Well, basically the first thing I saw when I opened the college board web was a notice that there was a mistake on the June 2015 test and two sections are not scored! I think that made a much difference to my critical reading score since I tend to make many mistakes in one section and feel good about another. The first time I took it, I got a 690, with 8 questions wrong. ( I got 5 questions wrong on the first section) . Then，you know I did pretty well on the rest two. I can’t believe it when I see the June test was 90 points lower than the first time!!! I can’t imagine how the college will see it. I know they do superscore, but I feel like the second score is to my disadvantage. The admission officers see the 600 CR, even though they take the 690 one.( isn’t it still a bad impression? Especially a 90 point difference is big!) I can’t abandon the second test scores since my writing was a lot better 660 compared to 590 the first time. I think Harvard does take into account the writing score.( that is the main reason why I took the test a second time) However, I did nothing better but writing. The CR score really makes me fear. Is there still hope? Should I take the ACT? I planned to apply Harvard early action. Help!
Every student who took the June 2015 SAT is facing the same issue. That said, your test scores seem a bit low to apply SCEA.
Harvard has said they don’t take anyone in SCEA round that they wound’t take in the RD round. That’s Admissions-speak for “We take the best-of-the-best in the early round.”
Unless you are one of best-of-the-best from your high school, you stand a good chance of being deferred if you apply in the early round, as the SCEA round is more self-selective. Generally speaking, that means that to be a competitive SCEA applicant you should be ranked in the top 1% to 3% of your high school’s graduating class with a high GPA (54% of Harvard freshman reported having a 4.0 GPA in high school), SAT scores of at least 2200 (the average self reported SAT for Harvard freshman is 2228). Does this sound like you?
Maybe you should take the ACT and see if you do better.
My superscore is 2090. And I am petty sure that I am ranked on the top for my high school.( my high school is not that great) Critical Reading:690 Math:740 Writing:660
^^ Two questions:
- Has Harvard ever admitted a student from your high school?
- Are you a US resident or International student? And if international, from what country?
Yeah, there was one student got admitted. I am currently an asylee. I came to this country in 9th grade.
Then you should have interesting stories to tell in your essay, and your letters of recommendation will reenforce the progress you have made in the US over the past 3 years. Best of luck to you in the admissions process.