Hello everyone, I took my SAT and received the scores back. I scored a 1080 on my first try (out of 1600). Though I am disappointed because I thought I would score higher. I’m a bit down but I do have a second fee waiver. I’m off and I have no school. My top choice is University of Southern California. Now some of you guys are thinking “yea no,”. But from high end schools with low acceptance rates. Did ANY of you applied to a college with a low SAT score and you did a damn good job on your application, is it possible? DID ANY of this happen to ANY of you? Thank you for reading please help.
all feedback is wanted
I am planning to retake it btw if any of you are seeing this
Use Khan Academy to study. Seriously. It’s free and they personalize it according to your scores. No tutor needed! And as for applying to colleges, I’m guessing you’re a rising senior? I am too 
But I would focus on the common app essays. If you can be able to carefully and impressively craft your common app application in your favor as a way to showcase yourself and what you have done all throughout high school, then you should be good. But then again, college acceptances are a crapshoot and mostly depends on your luck tbh. Btw, do you have a nice list of EC’s(things you actually enjoy and not just doing them because they’ll look good on the common app).
i do cross country track and field took part in anime and robotics club Im chapter officer of my SKillsUSA group, volunteered in a soup kitchen, thats pretty much it
ive used every resource at my hand still I felt like my hard work was for nothing
I really feel for you because I have the same number of EC’s. May I ask if you are from a low income family?(Not to be rude or anything)or go to a low SES highscool? If so then I think that you can explain why you have a few ECs. Maybe you had a sick family member to take care of, so you spent all your looking after them or your school doesn’t offer a lot of clubs(but you could always start your own-I think) and etc. But besides that, just know that even if you don’t get into your dream school or the school that you’ve always wanted to go to since you were 5, you will live. It won’t be the end of the world. Sorry to sound so harsh.
my school has an average amount of clubs, but my family does not tell me their salaries but it must be high since we just got this big house. I know you’re not trying to sound harsh. But I always dreamed of going there. I used every source at my hand, I did well on my junior year. To find out my score is a 1080, no my family is telling good job for first try, but I cant help myself.All that hard work just thrown out the window,
yeah you should study and retake it. But if you want to see people who got in with certain scores look at this: https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■/searchundergrad?s=&sc=University+of+Southern+California+Los+Angeles+CA777USC*&kw=&gl=&gh=&al=&ah=&sl=&sh=&et=&sp=&un=1&gr=0
sorry I don’t think the link worked but just google “admitsee profiles”
sorry I keep getting censored for some reason. Anyway, just study hard and retake it is the best advice I can give.
@JasmineArmani has given you good advice - use the Khan Academy test prep on line. Also take practice tests under timed conditions - there are 8 official SAT tests available. Maybe do one section a day or two sections every other day. Go through the answer keys to see where your mistakes are and how you can improve them. Beyond that, if your second try isn’t what you hope, look at test optional schools.
As for your chances at USC, what is your unweighted GPA?
Also, have you talked with your parents about how much they are willing to pay? Have you put real financial numbers into any net price calculators (each college website will have one) to determine what your expected family contribution (EFC) is? Your first criteria should be affordability. Many parents are not aware of current college costs and it can come as a bit of a shock. Full cost of attendance at USC is close to 70K per year, excluding any financial or merit-based aid.
Good luck!
I know someone who had scores similar to yours. He studied very hard and improved his scores a great deal. If your GPA is good, then that is your next step. Good luck!
I guess I need to go back to khan academy since i have taken those 8 test and reviewed my mistakes my gpa is sadly unweighted is a 3.6 and my family has punched the numbers. Though I do have other options I am giving it my all to get into USC