<p>this friend of mine, an asian, wants to apply to U of C but she has very low standardized scores. Though she has a 4.0 and was one of the top students in her senior class, she is a bad test taker. She wants to apply to U of C but is afraid she will not get admitted since of her scores..She is very ambitious but she is very bogged down seeing that her scores are so low that her gpa does not mattter too much..and that all her hard work was a waste. I did not know what to suggest her. She has good Extra-curriculars, and decent awards, but her SATS are very low. </p>
<p>Is there any way she can emphasize that she is a bad standardized test-taker on one of her essays? (thats what i suggester to her)..if so, what essay should she emphsize this on? the one with why she wants to go to U of C? or one of the 5 essyas?</p>
<p>She should definitely apply, but her essays and recs are going to be extremely important. She should not write an essay on how she has trouble taking tests; the essays are not a place to make excuses. Instead she should focus on making her essays insightful and creative. She should have approached teachers for recs already, but the teachers should be the ones who know her and her potential best and also respect her and her work. </p>
<p>Does she have a learning disability that affects her test-taking? If so, her college advisor can include that in his/her letter.</p>
<p>I know of someone admitted to UC last year with combined math/reading scores in the 1200s. They were deferred EA, then admitted in the regular round. They had excellent grades and some very passionate and unique EC's. So, yes, it can happen.</p>
<p>There is a young man I know quite well who has taken the SAT & ACT three times, has gone through prep classes and individual study tutorials, etc., and barely cracks 600 on the CR & Math, and a 27 on the ACT. The strange thing is this kid has an unweighted 4.0/4.0, has taken all the APs offered, and has 4 and 5's on the AP tests. He is a finalist for a statewide writing award, has successfully completed summer programs for highly capable youth, etc. He is a talented musician and athlete. But, for the taking of standardized tests, he is out standing in every respect. It looks as though some just can't score well on those multiple choice tests. (Too bad he isn't applying to Chicago, but he can't take the cold.)</p>
<p>what other good colleges are there that do not put so much emphasis on standardized scores......maybe she can take a chance at some other schools</p>
<p>ok....i knew about uchicago,and i told her so she went ahead and took it into consideration....are there other top colleges that u know of right hand that you can list?...........anythiing would be appreciated</p>
<p>I think Bates doesn't require, not totally sure.</p>
<p>Last I checked, Reed doesn't require as long as you have a certain GPA.</p>
<p>I'm fairly sure that Sarah Lawrence doesn't require either.</p>
<p>Bates would fit anybody's definition as a "top college," and though Reed and Sarah Lawrence are both great, they're focused towards a certain type of person.</p>
<p>Rather than eliminate (or select) colleges based on their SAT policies, have your friend look at schools that interest her. Deciding to apply to Bates simply because it doesn't require the SAT seems unwise.</p>