<p>Hello, I just recently checked my SAT scores, and like usual for me, I did terrible. Here's my scores...</p>
<p>530 CR
590 Math
620 Reading (10 essay)</p>
<p>I seem to naturally fail at test taking, in terms of SAT's and ACT's. Fortunately, my GPA is a 3.85. What really frustrates me though is the lack of balance between the two, even though GPA displays that I try hard at school and SAT's show lack of ability to do well on a test of general knowledge (I guess...). I know this is a problem, but with my strong EC's and good GPA, what stands out better for colleges?</p>
<p>If your EC’s are as strong as you say they are, then I guess colleges can overlook your SAT score. I mean, you’re still above average, even if not by much.</p>
<p>Retake the SAT in October. Look at your score report and see what kind of questions you got wrong, and what kind you got right. Also, look at this:</p>
<p>Get yourself a blue book as well, it will come in handy. What score are you trying to attain, and what schools are you considering? I think you could definitely get in the 1900s if you tried.</p>
<p>You need to trot on down to your guidance office, and discuss the root causes of this discrepancy with your counselor. Three potential causes that come instantly to mind (there are others) include:
Poor test-taking strategies and skills
Test-induced anxiety
Un-diagnosed dyslexia or similar processing disorder</p>
<p>Each of these has its own “fix” and each is something that you want to take care of before you get to college. If dyslexia (or the like) proves to be the difficulty, you should re-take the exams with the appropriate accommodations so that you can receive the score that you truly merit.</p>
<p>If you are just fed up with these kinds of exams, take a long hard look at the exam optional and no-exam colleges at [The</a> National Center for Fair & Open Testing | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org%5DThe”>http://www.fairtest.org) You may find something that will work for you.</p>
<p>“Some colleges don’t like those students who “try-hard”,” @lakeawead - this makes absolutely no sense. I know what you mean but the vagueness of it just sounds messed up. </p>
<p>“Retake the SAT in October.” @laurennicole - I already took the SAT in february, and colleges will just realize the relentlesness of taking it a 3rd time.</p>
<p>Lol you guys assume I’m ■■■■■■■■ or something, this is hilarious I never expected to get some doctor’s treatment. All I wanted was an opinion on which stands out more…GPA OR SAT! You guys definitely made me look at a broader perspective…there’s even worse SAT’s than me out there, thnx for that!</p>
<p>Anyways I’m at a private college preparatory Catholic school, so it gets very competitive and is rigorious, depending on classes. We also have do over 200+ hours of Community Service.<br>
I’m in Calculus my senior year as opposed to Pre Calc Senior year, and I’m in AP Physics as well and I took AP Chem. I got an A+ in Pre Calc so I can take AP Calc. The rest of my classes are all A’s and one B.</p>
<p>“Your scores are bad.” @woeishe - No ****, seriously. Is there anyone on here that actually know’s how to answer a question without giving me an analysis or an arrogant useless answer that implies you did better on an SAT. I dont give a crap how you did.</p>
<p>If you took AP classes, and still managed to come out with a 3.85 GPA, then that will stand out more for college applications. If you did not take AP classes, then your SAT score will make or break you. A high SAT score will show that you have a lot of potential, but your current score indicates that you are mediocre academically.</p>
<p>Have you tried the ACT? You might find it easier. Also, what schools are you looking at? Taking it a third time isn’t that big of a deal if you work hard enough to improve. I understand that some people just aren’t that great of test takers, but you can still improve yourself somewhat. I don’t think all colleges make you send every SAT score you ever took (correct me if I’m wrong).</p>
<p>“A high SAT score will show that you have a lot of potential, but your currently score indicates that you are mediocre academically.”</p>
<p>@mrlaurencenguyen - I wish I didn’t have to do this, but I’ll actually post the question in bold print…I KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT WITH MY STRONG EC’S AND GOOD GPA, WHICH STANDS OUT BETTER FOR COLLEGES! I’m baffled by how your statement that doesn’t answer the question exactly leads into my question that I originally said.</p>
<p>“I didn’t even take the SAT don’t be mean because you did bad. Retake the test.”</p>
<p>Who wouldn’t be mad that they did bad on the SAT, which, according to people that have responded, sounds like it makes or breaks college decisions? Now…perfect time to restate the question once again…which stands out? GPA OR SAT!!! I don’t go to some public gang school or anything so don’t think the school has terrible academics or inflation.</p>
<p>Try the ACT with alot of prepwork. I looked you up and if you are in California top UC’s are going to be a stretch with those test scores. But for Depaul you should be set for at least admission and a tad bit of money but if you are looking at ivy league caliber schools your SAT will bring you down.</p>
<p>“With the vague information that you have provided, I can’t give you a specific answer.”</p>
<p>@mrlaurencenguyen - 3.85 uw, 1710 SAT, 25 ACT. AP classes: Chem, Physics, Calculus
Honor Class: Algebra 2.
There is no class rank, but I’m confidently guessing I’m in the top 20% in my class.</p>
<p>My science/math bias shows that I wanna major in comp. science.</p>
<p>“Try the ACT with alot of prepwork. I looked you up and if you are in California top UC’s are going to be a stretch with those test scores. But for Depaul you should be set for at least admission and a tad bit of money but if you are looking at ivy league caliber schools your SAT will bring you down.”</p>
<p>@run2flyfree - For UC’s I’m most likely only applying to UC Davis and UC Berkeley, which I know Berkeley is a stretch, however I have some legacy there for some hook.</p>
<p>Depaul is my top choice however, which has about a 3.4 gpa average, which is why I’m relieved. Yes, I know my SAT sucks, however my counselor, who is more of a national counselor who travels around US, believes even with my bad SAT that Depaul is a shoe-in based off my GPA and EC’s. Because of this relief, my counselor says it’s ok to apply to multiple reach schools as long as I do fantastic on my essay and have the $$ of course.</p>
<p>Your SAT is above average! They might not be up to par with the 99% of people on this website who are upset over a 2390 SAT, but so what? And also, I managed to raise my SAT from an 1820 to a 2000 in 2.5 months, so if you took like 5 or so practice tests then you could improve that by quite a bit! If that’s what you’d like to do, of course I’m sorry if I sound like everyone else telling you how to raise your SAT haha…</p>
<p>Your GPA is great! It shows you work hard :)</p>
<p>I was once told by a college counselor that your GPA and grades is ~1/3 of decision, extracurrs and essays are another 1/3, and SAT/ACT/SAT IIs are the last 1/3. I’m not entirely sure how accurate this is, but it sounds fairly reasonable.</p>
<p>GPA is the single most important factor for college admissions. Period. Exam scores yield much less information about you as a student and have almost no predictive value for any of the measures of success in college. Be assured that every college admissions officer in the country knows this.</p>
<p>But I am dead serious about discussing the discrepancy between your classroom grades and your exam scores with your guidance counselor. Scores that are significantly higher than predicted based on classroom grades are practically a diagnosis for dyslexia-type processing difficulties. There is nothing “wrong” with being dyslexic. It just means that some typed of reading and writing may take you longer than the average student. Clearly you are very smart and hardworking or you would not be succeeding at your high school.</p>
don’t be mean because you did bad. 
Retake the test.</p>