<p>From what I have found they accept both…</p>
<p>I’m in complete agreement with your summary ActingDad. If the math works overall, universities have wiggle room and will exercise that “wiggle” when they see somebody they want for reasons other than scores or grades. The result hopefully is a better college experience for everyone that brings together students that they think can succeed. It’s probably also not something that theatre department has a lock on either.</p>
<p>No doubt we can all cite examples from our personal spheres at many schools where we’ve all seen that in play be it for theatre or any major. I know I can. No school owns the patent on that math as every school wants and deserves the flexibility to fill out their ranks with a broad view when it seems appropriate. This is not something unique to NYU as that would be silly and limiting.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding all of the above, if you are not happy with your test scores from junior year, you should retake early in your senior year.</p>
<p>^^Agree - colleges like to see kids who “try, try, again”. It shows that the kid is responsible to try to better those scores. Shows chutzpah!</p>
<p>Back to the original question and to clarify a few points:
- Colleges accept both SAT & ACT. I would definitely advise the student to focus on ONE test. You can pretty easily access which test you are better at by taking a full practice test of each. (Your school should have a booklet of a practice test for each. Or you can go online and print out their free practice test.) You can subjectively decide (“I like ACT better”) or you can have your tutor or you access via numbers. I will say outright that it is not true that the ACT is ‘easier.’ It is not. It is simply different. The one thing you should not do is take both and ‘see’ which score is better. FIgure out which one you are better at, then rigorously practice that test alone.
- You are competing with people who hire tutors like me to work with them for months, sometimes years. Bear that in mind. Unless you are naturally gifted in taking these tests, you are handicapping yourself by not studying seriously for them. To use an analogy, if you want to make a baseball team, and there are competitive tryouts with cuts, you don’t just waltz in there without practicing. To use a theatre analogy, you don’t perform your monologue without practicing it and seriously considering which monologue is good for you.
- Yes, of course, there are always outliers in any statistical curve. Yes, colleges can accept people who fall far below the average. But we’re talking probability. You have zero way of knowing if you will be the outlier. What you can do is increase your odds by practicing and doing as well as you can on your SAT/ACTs. This is one factor among several in a very competitive process.
- If you are a poor test taker or can’t get your scores up <em>after trying</em> don’t restrict your applications based on the curve. If you want to get into NYU or BU or other more academic BFA programs, and your scores are not so great, definitely apply anyway. You don’t know if you will be the outlier. Just don’t do the reverse–don’t <em>rely</em> on being the outlier and definitely try your best to maximize your chances.
- If you are a strong test taker, you increase your chances of getting a merit scholarship from the college. That is a great incentive for many folks!</p>
<p>jmarcas, I would also ask how strong your high school record is. If you have taken a rigorous schedule and have a strong GPA, that will help, and indicate that you are not a good standardized test taker. If your high school record is not that strong either, then that makes a stronger case for not applying to schools with higher academic bars – or at least being very realistic about your slim chances.</p>
<p>I want to echo halflokum’s view that colleges always take kids below the median for a variety of reasons, and I’d bet anything that the score distribution for schools like NYU and BU in the theater departments mirror the curve for the university as a whole. Every school has 25% of its students in the bottom of the stats pool – so why not take a shot at it? You might be one of those – but be sure that you cast a wide net, too! Trust me: I know people who had nowhere to go come spring because they were the local star and thought that talent would overcome a poor high school record (but they must not have ever been on CC, or they would have known to create a better application list).</p>
<p>A person who shows that he or she tries hard, in all aspects of his or her life is a good quality person. I would not call that chutzpah, I think I would call it effort. Chutzpah is often the person who waltzes in with a smile, and tries hard at the last minute… that person has chutzpah. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Cover yer bets… do your best and then no regrets…</p>
<p>Semantics, Mother of GG! In my neck of the woods, chutzpah means someone who goes for it, tries and tries again, without giving up. Sure it’s effort, but it is also the underlying determination that is always a plus!</p>
<p>I think the best message from all of this is to present yourself in the absolute best light as possible. My S took the SAT last year and had a very good score… he still wants go at it again in Nov. to try to do even better. If he wants to, why not?? He also took 3 SAT 2’s, 3 AP’s and did very well. He at least will know that his academics will not close any doors for him at any BFA program…but his 3.5 GPA might keep him out of a few of his BA’s… but he is okay with that. He is going to concentrate on his essays and monologues now…</p>
<p>And the resulting merit aid might make a huge difference in a student’s ability to afford a school he or she loves!</p>
<p>A friend just told me that her son auditioned for Chapman was admitted to the program but dropped for low grades. Just a kernel of info…</p>
<p>This can happen at quite a few universities/colleges. Know the requirements before applying, lest there be disappointments.</p>
<p>Bisouu…as in he was accepted and then dropped after they got his grades? I have heard of kid’s acceptances being pulled at the end of their senior year due to poor end of the year grades.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses!!! I know now, that the SAT is a better test for me, I just need to polish up my math skills and hopefully get a better score.</p>
<p>Goodluck jmarcas. practice as often before SAT testing. if you can handle 30 minutes a day, that would be good idea. if not, just do what you can. I took the LSAT years ago and my prep worked helped me walk in confident and prepared. good idea to brush up on math as that can be a killer. from what i’ve read, SAT math can have some trick questions where it’s easy to get wrong answer if you’re not careful. so practice with a guide that has answers. Hoping for a good report on your next SAT;s. Were your critical reading and writing scores decent?</p>
<p>For the math, if you find one type of question easier than others, do them first as a warm-up. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>It’s interesting that people are saying they know kids who got into certain universities with low test scores. Believe it or not, that is not the only criteria that admissions counselors look for. Did you all also read their essays or see their auditions? Did you see their struggles or resumes? My point is colleges like to take a holistic approach! Also, sure some colleges will take students with lesser stats but that also means they probably will NOT get any scholarship money. I say it’s important to make the best grades as possible and to aim for the highest test scores you can get. There aren’t many full ride talent scholarships! And I bet there are kids who get into programs because their families have money and they don’t have to apply for scholarships. This can get you into to the school and program but it doesn’t always keep you there if you can’t handle the work!</p>
<p>^I think people are saying this in response to a specific post about one or two specific schools having score cut-offs.</p>