<p>I'm applying to some rather selective schools (my top choices are Emory, Davidson, Wash & Lee, and U Chicago) and I'm worried about my uneven SAT scores. My superscore is a 2110: 800 CR, 580 Math, 730 Writing. I've sent three scores, and in my last two sittings, I scored exactly the same in CR and Math; my math didn't improve, but I've managed to get an 800 in CR twice.</p>
<p>I intend to major in English, and tried to emphasize my abilities in the humanities in all of my applications. Will a perfect CR score mitigate a consistently middling math score? I know that 800s in CR are less common than 800s in Math, and I'm a competitive applicant in all other aspects: solid GPA, excellent course rigor, and good essays. Any similar experiences?</p>
<p>I’m a junior, so I’m not applying yet, but I was in the same boat as you. I had a really high CR score, and my math score was much much lower. I honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to raise it, but I did like 40 practice sections of math and my score went up over a hundred points. If you have a solid GPA, you must be doing well in your math classes. If you’re doing well in your math classes, you’re fully capable of doing well on SAT math. I also used the PWN the SAT Math book, so if you need a prep book, that might help.
I really think it’d be a good idea for you to re-take the SAT, if you have time.</p>
<p>That was me, though my math and writing scores were somewhat better (superscore 800/650/800). I’m aiming for PREMED and that didn’t stop me from getting in where I wanted to go- if you’re going for English then they’ll probably understand somewhat.
I don’t know HOW much it’ll help, but I think that 2110 is a high enough combination score that your 800 can be, as my college counselor said, “money in the bank” without being overshadowed too much by your math score.</p>
<p>I think if that’s the major you’re looking at, it shouldn’t be an issue. That said, why don’t you try and raise your SAT Math score because it’s pretty easy to raise up from where you are now with the right kind of practice. </p>
<p>A tough call. I do think it would be best if you could raise your M score above a 600. What have you done to improve your math?</p>
<p>Sorry, just realized my original post was kind of unclear - I’ve already applied to every school I’m going to apply to. I just posted this to see if others have been in a similar position.</p>
<p>CR 800 is prolly a lot less common than Math 800 and you’ve got what you need for your field. A 580 is very low but a 800 is also very high. So hopefully it balances it out!</p>
<p>800 in critical reading TWICE?!
By golly, I would love to trade you all 3 of my 800s in Math just for one of those lovely 800s in CR!</p>
<p>Those are certainly interesting scores, but not unusual considering your major. I do think getting it above a 600 would be beneficial, perhaps aim for a 650? That sub 600 score is just extraordinarily not at the same level. I found myself in a similar boat (660 initial math score with very high reading/writing scores) the first time, but luckily the math section can be conquered with a little bit of work. </p>
<p>Here, for more advice check out the math section of this article:
<a href=“SAT Tips and Tricks - SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/1614289-sat-tips-and-tricks.html</a> </p>
<p>I can relate with this post as my son has 750 CR 740 Writing and 550 Math. The math score has hurt with some schools. I’ve paid Kaplan and the score went down. One on one tutoring with a HS math teacher brought it up to 550. I’m thinking of sending him to a prep school where he can get some help. </p>
<p>If you are not a senior and have the opportunity, I would seriously try to take the ACT. </p>
<p>For my older daughter it really helped her math score. Her verbal scores remained about the same. For her the SAT math was tricky and she would at stuck and be indecisive on certain questions that were ambiguous. The ACT was not at all like that–it was more straightforward math knowledge. For the ACT you needed to complete the test questions quickly, but they were straight forward. Her math score on the SAT was stuck at 650. When she took the ACT it rose to a 35 (99th percentile).</p>
<p>It is hard to say what a college will do with your scores. I’m sure math will be way below the 25th percentile, but it will certainly be balanced with your awesome reading score. So hard to tell. My younger D got into NYU with a 610 in math and a 720 reading. She is a studio art major, so talent was also a component.</p>
<p>If t all possible you’d like to bring math to at least a 600 or even better to the 25th percentile of the schools you apply to.</p>
<p>It is what it is and it’s in the adcomm’s hands now anyway–if they want someone with exceptional talent in one area and don’t mind you’re not all around, then you’ll probably get in. The ways of adcomms are not always linear. I went to Penn back in the day and there was a 150-point gap between my math and verbal scores (verbal higher), so I sympathize. If you have a lot of awards/accomplishments around the English and writing, that will also help. And as others have pointed out, an 800 on CR is much more unusual than on math.</p>