<p>I am looking for help for a friend. Her daughter is a junior at the top private school in her city. I have seen my share of brilliant kids graduate from this school. This child (I will call her Sue,) is in the top 5% - 10% of her class; 2 varsity sports, leadership positions, and a favorite among many teachers. Her SAT scores have not risen a bit. On this latest test she scored 690 Math, 510 Verbal, and 640 Writing. The mother is so upset as this child has worked her tail off tutoring and studying for the SAT's, as well as keeping her grades at a 98 average. Sue takes all Honor's and AP courses; when she graduates she will have taken 6 AP classes. </p>
<p>She hopes to be recruited for gymnastics at the college level; don't know if that will happen or not. SAT scores won't be a big problem if she is recruited; if she isn't they could be a huge problem.</p>
<p>I guess what I am looking for is some words of wisdom for my friend. She and Sue are so disapointed. They feel like she will never get into a "good" school. I can't imagine this bright child can not get into some excellent schools, with or without the gymnastics. She would like a larger school; I don't think she would like a LAC, but that might change. I have told them about the schools that don't use the SAT's. What schools would be worth looking at-preference would be in the South, but is open to suggestions.</p>
<p>Pokey, schools would actually prefer to see high GPA and low test scores than the other way around. There are many schools that de-emphasize SATs in admissions and many that don't even look at them or make them optional, including many well-known schools. You might pass along this site <a href="http://www.fairtest.org%5B/url%5D">www.fairtest.org</a> to your friend which lists these schools. And, obviously, there are still three opportunities to retest. She might also want to give the ACT a try - some people do better on that than the SAT and it is accepted by nearly every school in the country.</p>
<p>I can relate to this story a lot. I was "one of the brightest" that my school has dealt with in a long time (their words... XP). They had a lot of hopes for me going on to an excellent school and blah blah. Anyway, I sat down to take the PSATs and went UHG (I had a fever and flu that day). Then I took the SAT (first with Mono then with lesser Mono) and my highest math was a 610 (first was a 570) and my highest verbal was a 710 (second was 670). Now, no one understood this. Apparently, I have dyslexia which is worsened by stress. Now, coupled with testing anxiety... it just makes multiple choice tests the pits. And, well, a lot rides on this test... right?</p>
<p>But, guess what. This girl's scores are really good and could get her into some excellent schools. Just as I had to reality check and realize mine were. Sure, its disappointing to be top ranked and not have top ranked SATs, but it is just a test. And, its only one component of the application. If she lets her talents shine through in her essays and makes sure to pull from all her strengths, and interviews strongly, I think she can pull off a whole sleuth of excellent admits. Plus, there is the ACT. I ended up getting a 31 or a 32 on it (I can't remember) and it was much more comfortable then the SAT. It just works better for some people.</p>
<p>So, in the end, any school that wouldn't consider her a strong admit based on her SAT scores doesn't deserve this wonderful girl to begin with.</p>
<p>My girls were in the same situation. They did not do well on the SATs and to take the time they would need to drastically raise those scores would be time ill spent as they were really doing fantastic things during their highschool years that I believed were more important than the SATs. I did not have them take the ACTs which is an option your friend should investigate, as a lot of kids do better on those than the SATs. She would not have to submit those scores if they are not good, or she can replace the SAT1s with them if they are good. The transcript is the most important item in the app, and Carolyn is absolutely right with her advice. My niece did get into Cornell off the waitlist with low 1200's , my D got into schools like Smith and Oberlin.</p>
<p>I think it's too early to let concerns about these scores limit her college search. There aren't a lot of big schools in the South that she should just cross off her list if her scores don't rise (Duke etc. make up a pretty short list). I would advise searching for personality-match schools at this point, because it's entirely possible that she'll fall in love with some schools where her scores will be just fine.</p>
<p>Sue does plan to take the ACT's in June. I just worry that my friend isn't thinking rationally concerning her daughter's chances at some of the "better" schools. I think she will need to keep her eyes and heart open to any and every school; so what if it isn't one of the top 10 schools in the nation. This child is only a junior and the mother is already sure she isn't going to get in anywhere worthwhile. What makes it harder is to hear from Sue's friends how great they scored; these kids talk about everything, no secrets.</p>
<p>The one thing I think I got across to her today is that more tutoring isn't necessary. The child's scores are her scores; she just doesn't test well.</p>
<p>Her scores are NOT dreadful at all. In fact, the combined scores are well above the national average. The only score I would be concerned with would be the reading score --- that score is looked at very closely by some colleges, but her writing and math scores make up for it. </p>
<p>You are a good friend to be trying to help. Some parents don't have open ears, I've learned. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep talking. :)</p>
<p>Yeah, I was going to say.... top class rank, stelllar transript and 1200 SATs is a pretty darn strong applicant at the overwhelming majority of colleges and universities in the country.</p>
<p>For the last couple months I have been watching the postings and I can't believe how many kids with 1600, high GPA were rejected at top tier schools. The SAT isn't enough - the rules are not the rules of the girls' mother's and my generations - they are looking for something else than scores. It's now a "fit" and those scores won't keep her out if they like HER.</p>
<p>I love reading these boards, but at times it seems that unless you are at the top of everything, you are not going to succeed in life! My daughter has similar stats as your friend--1200sat, 3.7 gpa, a smart but pretty average kid, if you think that everyone on these boards is 100% truthful. She was accepted to NYU, Bentley ,American, Penn state, Albany ST. Gpa matters, everything matters! My feeling is that the essay can set your child apart , let her spend a lot of time on it. Your friend will get into a great college. Good luck.
Diane</p>
<p>Thanks Diane...I am in much the same boat with a bright daughter 3.75/4.8wGPA, national awards, editor, etc......and rather low SATs (1830 - 600/610/620.) She's working as hard as she can and we're compiling our summer college tour itinerary with all the schools she dreams of attending as well as the ones based on reality.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention the waitlists, Binghamton-Spring admit, GWU and NE. Rejected from Cornell (Agric ) and BU. I was -issed since I went to Binghamton!! Email me if you have questions.</p>
<p>pokey - good advice above, and always good to note that after a student gets into college, the value of SAT scores plunges to 0.</p>
<p>Ordinarily, if your friend's D is a very talented athlete gymnast, I would suggest investigating the highly selective mid-sized universities that have D3 rather then D1 athletics. No scholarships at D3 schools, but less time commitment, and if recruited a student can usually get into a tier of colleges that would reject that student without the athletics. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, there are not very many D3 gymnastics programs, and none at the schools I am thinking of. . .Washington University, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Case Western Reserve, Carnegie Mellon etc So in this case it might be worthwhile to check out the Ivies with gymnastics (Yale, Brown, Penn, Cornell) as admission and athletics work in some of the same ways as D3. This is a generalization, and there is variance across sports, but the time commitment and competition at the Ivies usually is greater than D3 but less than at other D1 schools.</p>