I’ve had 4 non-honors classes in my entire high school career. The rest have been Honors or AP. My base in algebra was very poor however, and now I’m struggling with Algebra II. I’m a junior now and just received my PSAT scores and my math score was 40. Since the PSAT is a prediction, I’m not sure if there is much hope for my actual math SAT score, which I will be taking this January 24th. I’ve been heading to tutoring sessions twice a week (one for math, one for SAT’s). I’m hoping to get a minimum 550 math score (my dream is 650 but that’s realistically probably not going to happen).
My worry is that if I receive lower than a 430 on my SAT, I will have to take a remedial algebra course at the community college near me, and I was wondering how bad that may look to some of the schools I’m applying to. (UF, FSU, UCF, NYU,Emerson, UChicago; if that helps you answer,)
Do you plan to attend a community college and transfer to a four-year university, or do you intend to apply to the schools you listed this Fall as a senior? (I’m confused by what you stated.)
A 430 is around the 22nd percentile. This means 78% of SAT test takers score higher than you in Math. I don’t know the selectivity of some of the schools you’ve listed but for a schools like NYU and Chicago, you’re simply not viable whatsoever.
Well I haven’t taken my SAT yet. I’m hoping for a 550. My main hope is UF. I really just want to know the effect remedial math has when the admissions board will look at my application in case my hopes don’t work out.
Assuming you are a Florida resident, your HS counselor ought to be familiar with previous students from your school who have gotten into (or been denied) from UF and can give you an idea of your chances.
remedial math will also be bracketed by your test score. Neither will keep you out of college per se. However, being severely weak in math will certainly take you out of contention for competitive colleges. Like mikemac said, spk with your GC and see what paths other students with similar academic records have taken