My SAT score keeps bothering me. I have a record high GPA for my high school (and rank 1 out of 1000 kids. Also, my school is considered average to hard in terms of difficulty according to several admissions officers), but my SAT is a 1480, and ACT is a 32.
I SUCK at taking standardized tests. My math score is perfect, but my reading is terrible. It’s not even that I’m bad at writing/reading. I get As in my AP Lang / AP Lit classes and all the literature classes I’ve taken. I’ve won multiple writing competitions. There’s just something about the SAT/ACT reading tests that doesn’t click with me (maybe I didn’t try hard lol).
I’m applying to all Ivies/top tier schools but my SAT/ACT scores often fall in their bottom 25% range.
I know it isn’t a big deal and schools say “don’t worry, we take a holistic approach in reviewing”, I’m just a little nervous.
Honestly I know there’s no point in even making this post, but just to make me feel better, what are your thoughts? Are my scores TOO low?
I don’t know but good luck. My daughter who is really on the lower end of a college-ready reading and writing competency scored 720 when she was 13 on the SAT. I feel that the CR is especially skewed towards people who test well and especially hurts those who don’t. It sucks. Did you get an 800 in math? That would be a 680 in CR, right? Did you take AP tests yet?
@CCtoAlaska yes I’ve taken AP tests. A lot of them and got 5s on several. I’ve taken/taking in total 25 APs and 13 dual enrollment classes. and my school isn’t an easy school. And I didn’t take the classes to become val or anything. I just like learning different subjects LOL (my ap lit teacher noted this in my rec letter - I was so moved bc I never mentioned this truth to her, and she just sensed it somehow haha).
I understand that colleges say “scores aren’t everything !!!”, and I have, without tooting my own horn or giving anything away, very strong ECs to hopefully “make up” for my rather low scores (research with department heads in two top tier institutions, extremely unique essays that are also structured uniquely (based on a specific journey I took that lasted over 3 years and that I know for sure no one has repeated), sports (managed the school’s lacrosse team and I’ve participated in triathlons at least twice each year), etc etc). But I often feel like my scores will discredit everything else.
I don’t have any hooks either. I’m asian without legacy, and qualify for some financial aid. I really don’t have connections, and even if I did, my parents are always like “you need to make your own connections in life” so I wouldn’t get help from them lol (I don’t regret it though!! Great learning experience).
Idk, we’ll see. I’m just a lil nervous and needed to vent it out somewhere LOL.
The Ivy League and equivalent are reaches even for students with perfect GPA and perfect SAT scores. You will get into many very good universities with a 1480.
How are your SAT subject tests? Personally way back when sliderules were actually needed I got into MIT with an SAT that was lower than 1480, but with strong subject tests (which were entirely in math and sciences).
@DadTwoGirls I don’t want to say which state I’m from, but my safeties are schools with 30 ~ 50 % acceptance rates. Got into a couple of those schools rather easily (I think they’re my safeties??? LOL idk, according to my counselor).
My SAT subject tests aren’t the best either ugh. I took math 2 three years after I took ap calculus (which I got 5s on BC and sub score AB), and underestimated the amount of precalc in that test. Low 700, but at least my SAT math score is an 800 to “make up” for it (I HOPE HAHA).
I took Bio M and, again, got a 730. took it a year after ap bio and didn’t review (completely my fault ugh!!).
I regret not working that hard for standardized tests. I really really do regret it, but hopefully I can get somewhere with my rather low scores, since I can’t regret now bc I can’t turn back time lol.
and wow, I really want to go to MIT LOL. submitted my application yesterday, and hopefully they’ll like it. MIT’s application was annoying bc of the word count but hopefully I finessed something lol.
I just wanted to wish you good luck. I mean, you a single lower score (relative to your other stats). That will never tank an application when you have so much going for you.
@CCtoAlaska haha I really really hope!! I know I shouldn’t dwell on this but it’s just bugging my mind and I needed to vent this out lol. I really pray!
Out of 1.67 million test takers last year only 51000 scored a 1480 or higher. 97th percentile. That’s an A in my book.
It’s not an ok score it’s an excellent score.
Plus your rigor, ecs, essays, recs and gpa performance will open many doors. If you’re concerned apply to Bowdoin and U Chicago or any other top test optional schools.
Don’t misunderstand holistic review – academics (including course rigor, GPA, and standardized testing for non-test optional schools) are still a critically important component in admissions. Without a major hook (ex. recruited athlete, child of a huge donor etc.) having standardized tests below the 25th percentile make admissions at these top tier schools many of which accept less than 10% of applicants (and are reaches for anyone) a real longshot. I would apply to a couple of reach schools but I’d also be certain to have a well thought out application list that includes reach, match, and safety schools based on your academic statistics.
Yes, I understand even though colleges boast about their “holistic review”, I still feel like my scores might harm me.
I certainly know it’s not impossible for me to get in - there ARE asians w/o major hooks & lower SAT/ACT scores than me who have gotten in. But still… that’s just a handful out of many others who aren’t in this situation and have gotten in.
Hopefully my GPA & the classes taken relative to my school/area helps me out in terms of academics. : (
Reconsider this. Why limit your options when you are certain to be offered full tuition scholarships to many large public universities by their respective honors colleges ?
Did you apply ED or SCEA or EA to any school ?
What do you want to study in college ?
As you know. your class rank & GPA are outstanding while your standardized test scores place you at the 25% for most elite national universities. An ED application should be enough.
Besides the Ivies, to which schools did you apply ? What do you want to study ?
@Publisher I didn’t specifically say I’m ONLY applying to those schools and not any other schools… I was just saying I applied to those schools specifically bc those schools are the schools Im nervous about when it comes to my scores… for all other schools, my SAT/ACT are within their middle ranges. I didn’t apply ED anywhere; I was contemplating applying ED to Vandy but didn’t want to not have choices.
I got into UGA w/honors and charter scholarship. I did apply to their foundation fellows but the results for that comes out later. I applied to GT early and results come out later. I applied to UChicano for EA and idek how but I got in. I applied to Case Western’s 7 year program (results come out later). I applied to (for RD & Not Ivy) Baylor, Ohio State, UMichigan, Duke, JHU, Northwestern and Emory and a couple other places.
I hope to study sociology or public health with premed (but for most colleges I put sociology or public health or undecided-humanities depending on the options they each had)
@debateat my D20 is the same. She has 690M/710V and another crack at it. She’s ranked 14/650. 4.4 GPA out of 5. 4.0 unweighted. All honors/APs. Excellent extracurriculars. Hopefully it’ll be enough.
ugh. I took math 2 three years after I took ap calculus (which I got 5s on BC and sub score AB), and underestimated the amount of precalc in that test. Low 700, but at least my SAT math score is an 800 to “make up” for it (I HOPE HAHA).