Does this SAT physics score ruin my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I just got my score back. A 600. In my classes, we've only covered mechanics. No E&M, no thermo, nothing else but mechanics. I self studied as best I could for the rest of the test, but that's all that happened.</p>

<p>The rest of my resume is still extremely impressive, and I believe I wrote the best essays I could have written. Please let me know what you think.</p>

<p>Alright, I know it's repetitive, but please let me know which schools you think I'll get in, and which I'll have a tougher time.</p>

<p>All engineering schools.</p>

<p>Schools
Tufts
Duke
Cornell
Penn
WUSTL
Lehigh</p>

<p>Yes, I also have safeties.</p>

<p>Northern NJ Public School
Gender: Male
GPA: 3.83 UW/4.35W - Taking Just about toughest courseload possible (missed two years of honors english because of scheduling)
Rank: 3/326
SAT I: 2150
CR: 670
M: 760
W: 720</p>

<p>SAT II: Math II: 800
US History: 680
Physics: 600</p>

<p>AP English Lang - 3
AP US History - 4
AP Calculus BC
AP Government
AP English Lit
AP Physics C</p>

<p>EC's</p>

<p>---4 Years Church Confirmation Program -- 2 Year Leader, Involved in Various activities within the church, contribute a ton of time, eucharistic minister, community service hours, etc. 225+ hours</p>

<p>---High School Soccer 4 Years, One Varsity Letter</p>

<p>---2 years Mu Alpha Theta - 1 Year President, Organizing Math Competition for Local Middle School</p>

<p>---3 Years New Jersey Science League - 2 State Certificates in Physics 1 and Chemistry I, recoginition by board of Ed. Will participate in Physics II this year.</p>

<p>---1 Year New Jersey Challenge -- Personally organized my high schools entry, team captain, it's a tv based quiz bowl show between NJ high schools.</p>

<p>---2 Years NHS, this years Treasurer - In charge of service hour documentation and a lot of paperwork.</p>

<p>---2 years Peers as Leaders Program - Conflict Resolution Group - Head of Peer Tutoring this year, a lot of tutoring hours.</p>

<p>---3 years Interact Club - 35+ hours various community service projects with Salvation Army, Local Christmas Tree Lighting, etc.</p>

<p>---1 Year New Jersey Boys State - selected as a participant, was Mayor and Councilman for my town.</p>

<p>---2005 National Student Leadership conference with focus in Engineering @ U maryland</p>

<p>---2 years Model UN -- Went to Princeton University Conference (PMUNC)</p>

<p>---2 Years of High School Bowling Team, non varsity (my team's good! haha)</p>

<p>--Freshman Representative for Student Council</p>

<p>---10+ Years of rec soccer</p>

<p>Awards: HESAA NJ Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Award
State/Board of Ed Certificates in Chem and Physics</p>

<p>Work Experience -- Indoor Soccer referee part time for 3 years, held two lifeguarding jobs last summer for a total of about 35 hours a week.</p>

<p>Recomendations - Will definitely be good, if not great. Great relationship with my GC. Also got a recommendation from my church</p>

<p>Essays: I personally think I've done a great job on all of my essays, and I've showed most to an english teacher who agreed with me.</p>

2

<p>I doubt it will matter much at all, except if your major is Engineering which could be somewhat of a turn off...although I don't think it will be much of an impact</p>

3

<p>My major IS engineering, though. That's why I'm worried. 800 math II score though!</p>

4

<p>600 is still pretty good...(better than my Writing in my SAT 1...grrr)</p>

<p>I doubt that that would be 'the only factor' if you get rejected at any of those...</p>

<p>Tufts - High Match (why engineering there, though?)
Duke - Slight Reach
Cornell - Slight Reach
Penn- Reach
Wash U - High Match
Lehigh - Safe Match</p>

<p>Consider adding some safeties. BY the way, chance me as well (my thread is just below)</p>

5

<p>I mentioned above I have safeties. A 600 is pretty bad, I think that's around 30% tile. I just haven't learned the material, so it was tough. Chemistry and Bio were freshman and sophomore year, so I felt even more uncomfortable taking them, which left physics.</p>

<p>Tufts has a very strong engineering program, and I love the school.</p>

6

<p>i would agree with smash except for wash u, and tufts engineering does suck
Tufts - High Match (why engineering there, though?)
Duke - Slight Reach
Cornell - Slight Reach
Penn- Reach
Wash U - reach
Lehigh - Safe Match</p>

7

<p>tufts engineering doesn't suck. its not top 10, but it's a great program. I love the school, and I also like that they have IR, which i might double major in. I selected engineering because my math/science is my strongest.</p>

8

<p>I think you're in Duke for sure, especially considering the soccer.</p>

9

<p>they will hurt but not significantly</p>

10

<p>Don't worry, my World History was a 580. And it was an AP class!</p>

11

<p>well if it makes u feel any better i got into Penn with a 33ACT and 2130SAT, no SATII's at all</p>

12

<p>that's because you took the ACT. I should have, but didn't. Oh well, we'll see. I was only varsity soccer one year, I don't know how that'd help me much. I was on the team all four years, but only letter once due to a pretty big program.</p>

13

<p>Should I take it again in January if I study more for it, since Duke and Tufts would take it that late?</p>

14

<p>bump please let me know what you think about my SAT II.</p>

15

<p>Can't you retake it in January?</p>

16

<p>I still really haven't learned the material and I don't exactly have all the time in the world to self study for it, so I don't know how much good that would do. Some of those colleges will take it, but only Duke and Tufts, I think.</p>

<p>I figure two pretty low scores (I wouldn't expect more than a 650) is worse than what the adcom could think was a bad day.</p>

<p>Regardless, I'm writing a letter to explain I had to self study for over half the material.</p>

17

<p>wait i wouldnt do that exactly i mean how does that help you?</p>

18

<p>Just so they know my school physics curriculum didn't covered the material on the test in time. My teacher and GC said they weren't allowed to write a letter, and I asked one of the admissions about it, and they say they'd actually prefer a letter from me anyway.</p>

<p>Basically, so they know I didn't fail to grasp the material, but basically that I had to take a complete guess on half of the questions, and I didn't take chemistry or bio because i took those classes so long ago.</p>

19

<p>This is only a guess from a fellow high-schooler, but I'd say that it won't be too bad -- your Math IIC score is good, which means that you'll probably be mathematically capable enough to cope with college physics , and US History isn't going to determine your engineering ability. They might frown over it a little bit, but if the rest of your application works out, you should be fine.</p>

<p>(Incidentally, the percentiles on the tests are way warped, so don't be too discouraged by the 30-ish. Most of the kids who take the test have done much more physics than the SAT II actually tests you on, and they tend to skew the average very high.)</p>

20

<p>Most schools only need 2 test scores anyways, so the math 2 and history will be considered, though they still will see your physics score. I don't think it will hurt too much since you have 2 other good scores. I don't know about that letter, but go ahead and do it. They might see it as whiny and a bad excuse.</p>