Is a 650 in Writing too low for Columbia? Deadline approaching...

<p>I hope I have not exhausted this forum with my messages, but I am confused to whether I should take the new SAT again. My overall score was 2090 (Math-790, Verbal and Writing-650). Should I retake the new SAT in order to get at least a 700 in writing? Today is the last day to register! My hope is that Columbia will combine my highest verbal score from the old SAT with my highest math score from the new SAT. For example, i got a 730 in verbal on the old SAT and a 790 in math on the new SAT; will Columbia combine these scores for a composite score of 1520? </p>

<p>I need a response soon because the registration deadline is in about 4 hours. Thanks very much.</p>

<p>I would say yes because it is probably a lot better to have stuff 700+ on every section</p>

<p>I would probably say that you are probably fine. I had a 640 Writing and I got waitlisted. But standarized tests were my forte. I was seriously lacking in EC's, community service (none), essays (spent an hour on them), and some earlier grades and thus rank. I made up for my writing with 680 spanish, 690 IIC, and 760 US Hist. 1460 SAT I.<br>
Colleges really don't care as much about SAT I/II and AP's as people ont his board seem to think they do. One girl from my school had a 1 on the Chem and still got into Duke. Another didn't even take SAT II's and had a 1300 and got into Stanford. My friend had 550, and two 650's on his SAT II's and got into Duke. There was nothing special about any of them. Just hard-working students at the top 10 of their class with good, just good not spectactular, scores and they still got into great schools without nobel prizes.<br>
Unless if you absolutely feel that you need to, I would spend my time elsewhere. Your score is still equivalent to their average (2100->1400), so you are competive in that area.</p>

<p>Are any of the two of you in Columbia or have been accepted, SR6622 or Mekrob? The reason why I think I should take the new SAT again to get a 700+ in writing is because I only plan to take two SAT II's-Biology,Math IIC. On top of that, I am an Asian, so won't ivy leagues like Columbia expect higher than average scores from me; especially since I am lacking in the EC's and I am not that unique as I could be. </p>

<p>Please, I need your input soon. I have the credit card with me and am making up my mind before I type in the numbers and register for good.</p>

<p>You're asian...so they'll expect higher test scores out of you? Do you really think schools are that stereotypical of their applicants? "My god John. This asianer has a 790. I hope he's cured cancer. What? He hasn't. Rejection"</p>

<p>Why don't you use that time that you would have spent studying for and taking the SAT again and use it for boosting your EC's? I really wish I woulda done that. If English, history, social sciences aren't your thing, then don't worry about it. They won't expect perfection in all areas. Just show yourself in your app and the areas you do like and do well in. G'luck.</p>

<p>I was waitlisted, as I said earlier, btw.</p>

<p>Alright, i think I'm still going to register but I will only prepare myself for writing. Preparing for the writing test will take up little time...besides, how can i do any EC's so late into the school year. </p>

<p>However, I will try to contact the National Hurricane center for the possibilty of an internship or volunteer work for them, since I am highly interested in weather and since their office is in Miami. But this will be during late summer and fall, when the hurricane season is active. For the month of May, I will either try to do some volunteer work for the airport (aviation is another interest of mine) or will coach a disabled sports team (My IB counselor suggested this to me and gave the phone number to contact the appropriate person). I think these EC's will make me stand out, hopefully.</p>

<p>I was scared by a 690 in writing....so I retook it for a 730</p>

<p>730writ/710USHistory/700MathIIC/710MathIC/700BioM/1410SATI, accepted (and enrolled)at CC</p>

<p>Yeah, i agree with videogamerx. What were your EC's and do you think some other factor must have placed you at an advantage (race, geography, legacy, etc.)? I ask this because I thought that extremely good scores pardoned weak EC's while average scores for Columbia (like 1400 or 700) did not make up for weak EC's. Like I have said before, I do not yet have any unique EC's.</p>

<p>I'd retake that writing score. If you can get it 750+ you're fine.</p>

<p>u should retake the SAT1 if u know u can do better</p>

<p>I didn't have spectacular SAT II scores either, I had an 800 in french (but im fluent, so its not fair) but then just a 700 and a 710 in math II and Writing, respectively. I had pretty good SAT I scores, though, so I think that helped balance it out. Columbia doesnt expect you to be perfect in all areas, if you have one score out of the 700 range but the rest of your scores are good, you'll be fine. btw, i was accepted RD to CC and I'll be going there next year, so I hope that adds some credence to my advice.</p>

<p>why don't you prep over the summer and then, take them in october?</p>

<p>I got a 660 and still got accepted. I think as long as you write a good personal statement, you should be fine.</p>

<p>I am #1/770 kids in a school in the Chicago suburbs, good ecs, good leadership etc. All honors/APs. I got 2120 on the new SAT (680/680/760) and 31 on ACT. SAT IIs pending. I am planning on taking SAT I again next month. What do you think of my chances?</p>