Goodbye college

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>I am a hopeful applicant for ANY combined BS/MD and BS/DO programs. I am a junior. I say any combined BS/MD or DO program because I am beginning to feel desperate. I really want to be a doctor, and I really want to be in a combined program like this. What I don't understand, is why am I scoring lower and lower on the SAT's EACH TIME I TAKE IT??? Is it stress? Anxiety? I really don't have a clue, and I really am beginning to feel like I'm just not meant to be in a combined program...let alone college. </p>

<p>I will just break it down:</p>

<p>PSAT (10th grade) - I scored a 210/240. This was during my SOPHOMORE YEAR. No, this is not a fake score either. Now, during 10th grade, I really didn't have much exposure to how the scoring system worked. I just looked at percentages. Needless to say, I was decently happy. But nothing could help me explain my future scores.</p>

<p>PSAT (11th grade) - I scored a 154/240. "Okay...", I thought to myself. I was actually more upset than just "okay...", only because I really don't know how I could have scored higher when I was in 10th grade, and score lower with more knowledge a year later. Since this was the PSAT, it really doesn't count towards college admissions...but I can kiss the National Merit Scholarship goodbye. </p>

<p>December 2009 SAT - I scored a 1580/2400. Okay...at least SOME improvement. But I was still pretty ****ed at this point. But then again, I had no tutoring in any PSAT/SAT test I took. But at this point, I really don't understand how I could have scored lower. I pretty much think that I should just give up on any type of BS/MD program, let alone college. =|</p>

<p>Sometime later in December - I took a practice SAT from the college board website. I scored a 1510/2400. My reaction: ...followed by......then with.... I'm giving up at this point.</p>

<p>Last Saturday - I took yet ANOTHER practice SAT offered by Kaplan. I got my score back today, and scored a 1410/2400. I'd rather not talk about this one...</p>

<p>So...basically, my score keeps getting lower, and lower, and lower. Thing is, I really don't know what to do, and why I seem to be scoring lower than any previous test taken. I'm afraid to get a tutor now, not only because it's not really cheap and affordable, but because I'm afraid my score is going to eventually end up in the 900's or lower. The scary part is...I can take a practice MCAT EXAM, and score really well on that. Is it just because it is science? I'm really good with science that is needed for the MCAT. But the SAT...forget it. I don't even consider myself good anymore. In fact, I would probably say that I am worse than the average Sophomore who takes it now...yet the ironic part of it all is that my highest score occurred when I WAS A SOPHOMORE. I seriously don't know what to do. Is there ANY way I can score higher?</p>

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<p>Drugs are bad.</p>

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<p>the sophmore psat doesn’t make any sense… but you just need to buckle down and study. The SAT can be studied for, its not like its something you either have or not. Get review books and learn the material. go over each test thoroughly and understand every mistake you made and why. only use cb material btw, its the most accurate.</p>

<p>as you said, you never studied for it before so really with studying you will improve drastically.</p>

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-Never touched a cigarette or a beer can in my life. Don’t plan to either. </p>

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-Nothing ever made sense after my second PSAT.</p>

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<p>have you considered trying the ACT? You might be surprised with how well you perform on this test than the SAT</p>

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<p>I’m signed up to take my first real ACT…in April…and then again in June. We’ll see how that goes. However, most BS/MD and DO programs I’m applying to are in the Northeast…which kind of sucks considering the SAT is stressed more around here. :(</p>

<p>I hopefully will do better on the ACT.</p>

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<p>This thread title is a total fallacy. </p>

<p>Keep preparing yourself, and stop worrying about it. Before applying to college I had signed up for the SAT along with the ACT. Because the ACT scores came out before I even toke the SAT, I sent those (I think I knew the SATs were going to come out like 2 days late so that why I didn’t care). I sent the ACT and essentially blew off the SAT when I toke it. Turns out, I did a lot better on the SAT than ever. Sadly for me, I am too consistent and got 100 points in X and dropped 100 points in Y on that SAT. So, the advice I give to you would be to take the ACT and SAT, and just stop worrying.</p>

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<p>lol wow how did you manage to get a 210 on psats… thats pretty weird</p>

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<p>that sucks man, i got 120/240 on my psats soph year. Then i got 2150/2400 on SAT jr year. I am the opposite, i just own you i guess. Good luck at junior college.</p>

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<p>Well, don’t worry about Bobby. Honestly, though, that’s a very peculiar trend. You CAN get into college with a 1580/2400, but probably not a very good one. If you want to improve, your only option is to devote time and resources to a tutor. I never really worked as hard as I should have in high school and I’m finding out that I’m not nearly as accomplished as I thought I was… but you still have time, you’re only a junior. Put in the effort. Start studying like crazy.</p>

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<p>The 210 was a fluke and the scores that followed it are actual indicators of your SAT ability. Sorry that it sucks but those scores speak the truth.</p>

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<p>Good grief - chill out! I think the answer lies in the fact that for some reason you feel you should be taking practice MCAT’s in HIGH SCHOOL! Seriously? You need to take your intensity level down about ten notches, and you might be surprised to find that your SAT scores respond. You’ve clearly got yourself worked up into such a state that your anxiety is affecting your score. Yeah, that sophomore score could be a fluke, but it could also show that you were totally relaxed when you took it and did well since it didn’t mean anything.</p>

<p>The SAT is just one test in many you’ll take in the next few years, and it’s just a few hours out of your life. Don’t make it SO important that you freeze up. Cut yourself some slack, and let yourself enjoy high school. As for the SAT, just get prepared (there’s tons of great information on prep in the forums that will help you prep without shelling out for a class or tutor), and start taking a deep breath when it all gets overwhelming. And don’t lose track of the big picture…a certain score (or admission to a certain college) doesn’t mean you won’t reach your long term goals, and it absolutely doesn’t make you a success or failure in life. Good luck!</p>

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-I think you misunderstood what I said about the MCAT. It’s not that I feel I should take, rather I actually can take it, and score decently well on it. Biology, Physics, and Chemistry (inorganic and organic) have seen my best academic performance. It’s just those damn SAT’s…</p>

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<p>if you can’t get a reliable tutor then at least buy kaplan/princeton/etc review books for the sats</p>

<p>keep taking practice tests and learn the strategies the books offer. this is time consuming but you’re a junior so you still have plenty of time. i started off in the 1500s as well my junior year, got a tutor and some books, really grilled myself on taking the practice exams in a serious manner (taken at least 25), graded them and went over the questions i missed, and my final score (i’m a senior) ended up being about 2200. it’s a time consuming process that may get frustrating but i promise you’ll get better. the sats are all about practice and recognizing the test format. until your practice test scores come up i wouldn’t recommend taking another sat. you should feel somewhat confident going into the test and from what i can tell, you’re far from that. </p>

<p>the acts differ by people. my friend studied for the test for months and managed to get a 32. i took it for the first time with him and got a 32 as well (didn’t study) :smiley:
mind you, this was around the time that my sat scores were around the 2100 range and a lot of the format/content on the two tests are similar. my friend’s brother who got a 2300ish on the sat, though, ended up getting a composite score of 28-30 on the act. it really depends on what kind of test taker you are. </p>

<p>on a positive note, at least you’re realizing your weaknesses this year instead of the numerous seniors i know who are discovering their crappy test scores now ^^</p>

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<p>The point is that you DID take an MCAT. Why? For fun? I’ve tutored a lot of students in my time, and even the most intense of them never wanted to take an MCAT as a junior in high school. For goodness sake, you’ll never be able to relate to your patients down the line if you’ve never had a life yourself. Get off these boards and go do something to relax. Turn your brain off sometimes, it will do you a world of good.</p>

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<p>Indeed, I am tempted to label the PSAT score one that is aberrant and not likely to be reproduced.</p>

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<p>I would suggest to exclusively use College Board material. Kaplan tests are lousy and substandard in comparison.</p>