【HELP!!!】About the low SAT scores affects admission

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I really need your help. I'm a international student (Specifically Chinese) in a U.S. High School, now a junior. </p>

<p>I did badly for the PSAT, overall 184, CR 54, MA 71, WR 59. But since I want to apply to some summer programs like SSP, M&TSI and Garcia, so the scores are probably too low.</p>

<p>I just took January SAT I, but I have no idea how I did on that.. What I do remember is that for the first section of the reading, I did not that good, but later I checked the threads about the SAT I, and for some of the reading questions I got right. Then I realized that I missed a really simple MC for math section, and I didn't use two examples as I normally do since I didn't have enough time for essay (I just use 1 example but expands to almost 2 full pages).
Oh and I did 3 practices before taking it, the results are around 2040 (CR 580-620, MA780-800, WR640-660 (based on Essay score 10)). But I really not sure about how I actually did on the test this Saturday.</p>

<p>But the problem is.. My dream schools now are Stanford and Upenn M&T (for college admission), which require me to send all the scores, and the low scores will be taking into consideration. I don't know if the scores like around 2000 will be a deal-breaker for my application even if I got like 2200+ eventually. If yes, I'll probably decide to cancel the score this time, since I only take that for summer programs, and I really feel I'm not well-prepared for the test this time.</p>

<p>Sorry for the verbose description.. I'm just really worried. Basically my question is:
1. Will a low score around 2000 be a deal-breaker for the top-tier schools like Stanford or Upenn M&T even if I eventually get 2200+ for the SAT? (For College Application)</p>

<ol>
<li>Will a score like around 2000 be much more helpful for the summer program comparing to the 184 I got for PSAT? And do I have a chance with PSAT of 184 to get into the summer programs like SSP, M&TSI in Upenn, LBW and Garcia? I got pretty strong academic profile, you know, as most asians will do, I love math and Physics and I'm taking AP Physics C and AP Calculus, and get good grade (A+ for Calc, 0.1 point away from A+ for Physics). And when I was in China, I'm the president of the student union and another computer club.. And have a 2nd prize for a invention competition around the city (in China there are bunch of schools in one city..).</li>
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<p>Thank you so much for your time.. I'm like in Panic right now since I have to decide if I'm gonna keep the score or not by tomorrow. So if you have any idea.. Please give some advice. Thank you so much!!!!</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>184 on PSAT isn’t bad and schools don’t care about your PSAT score if you are international anyways</p></li>
<li><p>As long as you don’t take SAT more than 3 times the schools won’t penalize you too much for lower scores on your previous tries</p></li>
<li><p>Try taking the ACT</p></li>
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3

<ol>
<li><p>NO. SATs are just a part of the application. ECs also factor in, essays, interviews, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>I am Chinese too so I get the slight ethnic expectations. Focus on finishing junior year with good grades. If the SATs scores comeback below your expectations, then do some more practice and take it again (but don’t stress over it, never works). I’m a senior right now so I just got finished with my applications. Hardest part is waiting for the replies. -___-</p></li>
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