Help Me Out of My Predicament: I Need Your Advice D:

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>Hey everyone! It's me again! :) I'm kinda in a stuffy situation, so I was wondering if someone would be so kind as to help me out and offer some advice. I'd really REALLY appreciate it..especially with the short amount of time I have right now!</p>

<p>I'll try to keep this short and sweet. Well, here goes:</p>

<p>I took the SAT for the first time in June of my Junior year and achieved a 1550 (M/510/CR/460/W/580). This was a 180 pt. increase from my horrendous '06 PSAT score: 137 (M/41/CR/46/W/50). I was glad I improved, but I wanted to retake for the second time.</p>

<p>I had planned to study all summer up until October test date, but alas, I failed to keep my promise. Because I had studied non-stop for four months and a half for my frist SAT, I lacked the motivation to push myself to study again. As much as I tried to study, I ended up slacking most the of the time. I moved my test date to November, and pushed my efforts as much as I can, especially in the last few weeks before test day. I ended up getting a 1620 (M/540/CR/510/W/570). While I really am thankful that: 1) I achieved a higher score instead of a LOWER one (which would've ruined my college application), 2) that I got that ugly 460 CR score off of my back (YAY!) and 3) that I increased 70 pts from my last score, a small voice in the back of my mind is telling me to do something..it's telling me to take the SAT for one last and final time.</p>

<p>The only test date that I have available to me is in January. The Dec 1st test date: Obviously, 9 days won't really be enough time for me to increase my SAT score (plus I have an English course that I need to finish due on that date!), so its simply out of the question. The only thing that preventing me from taking the SAT one last time is my Subject Tests.</p>

<p>Now, while I do believe that my score will be acceptable enough for two colleges that I'm applying to (Rutgers NB: 1660+ and TCNJ: 1720+), I kinda worry about Princeton. My SAT score is mediocre for their standards (even though I will STILL apply to them whether I retake the SAT or not - you never know until you try!) January 26th is the last test date they'll accept. They also require three SAT IIs, which I only took once in my sophomore year --> Lit: 420 Bio M: 490 and World H: 470 <-- which are..well you know..BLAGH. D: So now I'm stuck: Which test should I take in January? SAT I or SAT IIs? This is my last chance..I don't have another availabe test date, seeing as I have to apply for several colleges this year. Should I just ditch the SAT completely, forget about it, and move on with life --- and take the SAT IIs? Or should I just give it one more try?</p>

<p>My SAT II scores are really bad, and as I had asked on here before, if Princeton saw an awesome SAT I score but really bad SAT II scores on a student's application, they'd be pretty suspicious. So I can't really avoid them. But I just can't let go of the SAT I either. I pretty much sick of the SAT completely and I'm ready as anyone to just burn my books and forget about the "applicationtestthatdoesn'tmeasurehowwellyouwilldoincollegebutmeasuresuselesstesttakingtechniquesthatwillbeofnohelptoyouwhatsoeverinthefuture" :D, but I can't let go of that 1620. I feel it'll be like, "there goes that girl who got a 1620 when she had so much time to study for her second SAT, but couldn't because she was tired of studying" for the rest of my life. Plus, I would like to make my parents happy (I felt sorry for myself, because even though my dad said he wasn't mad or upset, I still scented an aura of sadness from him because I know he wanted me to get at least a 2000) ._.</p>

<p>Sorry for rambling..please help me! What should I do?</p>

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<p>For Princeton: If I stayed with that 1620 but achieved awesome SAT II scores, would the SAT IIs + my application make up for my poor SAT score?</p>

<p>THANKS!</p>

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<p>I dont have much advice for you because I'm in the same rut as you're in. However, the SAT I has a greater weight than the SAT II does. However, if you get high 700's in the SAT IIs, I'm sure it will affect you in a good way. However, you would at least want to be in the 30~50% percentile of the Princeton freshman student SAT score graphs.. I think you should pull those 500's to 600's as much as possible!</p>

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<p>Umm.. I hate to break it to you, especially because you sound really nice and hardworking and I don't wanna dash your hopes... but anything below a 2200 is weak for princeton, and all of your sat ii's should be 700+ if you want to be competitive at all. Everyone says 'you never know unless you try', and yea that's true to some extent, but princeton rejects 2400's and 800's on sat ii's all the time...</p>

<p>Since you're already a senior, I would suggest you to apply to p-ton if you really want, but more as a 'crapshoot, why the hell not' kinda deal then a 'i hope i get in' kinda deal. Even if you January SAT iis or SAT, do you really think you can raise to 2100 or 2200, which would still be a pretty low score for a non-hooked princeton applicant? And besides, even if you do get up to like 2200 SAT, you'll still have those sat ii's... to be blunt, they are extremely low, each about 300 points below what you need to be considered as an average applicant. I'm not telling you this to put you down, but like you said, you've already studied for the SATs, you're tired of it and don't want to touch the books again, and after two testings, I doubt you're going to go up the 600 points you need to be within range for princeton, and ditto for sat ii's.</p>

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<p>Wow, thanks for shedding some light amb3r. What if you're an international student? Is it the same?</p>

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<p>International students actually have it harder, hate to break it to you :[.</p>

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<p>Garden Maiden,</p>

<p>Are you an international?</p>

<p>If you are than you are in the same veil as me because I am an intern and also find the SAT hard. The good news is that I still got a 2100+ (1600 my first try) and in the course of a week brought up my writing score significantly. If you wish to know my strategy pm me. I do not want to make you hope for more than I can do to help you, so do not expect a perfect score. But I think that you still have the chance to bring your scores up in both the SAT 1 and 2. Again: PM me as soon as possible!</p>

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<p>Yeah, it looks like you've got a bit of a problem. Honestly, if you're deciding whether to retake the SAT Subject Tests or the SAT Reasoning Test, take the one that you have a higher probability of scoring well on. </p>

<p>It's easier to improve basic reading/writing/math skills in a short period of time than it is to improve deep subject knowledge in literature, biology, and world history. I'd retry the reasoning, but, honestly, it's your call.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Take the ACT.</p>

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<p>GardenMaiden, I am in the problem as u. I was going to take SAT 1 in Nov but I postponed to Dec 1 since I was unprepared. Now I am worried which SAT to take in Jan since I feel I am still badly prepared.
Here is my idea for u. Study for a week full force for both types of the SAT this month, and take practice tests at the end. See which exams give u the best result for ur complete undivided hard work. Proceed frm there.</p>

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<p>We are assuming here that you have stellar GPA and outstanding EC's. That you had the most rigorous course schedule your high school had to offer and had 4 and 5 grades in your AP courses, might be an athlete of some recognition in your area, or some other type of hook, and just don't test well.</p>

<p>Even so, I'll side with amb3r.</p>

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<p>Wow..I never knew that so many people here would be in the same situation..guess I'm not really the only one, am I? ^_^;</p>

<p>Thanks for all of your responses..amb3r, I understand what you've said, and don't worry, it didn't put me down..too much. :D I know that Princeton is highly competitive, even more competitive than some other Ivy League Schools, or so I've heard. Plus their tuition is atrocious O_o. I'm applying for Princeton as a "You never know until you try" thing, but at the same time (and as you said), as a "Let me just go for it and see what happens". So yeah..</p>

<p>And after all this time..I still don't know what to do. T___T Procrastination has seriously taken control of me I tell you. </p>

<p>Let's say I take the SAT I for the last and final time in January. Princeton would see a good SAT score but bad SAT IIs...do you think they would let it pass or at least understand if I'm homeschooled? Or would they treat me just as they would treat other applicants? What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Gaah..I really need to know what to do so badly..I don't want to keep this 1620, but I don't want to keep bad SAT II scores either. Whatever I choose to do will always come out the same in the end..one score will be bad and one score will be good. X_x; I was thinking about taking the ACT, but the next test date is December 8th..in seven days. After that, the test will be in Feburary. I definitely won't have ANY more time to take in Feb. December is also out of the question, since I have no idea how the test is designed, how many questions each section has, what does it test, etc.</p>

<p>Thanks for the helpful tip, SkyGirl. :) I'll try out your method. Good luck with your exam tomorrow (or today). Hope you do well!</p>

<p>Gery_Sun, I'll PM you first thing tomorrow morning..hope I'm not too late!</p>

<p>X_x Please help me...or at least shed some light on how I could go around this..some way.</p>

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<p>Honestly with those SATI/II scores I can't see you getting in to Princeton. Hopefully you can raise SAT score to at least an 1800. If you do, assuming the other parts of your application, you should get into the other colleges you mentioned.</p>