Low SAT, great-ish other stats. Poor intl in search of hope(kinds long post..)

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Hey, guys.
I've taken the May SAT, and lo and behold my score was waaay lower than I had expected or hoped for. Although I went in with the hopes for anything 2000+, I was petrified to find out on the 28th that I had only managed 1840. What brought me down was the writing section (which honestly was always my strength) with 570 and an 8 essay. I kept hoping I had gotten someone else's score, but no, it was mine alright. </p>

<p>So after avoiding the cold hard truth for a week, I decided to turn to you guys, maybe you could bring a glimmer of hope back to me, because honestly I feel like everything just ended. </p>

<p>I am a Romanian junior, first of all. My projected GPA for the entire 4 years is 9.97 out of 10. I'll go out on a limb and say that it's about a 4.0 ?
A little background info will probably be of use in assessing my situation. Romania is an ex communist country, but with visible and sensible communistic traits even today. Jobs are scarce and extremely low paid (for example, my mother has been a highschool teacher for over 25 years and she earns around $5000 a year). Education is strict and encompasses a wide area of subjects, but in the long run, a degree is useless (there was recently a piece on the news about how a cleaning lady has a masters in computer science and robotics..) if you don't have connections or money. Those are basically the reason why I DON'T want to stay here. </p>

<p>Some other info would be that I live in a painfully small and underdeveloped town. My highschool is in the top 10 of the country education wise, but other than that, as a student you can't really do anything. We rarely ever get told about competitions, teachers generally only tell a couple of students so as not to burden themselves with too many entries. Extracurricular activities are scarce to non existant, jobs are hard to find and generally in the underpaid sweatshops/factories, and people are rude when you offer to help. </p>

<p>That aside, my other stats apart from my GPA and meager SAT score, aren't stellar compared to what I've seen here, but I tried my hardest to make the best out of my circumstances. Please don't regard this post as a cry for attention, I just wish to know if there is still any chance for me to make it outside of this place.</p>

<p>-I have been deeply and actively involved in the European Youth Parliament, currently holding the position of county coordinator (promoting EYP events in the area and building delegations that will represent my county), have been a chairperson at sessions and also an ambassador for my delegation back when I first joined. </p>

<p>-I volunteer with a nonprofit organization called the Volunteer Brigade that helps organize huge music festivals (Sonisphere, B'estfest etc) around the country (backstage work, ticketing, stands, you know) </p>

<p>-since 8th grade I have been volunteering at a local child day care, teaching kids English and art
-I have been a singer in a bar for 2 years, every Saturday night from 10pm to 2-3 am (sadly I am unemployed now because of the recession, the bar having shut down)
-have been an editor for a sports website for a year (had to quit because I wouldn't get paid what was negotiated nor on time)
-I was lucky enough to get to go to the seaside for about a month last year with an LGBT organization in my country. We handed out pamphlets and condoms to raise awareness of HIV
-I play bass guitar in a rockband and also for the school band</p>

<p>-academically wise, I have participated in the National English Olympiad every year, managing to be in the top 20 all 3 years
-i have had art displays in the school and at the arts center in my town, and I have won a couple of awards for my pieces
-I've managed to start an English club in my school, and we're thinking about doing a newspaper too
-I'm class president and treasurer and I rank 1st in a class of 350+</p>

<p>My family's earnings are somewhere around $15000 a year, but my dad's shop brings a lot of debt and we struggle a lot. Also, when the house prices went down, dad decided it would be a GREAT idea to invest in houses, so now we have 4 houses (bought for roughly $30000 all together) that we're stuck with and that also add more taxes to be paid.
I've specified this because I'm also unsure of how colleges view that in assessing financial need. </p>

<p>I am going to apply to all the schools that are generous in aid towards internationals (...top 20...), and offer full rides. I used to think I'd be a strong candidate, but with my SAT score, I just don't know anymore. I'm taking US History and Biology E subject tests in October. I don't think I can retake the Reasoning test, as it would be a financial burden, so I'm hoping to use the $75 it would cost to retake to send my 1840 to colleges.</p>

<p>I'm really really sorry for the enormous post, but I wanted you guys to have all the possible details I could think of for a better chance at, well, chancing me.
If you have any questions I'll be glad to answer. And if you're still reading this, thanks a lot!</p>

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<p>Here is a Tip:</p>

<p>Explain to the colleges that due to financial burden you are unable to give SAT and this would also explain why you could not perform at your fullest potential (not proper access to study guide)</p>

<p>And there is another choice …study hard and give the SAT a second time …Harvard and Yale love underdogs like you and might take you in but not universities are well endowed with funds as them and they would be looking at your SAT scores ( try scoring 2100 with 1500+ in CR+M and you would be done!)</p>

<p>Try showing your leadership qualities and passion through your resume and with luck you can pull off!</p>

<p>Your academics and ECs are awesome and you are a very good candidate :)</p>

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<p>Hey, thanks for the tip!
I was thinking of making an essay topic out of financial difficulties, but then again, I thought that colleges would see it in the wrong way, that I’d be whining about it, not trying to explain how they made me what I am today. </p>

<p>My mom said to take the SAT again, but she doesn’t know that I have to pay to send my scores :\ I didn’t tell them, I was hoping to still have my job so I could pay for some of the reports myself. Bleah, this is frustrating, why did they only make waivers for US citizens…</p>

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<p>yeah alisyn I can totally understand your pain</p>

<p>In Common App you can always attach extra stuff -you can use that if you want to
I feel that you can make a story out of your journey and how you wish to continue your journey in spite of all your shortcomings </p>

<p>And I can tell you something …register double for SAT I and II
Like if you want to give SAT II in Oct and SAT I again Nov pre-register around August …the you can use the SAT fee waiver to maximum of 8 colleges and can save a lot</p>

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<p>I don’t know, isn’t it the same thing in the end? Cause I’d have to send SATII’s anyway, even to the schools that don’t require them, and they cost the same amount…</p>

<p>damn collegeboard >:(</p>

<p>And yeah, I probably will attach everything that I can think of that would actually be of use to colleges… And I might even write an essay about finances, to a college I’m sure I won’t get in to, like Harvard lol</p>

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<p>No it wouldnt
you pre register for both SAT I and II and for Oct and Nov respectively and give SAT II first
When your SAT II score comes out you have got 4 free waivers and select 4 colleges to select both your Oct SAT II and Nov SAT I
Then after getting your Nov SAT I result select 4 more colleges to send your SAT II and SAT I scores
If you preregister such an option should be in your collegeboard account</p>

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<p>Oh…oooooh! Crafty! Is this cheating the collegeboard? Cause I hope it is mwahahahaha</p>

<p>Thanks a lot!!! I will definitely do that! Yey savings!</p>

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<p>Any other opinions? :)</p>

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<p>Umm one question
What’s your intended major?</p>

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<p>No idea, but probably premed or something related in case i can so
ehow manage to finance med school or dental</p>

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<p>You are a very good candidate for Humanities and Social Sciences and that’s why I asked
Its ok dont wrry
Good luck! :)</p>

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<p>^yes, with your life experience and (I think) maturity, social sciences and humanities will be a very good fit for you, unless you hate those subjects of course.</p>

<p>I do sincerely hope life turns out the better for you.</p>

<p>I don’t know if your situation is unusual enough for the top schools to accept your lower score, but I also strongly recommend you to find whatever way to retake your SAT 1 for both cost saving and second chance reasons.</p>

<p>You should also read some of the SAT guides in the forum if you have not already and also take a look at some free online SAT resources from Spark notes. College board gives you one free online SAT test, which is probably the easiest way to get a real practice SAT without buying the blue book.</p>

<p>Spark notes also has practice tests for some of the SAT subject tests.</p>

<p>I understand what it feels like to do way worse than expected in your SAT’s. I got my may results and also got a really bad writing mark of 590 with 8 essay. Since I already done my SAT once before and got a better mark last time, it is not as bad for me though.</p>

<p>Anyway like DarthSpaenus said, Good Luck and never give up!</p>

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<p>Thank you! I don’t know how that major is in the usa but here it’s incredibly low paid, one of the lowest. And i actually studied real hard for the sat and always managed over 2000 in practice test, which is why i’m so bummed…</p>

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<p>It really depends on which industry you decide to get into and also what social science you decide to major in. If you decide to take psychology, you could possible enter the medical industry as a psychiatrist etc. If you are strong in maths you can do economics and then finance in grad school to potentially make huge amounts of money in wall street if you are lucky(unless there is another financial crisis in your future graduation date. In that case finding a job as an inexperienced graduate might be difficult).</p>

<p>I am not sure about financial aid for the best schools in these majors though.</p>

<p>I am not a counselor, just a high school student so of course I am not 100% sure of the exact details of my post. In contrary, everything I wrote above is speculation based on my experiences. The point is though, that the social sciences in the US is not a low paying job at all. If you have the drive and determination to be the best you can be, you should not end up cleaning hotels with a advanced degree in robotics.</p>

<p>Of course a master degree in a medical field (undergrads can only take pre-med) can also lead to a very good career as a doctor. I suggest you don’t decide on a career just on money, but also take into account your personal strengths and passions.</p>

<p>I also got bummed cause I did 5 practice tests and got 200 points lower than my last score. I think its not so much how much time you study but also importantly ow you use the time to improve your score, like blunt practicing might not be enought.</p>

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<p>Well, i will look into that area! But for example, if i put that on the common app, can i change my mind when i actually start college? Or am i forced to take classes in that field?</p>

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<p>You can always change don’t worry!
75% of Stanford freshmen change their major while in MIT you can declare your major after freshman year
As long as you aren’t applying for super competitive majors like Wharton in Penn and Biomed Eng in Hopkins you are good to go</p>

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<p>Oh, great! Now all that’s left is find a great essay topic and write it like a pro, maybe some college out of those 20 will overlook my SAT score</p>

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<p>I suppose that English is not your native tongue. Have you considered the TOEFL? Honestly, I don’t know too much about it, but maybe it would be worth finding out or maybe others here can be helpful.</p>

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<p>Take the TOEFL and try to get around 100 or even higher.
Each section is 30 points, perfect score is 120: 4 sections.</p>

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<p>I have a 120 score on the toefl, but from what I know, colleges don’t really value it for anything</p>