Freaking out (chance me please?)

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi,
SAT scores came out a few hours ago, and I'm already freaking out (checked the average SAT score of every college I wanted to go to in about an hour). I had hoped that I would do better on them, but I guess I'd like some reassurances or advice? This is my second time taking the SATs, but I need to know if I should retake. A lot of my classmates have all gotten 2400's (about 7) or 2300+. Help please?</p>

<p>Ethnicity-East Asian
Grade-11, Gender-Male, State-New Jersey</p>

<p>Major- Pre-medical</p>

<p>PSAT -- 191 (don't remember break-down)</p>

<p>SAT I -- 2200 -- CR 700 WR-700 M-800</p>

<p>AP Chem- 3</p>

<p>SAT II Biology E- 800</p>

<p>SAT II Chem- 770</p>

<p>SAT IIs to be taken -- Math 2</p>

<p>GPA (unweighted)--3.80/4.00, top 5% in competitive public school of 500</p>

<p>Extracurriculars--Cross Country, Track, Science club, Robotics club, Science League, French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, LEOs</p>

<p>Leadership positions-- President of science club, Treasurer of French Honor Society, previous team captain for my school's InvenTeam</p>

<p>Work & Volunteer Experience--internship at private GMP research lab, volunteer at CACA Chinese School, Assistant Instructor for Tae Kwon Do School, volunteer at retirement home</p>

<p>Awards--local and regional science competitions (NJCO, Science Olympiad, etc.)</p>

<p>Applying to for Summer- NIH SIP, Robert Wood Johnson Mini Med School, First Aid Squad, hospital volunteering</p>

2

<p>My numbers are very similar to yours(and I’m Asian) but my SAT II scores really really suck(Spanish-540, Chem: 640, Math II: 690). I’ll find out whether I get in or not later today.</p>

3

<p>I would give you a 12.3% chance, just like the other 30,000 well-qualified applicants. Get real man, colleges don’t want people who stress out over their friend’s numbers. Focus on those leadership positions and research opportunities. Do things to better yourself as an individual and to help your community, not to solely pad your resume and brag to your friends. You have one more chance at the SAT if you want, but don’t waste away your time worrying and posting “chance-me’s” on CC.</p>

4

<p>@neorobie: I wish you the best of luck! If you don’t mind telling me how it went, I’d really like to know how it goes. =)</p>

<p>@RejectedLikeAPro: Thanks a lot! 12.3% is a lot better than the 0% I was stressing over about. After a day of thinking about it, your advice really helped calm me down. I guess my biggest concern was if I was “good enough”, but I guess it’s up to the school to tell me. I’m seriously considering retaking the SAT, but it’s going to be the last time regardless of my score. Once again, thanks a lot.</p>

5

<p>slayerrazor: I was waitlisted. In hindsight, I really needed higher SAT II scores. I felt like my extracurriculars were strong. Although I didn’t have superstar EC’s, I did have unique hobbies. One of my reccs from actually one of my favorite teachers really sucked. He was a young teacher who actually told me afterward that he didn’t know how to write a recc. He also had emailed it to me and it was only a paragraph long stating a few of my accomplishments in his class. but he was the only science teacher I could get since my chem teacher moved and I’m scared of my physics teacher XD</p>