<p>I'm applying to HYPS + Duke, Pomona, and Swarthmore and am having some issues with testing (Its not that I'm unable to test well, I just can't get past my own stupidity when making mistakes on the SAT)</p>
<p>So to get down to it, I have a 2160 SAT (670 math, 740 CR, and 750 writing) as well as an unfortunate quartet of SAT 2 scores (780 Lit, 740 US History, 740 Math 1, and 700 Math 2 (AHHH!!)). I do have an excellent extracurricular resume, but I am unhooked and don't have too many awards. I'm retaking the SAT 1 on Dec. 3rd and should break 2200 with relative ease, yet I'm still not certain how badly these scores will affect my chances. Do any of you have any ideas how to improve myself in the short term or how badly this will hurt?</p>
<p>These scores are about average at the schools you’re applying to, so they really shouldn’t be the only thing keeping you out. They won’t get you in either, but if other parts of your app are good, then you’re set.</p>
<p>I think your scores are good, make sure to get them even better, I’m a bad test taker so it takes me a ton of practice to get good scores. You can do it!</p>
<p>When figuring out what average is, it’s important to understand that half of every class at these schools is comprised of hooked students. So there is average for the hooked, and average for the unhooked. Most up hooked candidates will have SATs closer to the 75%.</p>
<p>If you really have exceptional ECs for HYPS, a 2200 will not keep you out.</p>
<p>@yaifibar: I’m not trying to figure out if the 40pt jump will help me that much more (shooting for more of a 100pt jump), I’m just wondering if these scores are just plain not good enough. I don’t fool myself into thinking that a small jump on my SAT will really help that much when compared to my other poor scores.</p>
<p>@Lily 12: My UW GPA is 3.95, and my class rank is 1 of 60 (damn small). As you can see, not much help there (although my course difficulty is higher than every other student who has ever graduated my high school)</p>
<p>@Waverly: Exactly, which is why I stated that I was an unhooked applicant, thus, my fears. My ECs would probably qualify as exceptional, they are just more social/humanities based than math/science(i.e. Less USAMO and Scientific research and more running my own business + sweet political internships + leadership types of ECs) which I hope might turn the admins off of my low math scores.</p>
<p>Bump? I’m still concerned, but I’m beginning to start pulling 2350s on my sat practice tests, hopefully I can hit near that on the actual sat :)</p>
<p>It is very important to have high SAT scores. Here are some things other than studying which will help boost your SAT scores by reducing your cortisol (stress) levels, which statistically has been shown to improve test taking ability.</p>
<ol>
<li>Have some dark chocolate before the day of the test (not too much)</li>
<li>Drink plenty of water starting 72 hrs. before the day of the test</li>
<li>Get plenty of sleepy every day from now until the test.</li>
<li>During the breaks you get, don’t stand around, do some jumping jacks even if you get weird looks. This will increase blood flow to the brain.</li>
</ol>
<p>It makes more of a difference than you might think, particularly since your anxiety seems to be one of your limiting factors.</p>
<p>It’s hard to show because we don’t know the exact details of your ECs but I know two unhooked candidates who have gotten into top ivies with sat scores under 2300. So 2200 should be fine if other parts of your app is strong.</p>