<p>Every standardized test I take just leads to an inadequate score... I have everything else a top school applicant should have like great ec's with tons of leadership, great transcript (3.9 UW, 4.8 W), good hook (1st gen. Latino), 11 AP's, etc... I don't know what to do, and considering I'm a junior in high school, I'm running out of time.
I'm going to try and bring up my 26 on the ACT to at least a 28/29, but besides that, do I really even stand a chance in applying to NU, Cornell, or Columbia? </p>
<p>A suggestion would be nice, but the fact that I was able to vent was more than enough.
Thank you.</p>
<p>You are below average numbers wise, as you know. But an average exists because there are both high and low values. In the case of many top schools, the low end of the spectrum is partially composed of athletes and minority students like yourself. You have a shot, but I wouldn’t say a good one.</p>
<p>Try the SAT, as well. Some students do significantly better on one than the other.</p>
<p>And whichever one you’re taking next, don’t forget to prepare.</p>
<p>Excellent classroom grades, coupled with lower than expected standardized test scores can indicate previously undiagnosed learning disabilities and/or stress induced anxiety. Pay a visit to your guidance counselors office, and talk with that person about being screened for dyslexia-type processing issues and anxiety. It is better for you to get a handle on this now while you are still in high school.</p>
<p>If English isn’t your home language, and you have fewer than seven years in schools where English is the medium of instruction, you may want to consider taking the TOEFL.</p>
<p>If you have never done any formal exam prep, read <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html</a> for CC’s own Xiggi’s truly excellent do-it-yourself exam prep techniques. They work for any standardized exam.</p>
<p>you’re a junior, so don’t worry- you have plenty of time. if you aren’t improving your scores by working on your own or switching tests, then think about investing in a tutor or a prep class, which could help a lot (one of my friends took a kaplan course and got her SAT score up 400 points!), so i’d definitely suggest that. you look like a great applicant otherwise, so keep up the good work in other areas while continuing to prepare for standardized tests, which you can keep retaking if you want to until january of your senior year. with all the good things you have going for you, you’d have a chance at the schools you listed, but if you can work hard and get those scores up (i know it’s not as easy as it sounds, but it should be possible), you’ll have a great chance. good luck!! :)</p>
<p>Well, I definitely don’t have a learning disability… I think I’m just called a bad test taker. I’ve been educated in this country since I was born, and was put in the gifted program in 1st grade, so my English is completely fine.
I just don’t think I would have made it in any AP class if I was dyslexic without noticing a problem.</p>
<p>Your stats are good, but no one can really predict whether you will be accepted. Many great students apply, and only a small percentage are admitted.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>“Every standardized test I take just leads to an inadequate score”
“I’m just called a bad test taker.”</p>
<p>Well there is some reason why you test badly. Top suspects include:
Never having mastered test-taking strategies (despite the efforts of classroom teachers to get kids to learn these early on, some students do get to high school without developing this basic skill set)
Test-induced anxiety
Slower than normal information processing (this often manifests itself as an issue that classifies as dyslexia)
Weakness in fine motor skills (so it is difficult to fill in those little dots)
Vision disorders (including visual processing disorders)
Focus and attention issues (where you can’t keep your attention on the exam in the way you would be able to with your homework)</p>
<p>Each of these issues is different, which means that each has a different work-around. If you’ve never got a handle on test strategy, that is fixable with a bit of formal exam prep. If you do poorly because you feel stress and can’t focus well, then start with an evaluation for anxiety. If you do poorly on standardized exams because you normally run out of time, I’d suggest you start with an evaluation for processing issues. If you have trouble with fine motor skills, have that formally evaluated so that you can be given appropriate testing accommodations. Etc.</p>
<p>And yup, you can be dyslexic and not know it. I have a good friend who wasn’t diagnosed until halfway through her PhD program. Dyslexia is an umbrella term that covers a number of different issues having to do with reading and interpreting text. You can by dyslexic in English, but not in Chinese (and vice versa). As with any other learning difference, the smarter (and more hard working) the student, the less likely it is that the issue will be noticed by parents or teachers. There are scads of students in AP classes and GT programs all over the country who would have had their dyslexia-type issues identified years ago if they just weren’t so smart.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information.
Maybe I phrased this the wrong way, but it’s just those two standardized test scores I do badly on. I do fine all other standardized tests (state scores always 5’s, AP’s 5’s), class tests (A’s), and easily get a great score.
If anything, my stress would be the biggest problem since I honestly do not believe I’m dyslexic, but again, thanks.</p>
<p>Try the SAT.</p>
<p>Also, do some practice tests under timed conditions. Maybe you need to build up your stamina for long tests.</p>
<p>Are you finishing sections or are you running out of time?</p>
<p>Also, don’t just focus on schools like Cornell and NU. There are many other great schools out there. You’re going to have to apply to some matches and safeties anyway. Make sure you also have some financial safeties as well. </p>
<p>Are you in NY or some other state? </p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Look up the schools in which you are interested in on collegedata dot com. It will give you how much weight those schools report they give to the standardized tests and the distribution of scores and GPA. Most schools give more weight to GPA as a better predicter of college success. Moreover, you have those top AP scores on your side. Some schools are test optional, but not necessarily the ones in which you are interested. You might want to explore whether the SAT is a better test for you. Otherwise, just study and take the ACT again, making sure the schools receive your official AP results vs. only self-reporting.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids I’m finishing all of the sections within the time limit, but the only one I barely finish is the math.
I live in Florida, so my safeties are Florida State and University of Florida. Without a doubt, I FSU or UF are wonderful schools that I wouldn’t mind attending. I plan to major in Biochemistry for a premedical background. </p>
<p>@CCsiteObsessed, I have looked at that website, and use it quite often, so thank you for mentioning it! 
</p>
<p>Also, I’d really just like to say thank you to all of the responses. They’re all so much help. Regardless of my scores, I’m getting a tutor for either the ACT/SAT very soon.</p>