Is this bad?

Applying to College
1

<p>I have good grades and ECs, but my SATs weren't so good, until now. I just did the May SAT and I felt very good about Writing and CR (my two weakest sections) but I screwed up my math. Here is my run down till now:</p>

<p>*Just of note, I have won distinctions in international maths competitions so really my stupid mistakes are the only things preventing me from getting an 800</p>

<p>December 09 SAT:
700 Math
650 Critical Reading
580 Writing</p>

<ul>
<li>1930 Composite (1350/1600)</li>
</ul>

<p>January 10 SAT:
770 Math
660 Critical Reading
640 Writing</p>

<ul>
<li>2070 Composite (1430/1600)</li>
</ul>

<p>May 10 SAT:
Around 740 Math (2 wrong - want to kill myself)
Between 720 and 760 for CR
Between 780 and 800 for Writing</p>

<ul>
<li>between 2240 and 2300 Composite (between 1460 and 1500/1600)</li>
</ul>

<p>You see, the problem is that based on my ECs and awards I really should be getting 800 in math each time, and I know I can if I get down and concentrate, however, I am applying to Ivy Leagues and thus my overall score would look mitigated and my awards may lose some of their appeal. Should I retake?</p>

<p>Based on what I have predicted my superscore will be:</p>

<ul>
<li>between 2270 and 2330 (between 1490 and 1530/1600).</li>
</ul>

<p>Many of the schools, especially the Ivies look at all scores, so how would the crappy maths score in the May SAT affect me as a whole (I know without it I would have a good chance of breaking 2300)?</p>

2

<p>if you hit around that range, you should be fine.
(however if you do under-perform, i’d try to retake once more to break 2200. just my opinion)</p>

<p>Take SATII Math 2, and if you score well on that, it should more than make up for (what is already) your good but not excellent score in SATI</p>

3

<p>Well I have taken many SAT II practice tests and scored 800 on both Math II and Physics so, if I take the real thing, which I will in June, and achieve 800, there is no need for me to retake the SAT I (that is supposing I superscore, about 2270+)?</p>

4

<p>I think that you’re setting yourself up for a possible huge disappointment by only focusing on ivies. They are super hard to get into, and even harder for int’ls. You’re beating yourself up over this.</p>

5

<p>I am applying to other universities as well but it always has been my parents dream for me to get into an Ivy League school, so I am trying my best to make it come true.</p>

6

<p>What disturbs me is the line “2 wrong - want to kill myself”</p>

<p>Gads. You are letting an external evaluation (SAT testing) measure your worth. Dumb. Dumb as a box of rocks. Sorry, I don’t care if you earn an 800 next time. Still Dumb. </p>

<p>Testing NEVER defines you. It measures where you were . . . in math (only) . . . on one particular Saturday. It doesn’t measure your honor, your integrity, your loyalty, your capacity for work, your visions, your creativity or your capacity for love. </p>

<p>Ivy league/MIT level college applications eats up marvelous kids and spits them out to crawl, crushed, on the gravel of life. Some kids get through the sieve (and some are hopeless snobs because of that). You can be the top kid in your school (or country) and have perfect grades and scores and STILL not get in. </p>

<p>So do you quit trying? No. Give it a go. Give it your all. But PLEASE quit defining yourself by test scores or the name of a school. Define yourself as you. </p>

<p>Please show this to your parents. I mean it. They need to love you for you. If they ever are defining themselves as “good” parents because of your university bumper sticker, then they are . . . in a bad place. </p>

<p>I know. We have one kid who’s at an Ivy and one who is at local college. Guess what? Intellectually there’s barely a hair’s difference between the two. What makes me proud is that they are both honorable young men. </p>

<p>Sorry for the long rant, but, truthfully, I see how hurtful this process is to so many students and families (emotionally and financially). And I see how little difference there is between the kid who goes Ivy and his long time buddy who now “owns” his little CS department at his small college (very bright, very personable local kid). </p>

<p>Too often I see parents stick their chests out because their kid got into a “name” school while the great, nice kids who got “rejected” slink off to lick their wounds and work through a year or so of feeling second rate. At the end of the day, it’s as stupid as thinking you are fabulous because you bought a winning lottery ticket. </p>

<p>Don’t let a test score or a name brand bumper sticker define you. Please.</p>

7

<p>This is why SATs don’t matter as much as people think they do. You didn’t get a 740 because you’re somehow worse than math than someone with an 800. I know many people who did not get a perfect score on the Math section that are far better in math than others I know who did. No college is going to care as long as you have at least a 700.</p>

8

<p>Most parents of ivy applicants will end up disappointed. Let them know this now and get them comfortable with a range of schools.</p>