Does my low SAT I really hamper my chances a great deal for the Ivies?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey readers, I am an Asian (Pakistani) who has a background such that English is not my first language. I could just give the SAT once because of a number of factors, and scores in that attempt weren't great.I had a 650 in CR, 670 in W, and 770 in M (2090). I am applying to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, NYU AD and Brown this year. Does my low SAT score really hamper my chances at these colleges? The other features of my app are given below:</p>

<p>Curricular:
completed O level in two years
in O-I, got 'A's in all exams in all terms.
in O-II, got 'A's in all exams (except a B in Mathematics and a B in English language in the first term, got 'A's in these subjects in the second term)
O level: 7A<em>s, 2As
A levels first year: mid term: 5A</em>s, final term: 5A<em>s expected grades issued by the school: 5A</em>s
SAT I: 2090 (CR=650, Maths=770, Writing=670 in first attempt, will give second attempt coming January)
SAT II (result waiting): Expected: 800 Chemistry 790-800 Physics 800 Maths - level 2 </p>

<p>Co-curricular:
-I founded a science journal, Plasma, which is Pakistan's only science journal at the high school about 5 months ago. Now, it has enormously grown into the biggest science community at this level and has members and ambassadors from all over the city. Professors like Walter Lewin (MIT) have appreciated our efforts and written articles for Plasma. I still devote a large part of my time towards developing and establishing Plasma.</p>

<p>-I am a writer at EUSci, the Edinburgh University Science Magazine. I am the youngest and the only international writer; all other writers are either PhDs or PhD scholars. I write on topics relating to astrophysics and my article on time travel has got selected for the March 2012 issue of EUSci.</p>

<p>-Worked as an intern in Alpha Engineering Firm for over an year. Was elected senior intern.</p>

<p>-Part of the project of designing a space settlement for NASA’s Space Settlement Design Competition. Designed the project for the school but couldn't go for presenting the project in the main competition.</p>

<p>-I was awarded the first position in the whole boys’ wing for my academics in the school in class 7th class, 8th class and 9th class out of over 400 students in my wing.
I was awarded the second position in the whole boys’ wing for my academics in the school in the 6th class out of over 400 students in my wing.</p>

<p>-My articles relating to astrophysics and relativity have got published in EUSci, Plasma (my own journal), Nebulous (a local journal) and Ideas Evolved (a magazine-published my article on the grandfather paradox as cover story).</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
permanent member of ASSET, an NGO for the eradication of human right . Worked there for 250 hours.
remained ambassador at World Wide Fund for Nature.
Ambassador of the country's biggest cancer hospital for my school
Ambassador at Ideas Evolved (a magazine)
Ambassador of Azm-e-Alsihan
Member of stepUp Pakistan (an organisation which puts efforts for stepping up Pakistan)</p>

2

<p>All you can do is apply and wait and see. No one can say for certain that you would not get in; but you are right to wonder whether your SAT scores will be an issue. I think you have a good shot at NYU AD but with a 650 in CR, the others are real reaches. Are you dead set on an Ivy? You have some nice accomplishments and there are other good universities that would accept you.</p>

3

<p>I know I can improve my SAT score to up to 2200 in second attempt in January. I am not sure whether the rest of my achievements will be sufficient even with that SAT score</p>

4

<p>MIT & NYU is not an Ivy, and if you have the $$to pay full freight, you will probably get into NYU. Suggest that you also consider Cornell and Dartmouth. </p>

<p>In answer to your question, yes a low CR is a red flag to most Ivy applicants, particularly since your subject tests were all math/science. (Top colleges receive thousands of high stat math/science types with a low CR. The way to stand apart from that crowd is a high CR and ECs.)</p>

<p>Apply and retake in Jan. Not all colleges will consider a Jan score, but some might. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Pakistan sends these schools many high scoring, high achieving students, so yes, the scores will hurt. I suggest you go considerable down the list from ivies to some of the LACs where you’ll have a much better shot. Look at Colgate, Bates, Kalamazoo, Carleton and Grinnell.</p>

<p>I agree you have a good shot at NYU if you can pay for it.</p>

6

<p>Does Carleton and Grinnel give generous aid to internationals?</p>

7

<p>Yes…</p>