<p>In other words, I am an excellent student and hard worker but have mediocre SAT scores. I consider myself to be very well-rounded. Here's me:</p>
<p>CR: 600
Math: 620
Writing: 640</p>
<p>GPA: 4.35 (weighted)
Class Rank: unknown (prob b/ top 10-15% of a class of 500)</p>
<p>E.C.
NHS
BETA
Eagle Scout
Church Youth Committee Leader
Mission trips to Slidell, Lousiana and Ottowa, Canada
Shadowed my Uncle who is a Family Practitioner
Jazz Solo Award
Marching Band all 4 years
Math and Science Center</p>
<p>Course Load:
all honors and AP's with A's and B's</p>
<p>I am a VA resident at a very competitive high school (class of '08)
I also am intersted in medicine
Both Parents attended UVA</p>
<p>College List:
UVA
Davidson
NC State
William and Mary
UNC-Chapell Hill
Wake Forest (maybe)
VA Tech (safety)
JMU (safety)</p>
<p>Should I stick with these schools? Are there any other prestigious schools with good pre-medicine programs that I have not listed? Will my SAT scores hurt me? Thanks.</p>
<p>Hey we are in the exact same boat lol, I too am struggling with weak SAT/ACT scores, and trying to counteract it with good grades. In your case I think your GPA makes up for it. Your scores aren't the greatest but in actuality they really aren't that bad, and fit the general criteria. I think you have a great chance at UVA, you're involved and have great grades...especially with the legacies.Try taking the SAT again...I mean hey it won't hurt! </p>
<p>Looks like we're applying to the same schools too (minus the out of state ones). You're definately in at JMU and Tech. William and Mary does place a little more weight on the SAT scores than UVA. Anyway I think that you will do great whereever you go...JMU is a great school and if you want UVA bad enough then you surely can do it. Good luck!!</p>
<p>You don't have an amazing shot, but it's not out of the question that you'd get in. That could change, though, depending on how good your grades really are. If you're in the top few percentiles of your class, then you might be in. Otherwise, it's very unlikely. It's just about the same situation for W&M.</p>
<p>It's probably more unlikely that you'll get into Davidson or UNC.</p>
<p>Any major university is fine for "pre-med". You should focus more on getting into schools that are strong overall and that you'd be comfortable attending. I'd recommend checking out the University of Georgia and the University of Wisconsin.</p>
<p>The most important thing to remember about being a pre-med is that practically everyone is a pre-med when they first come to college, and basically more than half give it up. Don't be too focused on that when choosing a university because you might just change your mind very soon after you settle in. Still, you'd want a college that would challenge you academically, but would still be someplace you could be sure that you would succeed fairly well, since you want your GPA to be as high as possible by the end of your third year.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Yeah, it is true that everyone wants to be a doctor going in to college and change their minds once they start. I know Davidson is one of the toughest in the country to get in to, but I heard they place a lot of emphasis on personal qualities so I think it's worth the shot. Working hard and learning is definately one of my top qualities, not test taking per se. I've grown up around UVA and attending all the sports games. It's definately a school I could see myself attending. We'll see what happens.</p>
<p>Consider taking the ACT, I wish I had earlier in the process instead of re-taking the SAT several times.
Though, I did self-SAT prep stuff and improved my scores substantially.</p>
<p>I improved by about 280 points, if my memory serves me correctly. It was a vast improvement. I studied the strategy parts of taking the SAT--there really is a strategy, but too complicated to explain on CC.
They say the ACT tests more of what you actually learned in HS, as opposed to sort of a nebulous "reasoning" test of the SAT. The SAT has become very controversial, and the ACT is gaining substantially in acceptability. I looked at a few schools out west and all the kids out there are taking the ACT and schools are accepting it freely.</p>
<p>Yes, I did do the practice tests too for the SAT. You know that most schools will be looking for the best scores you got, so lets say you take it 3 times. You'll have various scores for each section, and they'll want you to post the best from the times you've taken the SAT. You probably knew that though.</p>
<p>yeah, i am familiar with that. there's something unassuring about taking an entire new test, the ACT, opposed to taking a test I am more familiar with, the SAT. I'll see how I do in October and then possibly reconsider. Did you get into UVA?</p>
<p>The reasoning skills that the SAT tests are very important and very relevant to what you'll be doing in the future. I recommend picking up a copy of "10 Real SATs" and doing every test. Afterwards, go through every question and carefully analyze why you got it right or wrong.</p>
<p>I'm just gonna take a ton of practice tests until it becomes second nature to me. It sucks i have to do this cuz I know a lot of people who don't need to practice (at least that's what they say). JimmyJam, what did you get before you practiced? I'll pick up a copy of that book "10 Real SAT's" as well.</p>
<p>Among students accepted at Davidson last year, 75% had 650+ on math, 75% had 650+ on verbal, and 75% had 650+ on writing. The ones who had lower on any particular section likely made up for it on the other sections. Or they were URMs. Or they were athletes. Or legacies. Or valedictorians. Everyone's got a story, kid, and Davidson's competitive enough that your story isn't gonna get their attention unless you're solidly in the door. As it is, you've got little to sell them. So yea, it sounds nice to say that they care about personal qualities most (something most colleges claim), but the reality is that your test scores and grades are incredibly important.</p>
<p>So are you an admissions officer? Or are you just trying to sound like you know what your'e talking about because you had high SAT's and was the valedictorian? Well, I guess the scores have to go up or else there's no shot at a good college. I also know the head dean of admissions at Davidson. This could help.
Davidson Stats:
SAT Critical Reading: 620 - 720
SAT Math: 630 - 720</p>
<p>I also read this:
After looking at some stats, I would guess that the SAT at UVa is ~1200-1400. (The US News composite isn't the real composite) As you can see, your SAT is already in the middle 50% and a 1350 would most likely put you above the average. Don't forget that the SAT is only one part of your app.</p>
<p>___<em>_SAT I Verbal</em><em>SAT I Math
700-800</em><em>31.6%--------39.4%
600-699</em><em>47.5%--------45.4%
500-599</em><em>17.5%--------13.2
400-499</em><em>3.1%---------1.9%
300-399</em><em>0.3%---------0.1%
200-299</em>_0.0%---------0.0%</p>