If you don’t want to read my gigantic wall of text, skip all the way to the part after I list my AP scores.
I am going to be a senior in a couple of weeks. I am applying to 19 schools, most notably:
Harvey Mudd (undeclared)
UC Berkeley (CoC for the lels as Chem major)
UCLA (L&S chem)
UCSD (chem)
Cornell (undeclared)
and others that I don’t want to list atm.
My senior schedule is (rigorous enough?):
AP Physics 1
AP Gov (2nd sem)
AP Macro (1st sem)
AP Calc BC
AP Lit
Lab Assistant (for elective credits, I can’t take any other classes here unless I want another free period. which I don’t)
Current UW GPA/W GPA: 3.75/4.1
UC GPA (UW/standard/fully weighted): 3.59 (yikess)/3.95 (ouch)/4.14 (ehhh) I struggled with depression my sophomore year. Don’t jump to conclusions.
AP Courses: APUSH (5), AP Chem (5), AP Chinese (5), AP Lang (4, self study)
Ok, so based on the information I have given, I need help figuring out my testing plans for the fall. Here is what I have laid out so far:
ACT: first and ONLY time in September
SAT Subject Tests: 770 in Math (Jun 2015) and Chem (Jun 2014), planned retakes in October (Is this a good idea?)
SAT 1: retake in NOVEMBER
Oct 2014: 2140 (690CR/800M/650W/9E)
Jan 2015: 2210 (680CR/800M/730W/10E)
I am applying early to some schools, so I basically have to nail my ACT because my SAT score is trash for those schools. Should I clear up space in October for my SAT 1, or retake both my subject tests for 800s? Given my schedule, should I even retake my subject tests? Is it worth it? Also, if I retake my SAT 1, what score should I aim for? What should I aim for on the ACT?
“Lab Assistant (for elective credits, I can’t take any other classes here unless I want another free period. which I don’t)”
If you do the free period, you can focus in your AP classes
@NASA2014 I already have 2 free periods. My school skimps on AP courses and I can’t take an AP course for elective. I have already explicitly stated that I do not want another free period, having 4 classes just makes me look really lazy. Please do not tell me to change my schedule. I am TAing for my AP Chem teacher, and she is going to write me a rec. It is not without good reason.
alrighty then.
SAT scores look good for those schools, especially the math portion
Don’t retake the subject tests; it’s not worth it imo
Do not retake subject tests; retaking scores that high is a negative, not a positive. If you wish, you can retake the SAT 1, aiming at bringing the CR score above 700.
Your SAT score is absolutely not trash. A 2200 is within the top 1-2% of top test takers and is probably within the average at basically every school you listed.
Senior schedule is rigorous. 770 in Math II and Chem is perfectly fine. I don’t think you need to retake.
You’re applying to 19 schools, how many of those are not UC? You have a lot going on with testing during the fall, so make sure you can balance testing and writing essays for presumably 10 schools + UC’s.
I think you should apply early for not a reach school as you can utilize the first semester of senior year to raise your grades.
@rdeng2614 I am applying to 7 UCs and 12 others. Are you sure I shouldn’t retake the 770s? I’m sure I can make an 800.
No, 770 is definitely fine and competitive for these schools. Honestly, anything 750+ is basically the same. Don’t bother retaking the SAT IIs and focus on homework/other standardized testing. (Though honestly, I think 2200+ is great!)
That’s a lot of schools and a lot of essays to write. You can retake, but the time could be better spent on perfecting the essay. There is a tiny difference between a 770 and a 800, a tiny difference between a 2200 and a 2300, so tiny that it will not break your app while there is an obvious difference between an amazing essay and a decent essay and merely a ‘decent’ essay might get you rejected from top schools like Cornell.