my own anyway. Bear with me, please.</p>

<p>I love Georgetown with all my heart and soul. I toured it last May and immediately fell in love with the university, the neighborhood, and DC as a whole. I would have applied EA had I not missed the deadline thanks to a family emergency, so now I'm going into the RD pool. </p>

<p>I'm incredibly dedicated to my school and my extracurricular passions. The teachers who wrote my recommendations seem to truly love me; my APUSH teacher says I'm one of the best students he's ever had, and there have been some amazing kids throughout his career. </p>

<p>The problem lies with my SAT scores. I took the test four times (bad, I know), but I needed to see if I could do any better; I wound up with 2100 composite, but the breakdown isn't so good. 690 CR, 610 M, 800 W. Too bad Georgetown doesn't care about writing. I can't begin to understand these scores in the slightest- these scores don't reflect my intelligence or how hard I work at ALL. I used to test beautifully in elementary school, so I really just don't get how my SAT scores were so awful. My ACT scores weren't much better... 33 English and 32 Reading, but 23 Math and Science. Don't ask... Because I really don't know how it happened.</p>

<p>I have a 3.87 UW and 4.37 W. I'll have taken 7 AP classes by the time I graduate. I'm a National Merit Commended Scholar an an AP Scholar with Distinction. </p>

<p>I attend a private school in South Florida, but only because my mom's on staff. We're pretty much low-income, single-parent household, blah blah blah. We could never afford any special SAT Prep classes, so I was left to wing it. The private school also has a pretty horrid reputation locally- there's a small group of us who are vying for Ivies and similar schools, but I'm willing to bet that most of my class is going to the local community colleges unless they're all in jail for drug possession by May.</p>

<p>I have four years experience with my school paper; I'm now editor in chief. I've been working for the major newspaper for three years now, and I've held internships there for the past two years. I've also interned in my local congresswoman's office and at the local Jewish Federation. I'm incredibly dedicated to the school newspaper and to the theatre department (Thespians, school productions, etc.), and I'm the secretary for both Political Club and NHS. I have over 1700 hours of community service from working for various political campaigns, directing an elementary school's play, helping at summer camps, and volunteering around school. I worked two jobs during the past two summers, and I'm currently a Barista at Starbucks after school and on the weekends. </p>

<p>I'm really overflowing with Georgetown love, and I really think I can do a good job describing why I feel that the university and I are right for reach other... The only obvious problem lies with my SAT scores. I realize that Georgetown goes for the "whole person," but I'm not sure if that's just admissions viewbook doubletalk. I'm not a legacy or an AA-benefiting minority, but I AM bright and driven... I just have disappointing scores.</p>

<p>So... What do you all think? Sorry for the long-windedness; I'm a little too verbose for my own good. You also don't need to recommend GW in lieu of Georgetown because, well, been there, hated it.</p>

<p>By the way, I'm applying as a history major to the College.</p>

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<p>i hope i bring some hope.
I by scores shouldn't been admitted EA. I got a 30 on my ACT, which isn't that bad, but much lower than many that were rejected. it is your job to make up for that score with everything you have. make sure you get an interview and pour out you gtown love. if you guys click ask him/her to mention your concern for your scores. do anything to make sure everything else is perfect.</p>

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<p>I got a 660 R, 700 M on the SAT (but a 33 on the ACT) and got in. Those are pretty mediocre for Georgetown though. I really think what got me in was my class schedule (6 AP exams+ more this year), essays, and activities.</p>

<p>I don't know a lot about the whole admissions thing but you sound kind of like me. If you have good essays and really show an interest I think you'd have a pretty good shot, too.</p>

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<p>josie, you sound just like me! I took the SAT 3 times and my final scores were 690 CR, 620 M, and 800 W (what a bummer they don't look at writing huh?). I freaked out about this too, but I'm here to tell you: it's okay! I got in! My stuff was seriously very similar to yours. I have a job (McDonalds) and my interviewer was very impressed with that because I think she got mostly rich snobby kids who don't ever need to work. Your classes are rigorous, your GPA is good, and that's what I think matters most. So you're not a great test taker, whatever, neither am I, but you're dedicated, you clearly are hardworking because of your schoolwork, and as long as you convey that in your application I'm sure you'll be fine. You have a lot of leadership stuff that will look really good, and if you got an 800 in writing you can write a good essay, I'm sure. </p>

<p>I never thought I'd get in EA and I did, so don't freak out about your scores. You definitely have a chance.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much, guys... You really helped me stop freaking out. My principal is a Georgetown Law alum (not sure how much it'll help me), but maybe he'll be willing to help out with my cause. </p>

<p>Also, to note, there are only a few AP classes at my school that I haven't taken because I was always in grade-level math... Therefore, I was never allowed to go into AP Calc or Stats, nor could I enroll in any of the AP science courses. In retrospect, I wish my courseload was more rigorous, but c'est la vie- I'm working with what I have now.</p>

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<p>bump? (10char- sorry, everyone)</p>

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<p>And I apologize for the sentence fragments and poor grammar in my original post... As a former copy editor, I'm kind of embarrassed by it.</p>

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<p>your scores aren't that low! i think you have a great shot. you have clear leadership capabilities (as an editor-in-chief!!), and low income will explain the low stats.</p>

<p>btw, is ur screenname from never been kissed, w/ drew barrymore? i love that movie!</p>

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<p>Why would anyone laugh at your SAT scores? Would you laugh at a classmate who scored a 580 (CR), 540 (M) and 660 (W) who planned to apply to Towson or George Mason?</p>

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<p>yes, ali, it is from Never Been Kissed! it's such a good movie... and i have an insane crush on michael vartan.</p>

<p>hudson, I'd never laugh at another person's scores... it's just kind of hard being best friends with people who got into Yale and Penn and Duke early, knowing what kind of scores they have and everything. i've sort of developed an inferiority complex because we're all equals GPA-wise and so on... I'm just 200 points below their scores, and it stings a little.</p>

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<p>marie, what was your gpa?</p>