Low SAT- Please chance me for highly selective schools!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi!

My dream school is Notre Dame, and was wondering if someone could chance me!

SAT: 1450 (720 reading, 730 math)
GPA: 4.0 UW, 4.454 W (APs weighted, honors not weighted)
Rank: 3/880 (I have taken most difficult course load possible- school is super competitive)

Extracurriculars:

  • Science research at local university
  • work at local veterinary clinic for 3 years (worked with another clinic for one year as well)
  • volunteer with local equine therapy group for people with disabilities
  • volunteer at local zoo for 3 years
  • volunteer with local animal rescue group
  • Founder and president of veterinary club
  • Founder and president of doctors without borders chapter
  • President of spanish club
  • co founder and exec board member for cultural diversity club
  • exec board for NHS
  • exec board “fight against cancer club”
  • Science academic Super Bowl (state champs one year)
  • key club member
  • member of club that helps kids with special needs
  • went to veterinary camp (accepted from over 300 applicants for around 30 spots)
  • varsity swim team member (also swim year round)

Let me know if you need any other information!

2

I’d say that you have an average chance of being admitted. And when I say average, I mean that you are right at where most students are. Your SAT is competitive, but on the low side for the school while your GPA is higher than what they are looking for. I say if you write a great essay and present your extracurriculars well you have about a 40% chance of being admitted which is higher than their normal admit rate of 19%

3

I’d say you have a reasonable chance…maybe better if you have a hook or are from a state where they don’t get many applicants. Any chance you can retake SAT? My D studied all summer prior to senior year and took in August…score came up 100 plus points. She just used Khan Academy and a book from library and just spent around 20 minutes per day. If you took Algebra 1, 2 and Geometry early a refresher might be in order as was the case with mine and it paid off big time.

4

if you get published that would be really cool. In terms of schools other than Notre Dame (since indubitably already rated you for that),

top 10 schools; high reach
top 20-30 schools; reach/low reach
selectiveish state schools; match (Berkeley, UT austin, notre dame)
anything else you should get in

5

I did tutoring and am going to continue that. My score is from the June SAT, which I guess produces lower than normal scores (i.e. I only missed 3 math questions total, but received a 730 and on a “normal” test would have gotten a 760). I am planning on retaking in August.

6

I actually live in the area about 20 min outside of ND and that is where I do my research. Many people from area high schools apply unfortunately.

7

Don’t worry SO much about your SAT score. If you have a passion make sure to show it

8

Does my involvement in so many extracurriculars and holding leadership positions raise a red flag to selective schools such as Notre Dame? (If there is a previous thread on this feel free to link it!)

9

First of all, a 1450 is an excellent score so don’t sweat it! You should be (assuming ECs, essays, LORs, etc. are all strong) quite competitive for many highly selective schools. S had similar stats and was admitted to several very selective schools (rejected from several too - it’s just very competitive). Very important to not be sooo emotionally committed to any particular school and to apply to several peers of your top few choices. You’ll get in to some and be very happy with your choices.

Good luck.

10

I think you look competitive too. Play up your volunteerism. ND likes to see community involvement and giving back.

11

You should receive serious consideration based on your class rank, strength of course schedule/courses taken & ECs.

Does Notre Dame offer any preference for locals similar to UPenn & applicants from Philly schools ?

12

I don’t believe they do, but I know many kids ranked in the top 20 typically get in. My SAT is definitely my primary concern.

13

You’re definitely a comp applicant, but like they say the ivies are a reach for anyone, many students out there like you. Work on that SAT score and you should have a shot.

14

That’s not a low SAT score.

15

It is below the 50th percentile at Notre Dame

16

If you’ve only taken it once, and it was this past exam, I would definitely take the SAT again. I think a bump in your score will help a lot.

Have you taken AP exams? If yes, what were your scores?

17

Yes it was the June SAT… I will be retaking in August. As far as AP scores I have passed (w/ 3s and 4s) on all my exams (AP Euro, env science, human geo, US history, lang, psych) except physics where I got a 1. The teacher is notorious for not preparing students.

18

Are you in a less competitive school? The type of school plays a role in the college admission too. Your ranking of 3/880 and GPA are excellent but it seems your AP and SAT scores don’t quite match the ranking and GPA.

19

I am planning on not reporting my AP scores. I actually live right by Notre Dame, and I am in a highly competitive, large, public high school, and they should be fairly aware of this. By “competitive” I mean that the top 20% are all very competitive with one another, but being so large there are of course those who simply don’t care.

20

The recruiting base for Notre Dame is still Catholic High schools to a large degree. From the past IIRC they do get quite a few from Penn nearby and from places like Homestead in Fort Wayne.