I have already signed the contract for Johns Hopkins University Early Decision. I know my stats are objectively good but I really have my heart set on JHU and I would like honest feedback on how I can maximize my chances for admission.
I just recently took the October SAT and although my goal was a 1500+, I scored a 1480 (760 M 720 EVBRW). I know this is still a good score, but I am unsure if it is worth submitting to JHU— especially since my ACT is a 34 (32 M, 35 E, 35 R, 35 S, which translates to a ~1520 SAT).
I’m in the top 10% of my class but my GPA on a 4.0 scale is 4.67 W. I believe that my ACT puts me in the middle 50% of the average admitted students but my SAT and GPA are in the lower 25%. Because of this, I’m wondering if my SAT score would help or hurt me. What I’m thinking is that my higher math score on the SAT would balance out my lower math score on the ACT & the same could be said for my English score… does this make sense?
Honestly, I think I am just searching for some validation. This whole process has been very stressful and I’m going through this almost entirely blind. Any and all advice would be appreciated. <3
I do understand what you are thinking, and that rationale is sound. If you do submit your SAT, I don’t think it will hurt you. Even though scores have become inflated because many aren’t submitting them (your 34 is at the 25%ile, as is the 780M for class of 2025 (I don’t see class of 2026 data anywhere)), those are very good scores.
Schools are not looking for reasons to deny applicants, they are looking for reasons to accept applicants. A 1480 is not a reason to deny anyone, should you choose to send it. It’s up to you. Have you asked your HS GC what they think?
What is your source for saying this? I just don’t see this score hurting OP. JHU will take the scores that puts the applicant in the best light, as will most schools.
Some schools will say they’ll always look at your best score. But while I don’t have a source, I don’t believe you do either. I say this because I reviewed the FAQs on their website b4 writing. Some schools say exactly what you wrote. But I couldn’t find where JHU did.
So an under the 25th percentile test score and I don’t know if there’s any hooks but if not, the only positive would be the ED.
If they will take the best score submitted, I’d agree but no where could I find that written. But then they would likely not use the SAT at all. On the flipside, they do say they look at each section and they make a composite (superscore). Nowhere do they mention even looking at individual sections) whereas some schools do and note it. Again that question can be asked.
Hence I’d ask. It’s not asking to go TO or not but rather which of two scores to use, both of which offer positives.
I’m going by what their website says…that they look at composites.
Anecdotally if one is a Stem major they’d look at math. But that’s sometimes pointed out. It’s not here.
Unless you are a JHU admissions staff member, I’ll presume you don’t know for sure.
You may have opinions or anecdotes to form a valid opinion. But If you have a definitive answer and source, please share it.
I provided an opinion as did you and others. OP is free to use any opinions (that’s what these all are) as he sees fit. If I was unhooked, I would not provide a score 30 points below the 25th percentile. That’s me.
Sorry I don’t understand. The SAT (esp. the math) and ACT scores are both pretty darn good. I thought that for selective colleges you need to meet a benchmark that shows you can do the work and after that it is about other things. I did not think scores were viewed in a hierarchical fashion in the sense that a 780 is seen as more worthy of admission than a 750. Maybe I have been wrong all these years, or maybe JHU is different. I would submit all scores but go ahead and submit the ACT if you prefer. This is not a make or break decision in my view.
This isn’t my only SAT but it’s higher than my other one & I don’t have enough time to retake it before ED deadline. I might retake it for regular decision though (for schools such as Georgetown/BU)
Your SAT provides substantiating information to your application. Its total doesn’t need to be at the exact level of your ACT composite for this to be the case. I believe you can comfortably submit it.
Firstly, thank you so much for all your input into this discussion! I haven’t asked my guidance counselor yet because I am unsure how much he will be able to aid me (based on past experiences), but I will definitely reach out to my AO. My close friend at JHU had a 32 ACT & 1400 SAT (submitted them both) so I’m holding out on a bit of hope that my résumé will do me well regardless of my test scores. Agh, the uncertainty of college admissions!
It’s interesting to me that everyone is saying to submit it. I get the math part.
But at the same time - if you look at JHUs 25/75, it’s 1510/1560. OP is a 1480.
So many of you have said in the past, never submit under the 25th percentile. Some say 50th percentile. So assuming OP has no hooks (other than ED), why would they take a score that will lower their average?
Secondly, according to the CDS, their 25th percentile for math is 780. So a 760 is AWESOME - but again, it’s below their 25th percentile.
With only 59% submitting a test, I would say this student has better odds going TO than submitting an overall and math below the 25th percentile. They clearly are willing to admit TO students.
At leas the ACT composite is within range.
Anyway, not sure if everyone had seen their math split - so I wanted to point this out because so many on this board say you never, unless you’re an athlete, URM, first gen, rural applicants, etc. go under - name your percentage the 25th or 50th percentile. I’ve read so many on this board having written that.
ED helps, we all know this. So an admit is possible - but I don’t see how the test helps this situation. The OP, on the SAT, is under the 25th percentile, no matter how you look at it. A 760 is AWESOME - but not at this school.
Yes they were. Unfortunately, extraneous factors led to my first SAT attempt being much lower than my projected score, let alone my PSAT. The 1480 and 34 are the only scores I have.