Did I overdo it?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm applying to selective schools, and I made the mistake of taking the SAT four times.</p>

<p>Time one: 1280
Time two: 1350
Time three: 1370 (oops?)
Time four: 1470</p>

<p>It went up drastically, I know. Will lower Ivys/top 10 schools frown on this?</p>

<p>I know that some people claim, "Do you not have anything better to do? What if your grades drop?"</p>

<p>My GPA has always been a 4.0, and, if anything, my EC involvement has increased. Everything is sound-- I'm just a horrid test taker.</p>

<p>I think I'm going to give myself an ulcer or an anxiety attack. Whichever comes first.</p>

<p>Comments? Screwed?</p>

2

<p>If you have to ask, you probably did. The fat guy on the admissions board at the Ivy school will still see all your test scores, but supposedly will only take the highest one-sitting into consideration. Really, your SAT score doesn't matter that much unless it's below a 1200. In the end, it's the person you are that gets you that spot in the Ivy League.</p>

<p>ZZ3</p>

<p>Please evaluate my chances which are in both the "what are my chances?" and "Princeton" forums</p>

3

<p>Some schools start averaging scores after the 3rd testing but I can't see it being too bad. You're not an overachiever (people who take 1500+'s).</p>

4

<p>Valdez-- I did or didn't overdo? Your first sentence and explanation contradict one another...</p>

<p>Does anyone have examples of schools that average? By examples I mean specific schools...</p>

<p>I'm applying to one Ivy (Columbia), Emory, UVA, Stanford (yeah, i know.. stupid idea), UCB, and Duke (eeek).</p>

<p>Help?/</p>

5

<p>Yeah, I think you probably over done it.</p>

<p>However you are not screwed, but only your 4th score is competative for ivy league. Usually if you take past 2 SAT's (starting on the 3rd, they will look at your other scores too as a small determining factor)</p>

6

<p>Does anyone have explicit evidence for these statements?</p>

<p>I've heard so many people say this-- but I need some proof!</p>

<p>I've heard of people taking it 5X and ending up at an Ivy (one of them.. from my school). Yet, I'm not applying to HYP. My GC says I'm still okay. But other kids are telling me I'm not...</p>

<p>I'm so confused. I guess I just need hardcore facts right now-- does anyone have examples of a kid like me rejected from such schools due to taking the test 4X?</p>

7

<p>What's hard about that is colleges don't explicitly point out that an applicant was rejected for his multiple test taking.</p>

8

<p>...so how do you know that it occurrs?</p>

9

<p>It only occurs, because we assume it, since it listes on some of the ivy colleges that taking more than 2 testes gives out "fading/diminishing" results.</p>

10

<p>That's ******** though, "dimishing results" my ass. I took the SATs there times and went up an additional 180 points to a 1480. Now, was that really diminishing?</p>

11

<p>not in that sense, I think they meant it would inflate the results. Like in their mines, a person who scored high the first time, deserves it more than a person who scored the same score, but during their second time. I may be wrong though, but that was how i interpetted it.</p>

12

<p>i think that taking tests over 4 times reveals a person's personality. it makes you seem anal and obsessed about grades. On the other hand, your last score IS the only compettive one. So i dont think you should worry too much, but keep in mind that you're competing w/ ppl who took the test onl once and did very weel on the first shot ( admissions ppl love that). Cheers!</p>

13

<p>Doesn't affect your chances much. Actually shows determination.</p>

<p>I know for a fact that someone took the Math IC SAT II over and over again until he got a good score and it actually helped him. I imagine the same would apply in your case... However... It would have definately been better if your first score was insanely lower and you brought it up to a 1400. Now THAT'S determination.</p>

14

<p>who cares? its over. id rather have a 1470 than a 1280...even if it meant taking it multiple times.</p>

15

<p>this whole thing can be analyzed the heck out of...i don't think it's a major problem...don't worry bout it cause there isn't a single thing you can do about it at this point. enjoy your senior year!</p>