Its been 3 months...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hi again!
Many of you thankfully replied to my posts in late February. I'm that one freshman who was planning to take the SAT and ACT in March, and I was asking for 'chances' (My bad, I should've just asked what to stop, continue, or begin in extracurriculars and school).</p>

<p>I was surprised everyone was freaking out about me taking the SAT as a freshman and in 7th grade. </p>

<p>Because everyone was freaking out about it, and telling me that my scores would be recorded, etc. I have to explain:
I took the SAT and ACT through a gifted and talented search that forces me to drop the score no matter what. So even if I got a 2400 it would not be an 'official' score. While I took the exact same test that you all took, my scores were not recorded. SO IT'S ALL GOOD! :) </p>

<p>I got my new SAT scores: 2,120 (720 math 610 reading 790 writing!)
and ACT scores: 30 (32 math 32 reading 28 science 28 english) </p>

<p>From 7th grade SAT, over 3 years ago: 1,930 (710 math 590 reading 630 writing)</p>

<p>^any comments, how can ai improve? </p>

<p>I only jumped a little in math which REALLY disappointed me (i am taking AP Calc BC, so I was suppposedly already learned everything that would be in the test, and i thought the math was REALLY easy). My reading was low, but I did not expect such a low increase :( But I am super glad that I went through the Peterson's and Barron's writing SAT books. They were so great, and i jumped 160 on writing at least :)</p>

<p>I was disapointed on all of my ACT scores. I had easily enough time ( I was able to check the reading section 2 and a 1/2 times! Too much?) and I felt like I aced it. Except for teh science. I was so glad i got a 28, I had to guess on at least 20 of teh 40 problems haha).</p>

<p>And yes, I'm doing lots of clubs and sports (FBLA, city orchestra, football track, etc. too many to write down), don't worry about extracurriculars. I am not freaking out about my prospects of getting into Ivy League. All I am is focused, driven, and hopefully prepared for college.</p>

<p>P.S. I will be taking the SAT 2 math subject level 2 test tomorrow. I took precalc and ap world this year but i am deciding not to take the SAT 2 world history because it is too risky to get a low score.</p>

<p>P.P.S. I think I did really well on teh Ap world and Ap statistics tests though. Definitely at least high 4, if not both easy 5s.</p>

<p>P.P.P.S. Please give me any pointers, or anything that I am missing right now. I hope you don't get the idea that I'm some crazy korean american who studies all the damn time. Don't worry I have lots of fun still. I mean I'm a freshman. Don't think i'm some nerd who studies all teh time. :)</p>

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<p>Where in the world would we get that idea :rolleyes:?</p>

3

<p>haha, sarcasm?
but really, i am not the stereotypical kid who is a genius and stuff. I have lots of free time, i hang out with friends a lot… I’m normal i guess.</p>

4

<p>Love entomom’s sense of humor ;)</p>

<p>

“The only Normal people are the ones you don’t know very well” Joe Ancis</p>

5

<p>whoop whoop Duke TIP represent!</p>

<p>Completely unrelated story, I had a TIPster friend who scored a 2390 in 7th grade. Missed one question on math. The score was auto-dropped, and when he took it as a junior last year, he only got like a 2360 :P</p>

<p>EDIT: and don’t worry too much about the tests. All the scores will be on your sheet, but the adcoms only look at your top two SAT II’s. Even if you have lower scores on there, they only take into consideration the highest score. You got plenty of time dude. </p>

<p>I took the SAT (I) after sophomore year and only got like a 2070. I did a bit of test prep and second semester junior year bumped up to a 2330. I’m not sure what your curriculum is like, but even at my relatively crappy school, sophomore and junior level classes prepare you more for the SAT, so don’t sweat it!</p>

6

<p>@Brandon: You seem like a bright student, so I’m wondering if you are obsessing about your grades just as much as your test record. See: [Table</a> of Acceleration Credit | Yale College](<a href=“http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/table-acceleration-credit]Table”>http://yalecollege.yale.edu/content/table-acceleration-credit)</p>

<p>At some colleges, like Yale, you can get AP credit with 4’s, but at Harvard (where you have posted a similar thread), only 5’s matter. You probably should follow Yale’s advice: [Advice</a> on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)</p>

<p>Transcript and Testing
Your transcript is a significant part of your application. We look at your overall record, from freshman through senior years. We always remain mindful of context: what courses are available at your school? Did you take a rigorous curriculum given these course offerings? Are there patterns to your transcript that reflect on your academic potential? We rely on school profiles and guidance counselors to give us an understanding of your school and the ways in which you have been academically engaged.</p>

<p>We also consider your standardized test scores. Think of testing as just another part of the application, and certainly do not spend most of your weekends test-taking! Only retake a test if you feel you will significantly improve your scores. If your testing is in the right ballpark, then it probably will not be the deciding factor for your candidacy. In other words, don’t worry about about trying to get that extra twenty points. Instead, spend your time on things that will help you grow as a person: school work, extracurricular opportunities, time with friends — the things that will give you a stronger sense of yourself and, as a result, make you a stronger college applicant. (Bonus: they will also prepare you to make the most of your college experience and of life!).</p>

7

<p>Except for financial reasons, it would be nuts to accelerate at Yale. That would mean leaving sooner than you’d otherwise have to.</p>

8

<p>On acceleration–according to the advisors and dean (we spoke by phone) acceleration is available by the “semester” only…meaning unless the student can accelerate a full semester of courses, (4-5 classes) the credits are lost.
also they said almost no one accelerates to leave a semester early.</p>

<p>From what our K1 has experienced, Yale is so great, we can understand why no one wants to leave early.</p>

9

<p>You might want to accelerate by one semester so you could do a semester abroad of some kind without worrying about credits, but not too many people do that, either.</p>