So I know a 1400 SAT score is okay for some institutions (I’m at the middle 50% for the majority of my schools) but is it high enough? I’m applying to schools like American Univeristy, Villanova, and Wake Forest as my matches with Georgetown and William & Mary as my reach schools. Clemson and UMD are my fall backs. Which of these schools seem doable with my test scores and would you recommending taking the SAT again? My math score is currently what is currently hurting me. I’ve taken the SAT twice but don’t know if I stand a reasonable chance at improvement by retaking the test in August. Any thoughts?
What are your grades? Those are more important. I suggest you try the ACT too, especially if you can work fast under pressure. I think your reach schools are out of reach, unless you are in Virginia. I don’t think American or Wake are matches. More like low reaches.
4.175 weighted because my school uses a low weight. I am an out of state applicant but have scored a 32 on the ACT and 4s or 5s on all my AP tests.
have you registered for Aug? chances are that you may have to travel far to take the Aug test…which level of Math are you in? why did you say the Math is hurting you? Are you a senior? have you taken the subject tests?
I believe that your ACT is comparatively a higher score, so if you do end up not retaking that is the one I would probably send in given a choice.
Your grades will be assesed unweighted by the college. 32 is a fine score, but it’s not super high for Georgetown or W&M OOS. Your ACT is the better score. I would not submit the SAT at all. If you retake anything, it should be the ACT. Study up and hopefully you can bring that score higher. Even a 33 would make you more competitive.
I am not yet registered for the August test but I most likely will. I am enrolled in AP Calculus BC this year and scored a 4 on the Calc AB test,but I don’t feel it is my best subject.
then you should not have problems with the Math on SAT. Have you found out where you made the mistakes? may be you have forgotten some concepts… you can try to go to enroll for the Aug test, there may be no center near you though… but I agree with everyone that your ACT is a better score…have you taken the subject tests? Georgetown asks for three subject tests… if you haven’t taken any subject test, you may be better off to use Aug to take the subject test…
I have not taken them yet but was planning on doing so soon. I appreciate the insight on the ACT vs. SAT scores, I didn’t know how they exactly compared. Thanks a bunch!
I’m not sure of your major but the stats of the Fall 2017 Clemson Engineering class are:
1075 students across the 10 Engineering majors
SAT 1351 and ACT 30
Top 10% of HS class
40% OOS and 60% from SC
Clemson really isn’t a safety anymore. The Honors college stats are a bit higher than the above but the stats just move you to the next phase. Essays and showing who you are play into final decision of Honors College.
any hooks? test scores are evaluated wrt ethnicity, race, legacy, first gen etc.
google,
Thankfully I won’t be going into engineering (as I said above, math is not a topic where I feel most confident). I am looking to study public policy/foreign relations, particularly in the Middle East.
While I have no “hook” so to speak (I am a white female in a middle class family, both my parents have earned their doctorates) I have been told numerous times by admissions councilors that my strength lies in my essays and ECs. While some schools put more weight on these than others, I feel it could be a real defining factor in my application to all the universities I am applying to. I am the president of 4 clubs, founded 2 organizations at my school, take Arabic classes over the summer, captain my school soccer team, have won awards from Congressmen and higher ups in the federal government, and am currently interning on Capitol Hill. I understand that this can only take me part of the way, but my essays are a reflection of the real life experience I have earned through these actives. Any thoughts on the impact this may have?
Also, given your previous insight, I signed up for the SAT August Subject Tests in Math 2, Literature, and World History. Would you have any comments as to how my scores on these may compare to my corresponding AP test results. I also signed up for the next ACT in my area and will be meeting with my test prep tutor over the next few weeks (the last ACT I took was with no prep), so I feel confident in my ability to raise that score. Thanks again for all of your help and recommendations.
If your scores are in the middle 50% for a school, as you have noted, you know that you are a viable applicant. Your match schools seem to be bona fide matches for you based on their data. While you can retest if you want to, and it sounds like you plan to do so, you have a realistic mix of schools in each category for your current scores. Nothing is guaranteed in college admissions, however, and you might want to add a super-safety. Good luck!
A 1400 SAT is equivalent to a 30 ACT according to the College Board concordance tables.
Your time might be better spent prepping for the ACT to increase your score. FWIW, my daughter prepped for both tests consistently and did significantly better on the ACT.
Good luck!
Thank you for the positive feedback! Any confirmation I can get on my chances are very welcome!
With your ECs being described, you’re an excellent candidate. Your plan to take the ACT and three subject tests is very good. I’m thinking that American could also be a safety so I’d add one more reach to your list, Have you spent any time abroad, Gtown looks for that if you’re applying to their SFS school (it’s not a showstopper or anything, just a good thing to have) in addition to strong ECs which you have. I’d add another local school as a reach or high match (or whatever that’s called), JHU or UVA.
I have spent time abroad in Peru, but it was with a church group. Will that still hold weight, or will the religious affiliation of the trip lessen its value from an admission standpoint. I chose to exclude it from any essay writing because it seems to be a VERY common topic, but maybe it could be a conversation in my interview at Georgetown?
Thanks!