<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm currently in IB1 (that's a Junior in the American system) and i'm a fairly good student, I mean I am currently on 39 points that's a 7 in all subjects a 6 in Languages (Swahili) and a 5 in literature. So for those of you who don't know, a 7 is an A plus, 6 is an A and 5 a B. I'm currently ranked third in my whole grade. My subjects are Higher Level Chemistry, Biology and Economics and Standard Math, Literature and Swahili. I am very proud of my IB scores, however, I just received my SAT scores and achieved 1550. I am so incredibly bummed! I wanted to apply to NYU, Cornell, Standford and Duke. Are my chances slim to none? or do the SATs not weigh so much? or should I re-take them?</p>
<p>Sorry, but there’s no chances with that SAT score. For Cornell, Duke, and Stanford, you’d need about a 2200 to be competitive. And many times Stanford rejects students who have PERFECT 2400 scores. I would definitely retake and aim for lower schools</p>
<p>Also, it seems that you are an international so it will be tremendously difficult for you to get into the top schools like the ones you mentioned. I’m not saying that you can’t make it, but the chances are very very low right now</p>
<p>Do US schools only deliberate based on SAT scores? I mean it’s a bit silly to base someone’s future on a single test they took on one day…Anyway, suppose I re-take it, is there a distinct score/maximum score my grade would improve by? As in, is it possible to make a huge leap and score in 2000s with my scores…TBH, I didn’t prep for the SAT - it was during my IB1 finals soo yeah</p>
<p>You should definitely retake them. study this summer, and take it again in October. I bet you’ll have some sort of improvement, don’t give up</p>
<p>I just enrolled in the College Board Prep Me course…Hope I do better, much better.</p>
<p>They don’t necessarily put all emphasis on the SAT, but it is highly crucial for top colleges. Basically, they prefer well rounded students. They want students who excel in every category academically (ex. 4.0 GPAs and 2200+ SAT scores) as well as having excellent extracurriculars. They want you to show a passion in extracurriculars. It’s not that they specifically impose emphasis on the SAT, but each year they have a myriad of students who are able to provide those expectations. They have so many well qualified students that they have to even REJECT some students with those perfect scores and excellent academics. Competition is tough.</p>
<p>Well, I’m fairly well rounded, I am founder of the school’s badminton club (i’m president now), I have taken part of several Model United Nation Conferences, I’ve attended 4 national conferences and one international conference, The Hague International Model United Nations, and I was a Chair at last year’s national conference. I also run Middle School MUN. I take part in two community services and am treasurer of one and leader of the other. I mean it’s my SAT scores that are going to cause a huge downfall --GAH.</p>
<p>Ok first what country are you applying from?</p>
<p>Second, you can go to the Cornell link here on College Confidential and then on the top there’s a thread that shows all the acceptances and waitlists and rejections for the class of 2017. You can scroll through and see how you compare to the other past applicants. For Stanford’s acceptances, waitlists, and rejections,
just type in Stanford on the college search and you should find a link for Stanford as well.</p>
<p>Tanzania, although born and bred here, I am a third generation immigrant from India.</p>
<p>Alright sorry there isn’t one for Cornell but there are some for other Ivy League Colleges.</p>
<p>Ok and have either of your parents attended college? Because if they didn’t, then that would help</p>
<p>If you can write about how you were fighting poverty in Tanzania and came to seek a better life here as an immigrant, then that should help a ton (Although I don’t know if you come a affluent or poor family)</p>
<p>Neither of my parents attended college (bad for them, good for me lol). No, I am not poor, at all. I attend the International School of Tanganyika, that is 22,000 USD per year. We’re pretty wealthy now, I mean we struggled quite a bit when I was younger - my dad was raised in this rural part of Tanzania, he only finished some level of high school but did really well for himself… I live in Tanzania but past generations lived in Indiaa</p>
<p>Achilles wrote “If you can write about how you were fighting poverty in Tanzania and came to seek a better life here as an immigrant, then that should help a ton (Although I don’t know if you come a affluent or poor family)”.</p>
<p>I completely disagree. That is a very clich</p>
<p>Thanks! Do they look at all SAT scores, or your highest only? Will this low score hinder my application should I do better on the SATs in October? The thing is i’m also applying to the UK, and that’s all okay because the UK doesn’t care for SAT scores only what your transcripts and IB points. But the only way my parents are letting me attend a school in the US is if I am accepted to an Ivy League or universities of the like. What’s a good SAT score or a safe scorE?</p>
<p>at least get a 2000 or higher. Do more then just take the course…take the BB tests and do the online course for College Board. Don’t let the score hinder you from applying but it might be best for you to consider in state public schools for the moment.</p>
<p>Alright, so I was doing some NYU STERN research and it mentions that:
To be eligible for admission, applicants are expected to submit results from one of the following testing options:
The SAT Reasoning Test; or
The ACT with Writing Test; or
Three SAT Subject Test scores; or
Three AP exam scores; or
The International Baccalaureate Diploma; or
Three IB higher-level exam scores (if you are not an IB Diploma candidate);
So I could only submit my IB score… no need for SAT, right?</p>
<p>oh and do unis look at the highest score only?</p>