<p>Well as you all know, my goal is to get into UVA. However, the one thing holding me back are my test scores. I got a 30 on the ACT my first try in April and was very happy but I knew I still had to get a 33+ to have a chance at UVA from OOS. So I've had a tutor since I got back the April test all the way to the June test, and probably took around 10-15 practice tests. Going into the test I had scored consistantly 32+ on all tests. I get the score back last night and get a 31.... Wait thats not even the good part. I owned in all the sections. I open the scores page and read "35 english, 33 reading, 30 math, and wait... 26 science." I never, and I mean never, have gotten a 26 on science. On my first ACT I got a 28 and even studying hardest for science my scores dropped... I'm starting to feel that all the hard work I've put into school the past 3 years is a waste. I worked like crazy this year and got straight A's for the first time. But all because of 1 tests that I can either get lucky on or have a bad day my chances of getting into the colleges I want are dissappearing...
Sorry about this post, I just need to vent, I'm on a rampage at my house right now... You thought the world of warcraft freakout was bad...</p>
<p>My daughter’s results were similar. She went up 2 points in english and reading, stayed the same in math but went down 3 points in science. Net gain of 1 point in the composite. She is not happy, so looks like a retake in September. </p>
<p>You know, you are obviously a bright kid, so I just want to offer a piece of advice. Don’t let a number define you. You are so much more than your ACT, SAT, GPA, AP score or whatever. Most top schools practice a holistic approach for admissions. The application shows your numbers, the essays are your chance to show them who you are. Focus on that…and stop obsessing, haha!</p>
<p>A 31 on the ACT is just fine for an OOS applicant. The admissions decision in your case will not turn on your ACT score.</p>
<p>Wow really guys thanks for the uplift. I’m searching the Internet for a act math/science tutor. I won’t be happy with myself till I get a 33 because I know I can</p>
<p>OP…I would definitely retake the ACT again in October, but please also sign up for the SAT in October as well. I know you have said that you don’t care for the SAT, but if the fee is not an issue you should try. You have nothing to lose. You might be lucky that day and do well. A 31 is a good score, but you must recognize and accept how difficult admission to UVA is for all applicants but especially those from OOS. I believe the rate for OOS students is like 22%. You’ve got to understand these odds. Understand that the 78% that doesn’t make it also have great stats; luck simply wasn’t on their side. I would encourage you to do a search on this forum for spring of 2009. There was a thread made specifically for the admission results of OOS applicants. It might help you to browse through this and see scores of those who were admitted and those who were not. </p>
<p>I want to close by offering you one more piece of advice…PLEASE start thinking about a variety of different level schools and quit fixating on UVA as being the only one you think you’ll be happy at. You need to go into this process with an attitude that although you may be competitive, so are a lot of others, and ultimately God will put you where he wants you. It may not be where you want to be, but there’s a reason for everything. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Well I’m defininatly going to take it again. The fact that I got a 31 is heartbreaking, and my chances of getting into any college that I like, let alone UVA has slipped away. And about jc40 saying “god will put you where he wants you” I’m atheist… I go to a jesuit school and that is the reason why.</p>
<p>Lol @ the god comment… these days no one brings up god in a forum anymore.</p>
<p>lol its true. Not much to say I’ve basically giving up I have a tutor lined up and I told her I would pay her 500$ if she helped me get a 33 on science and math… Thats a 500$ bonus. I’m working 6 days a week so I can afford it and I ride the train into my internship which is 1hr away = 2hrs of studying a day on the train… I hope she takes the deal a 500$ bonus to get me that 33 math/sci.
About the god comment; I go to a jesuit school which has completely turned me from the church. It’s supposed to me make us closer with god but everything they teach is so hypocritical. I mean I love the jesuit virtues, (and the fact I’m a walk-in at BC, + jesuit highshcool helps raise chances at georgetown) but when it comes to the “finding god” I’m not big on it…</p>
<p>I highly recommend that you take the SAT as well. If you get a 2200+ , you might as well forget about the ACT.</p>
<p>I took the SAT once and got a 1820… even if I was having a bad day I doubt it could effect my score by 400 points</p>
<p>UVA or Bust, I am a rising first year and I got in with an ACT score of 30 (and I’m from a public school), it’s not the end fo the world, calm down a little. Your score probably won’t go all too much higher, but a 31 can still get you in. Ignore the SAT and ACT for now, focus on side things that will make you stand out SAT IIs other tests, work on your essays and maybe make an Art portfolio if you think you are good at art. </p>
<p>Also I think you are a little too set on going to UVA, which isn’t necessarily bad, but you really need to find other schools that are similar, maybe Wake Forest or BC. Try to broaden your search and you will end up somewhere that will make you happy</p>
<p>Well I’m extremely confident I will get into BC, as in I’m almost definite because of the school I go to. So UVA is my main focus. If I don’t get into UVA I’m probably going to go to Westpoint (serve 5 years then re-app to UVA) or go to UF (university of florida because I have prepaid college there, than try to transfer into UVA after the first year)</p>
<p>Also has anyone seen Dean. J, I haven’t seen her in a while, is she ok?</p>
<p>Well anyways, keep commenting guys, as always your comments are helpful.</p>
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<p>UVAorBust…I have a feeling you’re going to be quite surprised come April. It’s been said to you many, many times but you somehow are failing to recognize reality…with 23% acceptance rate, BC is not a “definite” for anyone – I don’t care if you went to Exeter, Andover, or what have you. PLEASE look carefully through the following:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/boston-college/829934-official-boston-college-class-2014-ea-decisions-thread.html?highlight=2014[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/boston-college/829934-official-boston-college-class-2014-ea-decisions-thread.html?highlight=2014</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/boston-college/882573-official-2010-regular-decision-thread.html?highlight=2014[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/boston-college/882573-official-2010-regular-decision-thread.html?highlight=2014</a></p>
<p>Do you see how many kids have superior stats to you that were waitlisted or rejected? Yes, some were accepted with your profile, so it’s quite possible it could happen. My point is that any school that has an acceptance rate of less than 30%, BE PREPARED FOR REJECTION! *It’s an odds game. It’s often not fair, and yes, you’ll probably will be left scratching your head asking, “How did they get in and I didn’t?” The best way to combat these feelings of confusion and failure is to simply:</p>
<p>A) apply to a wide VARIETY of schools (reaches, matches, & safeties)
B) when decisions come, appreciate the schools that loved you enough to offer an acceptance rather than focusing on those where you were rejected/waitlisted.</p>
<p>If you keep fixating on UVA, it’s going to eat you up when in all probability (78% chance for OOS) you’ll get rejected. I’m not saying give up… what I am saying is put you best app forward, know it probably won’t happen, and learn to love/appreciate other schools. If you get into UVA – hooray! If not, know that there are other great schools out there. *</p>
<p>I trully do not mean to be rude but NEVER, NEVER assume that a school like BC will be a safety even with a 31. I was acccepted to UVA and rejected at BC AND my high school also has a exceptionally favorable relationship with BC, on average we send about 10 students out of a class size of only 125. I was over confident with BC. Also don’t be over confident with Army because it isn’t easy getting in there, there is far more politicing going on at the service academies than most people are aware of. And getting into UVA by transfering isn’t any easier than as a high school senior.</p>
<p>Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just because a “tier one” school is ranked lower on the USNWR than UVA means it is easier to get into. I got rejected at BC but accepted to Tufts and Wake Forest. Rejected at UNC where I am a double legacy and rejected at Villanova but accepted to UVA and Georgetown. There isn’t a set formula to getting into a good school, so don’t look for one. </p>
<p>Look ONLY for schools (plural) that you think you will be happy at and stop fixating on UVA. I know I’m not the first person to tell you that but seriously LISTEN!</p>
<p>can I post pictures on this thread, I want to post the picture of the kids into bc the past 5 years from my school…</p>
<p>I have a 3.85gpa/31 Act (which will be a 33 ACT by october). I’m telling you guys my school has a big connection with BC. And if I don’t get into BC I will get into fordham… </p>
<p>Yes, I know that I’m applying to a ton of reaches and according to CC standerds I have no chance. But if you look at the scattergrams at my school people get into upenn with 28’s, the average act to duke is a 30, and the average act to unc is a 29…</p>
<p>Ok this is my last comment to you. Clearly you are the egotistical type, who refuses to listen to others opinions. Unless you change your attitude as you show it through here, I certaintly hope you won’t go into an interview at any school becuase your attitude alone may get you rejected. Furthermore your graph just reinforces what jc40 and I said, you don’t have as great a shot there as you claim, look elsewhere.</p>
<p>I told you I also went to a high school that had a exceptionally favorable relationship with BC, 10/125 kids getting accepted and going to BC is huge. I felt I was qualified and got rejected. Don’t ignore advice just because you don’t like what it says, so don’t ignore what jc40 and I said or the advice of you guidance counselor for that matter.</p>
<p>A few final words, and I’m done…You’ve received some VERY sound advice from NewEngland91. I want you to re-read what he said:</p>
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<p>Okay, D went to an EXTREMELY prestigious prep school. In her class of less than 90 there were acceptances from every ivy, the top 8 LACs, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, 5 BC/BC Honors, 3 UVAs (OOS), 5 UNC (OOS), Georgetown, USC, WUST, Rice, Wake, CMU, NYU, etc., etc., etc. She had a 4.0 UW, 2250 SAT, 790/770 SAT II, 12 APs – all 5s, NM, and ECs/recs like you wouldn’t believe. NewEngland91 was accepted at Tufts, our D was waitlisted. He was a double legacy at UNC and was rejected and yet our D was accepted. Do you grasp how competitive this process truly is and how subjective it can be? What appeals to one school’s adcom may not appeal to another; one never really knows. Your school’s reputation will not guarantee acceptance ANYWHERE; it can help a little, but even then that’s not always true. </p>
<p>Please carefully reflect on what’s been said.</p>
<p>Bust, I’d still take the SAT if I were you. You have nothing to lose so you might as well give it a shot.</p>
<p>I took the ACT once and got a 1820, pretty dissappointing and very downing. Also to reply to newengland who is saying “I’m the egotistical type” listen up… This site is unbelievable. Yes this site offers exception information for help with picking colleges and help in colllege and stuff. But when it comes to chances, CC turns my stomach. People on here think colleges are impossible to get into, and I know people who have not applied to some schools because people on here said they have such low chances. Well you know what, my friends and I were thinking about this, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ON HERE TO LIE AND MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL BETTER. This site is full of some very smart people, but when it comes to people giving advice about chances their views are so flawed. I feel bad by the people who are discouraged by the chances on here… Half the people are lieing and making college admissions sound much harder than they really hard. And NewEngland, my principal is good friends with the president of BC, every year tons of kids go to BC, I mean maybe my vision is flawed but, the average ACT to BC from my school is a 28… The average ACT from my school to Georgetown is 27. If I posted in the Georgetown section that I wanted to go to Georgetown and that I had a 27 people would spit and laugh at me. I can already see it now “hahahaha a 27, yea right better start looking at community college”. I don’t know if people come onto this site to make others feel bad, or if they just come on to this site to make themselves feel good. </p>
<p>Sorry I may have offended you NewEngland or JC40… I’m a little angry right now because of my ***** ACT score and the fact that the chances getting into the colleges I want to bascially just dissappeared (well atleast according to this site)
And also I know BC is a hard school to get into, and I’m not saying I’m in, I’m just saying that because I go to my school I have an advantage over other schools… And anyways I’ve been thinking about it I think I might not even apply to UVA any more. I might just apply to Westpoint and go to the army, because at this stage of life maybe afganistan isn’t such a bad place to be…</p>