Low SAT score, high class rank!

Test Preparation
1

<p>I'm a senior this year in high school. I've taken the SAT a total of THREE times already and I haven't really done much better on my scores.</p>

<p>The first time I took the SAT, I got a 1460
The second time I took the SAT, I got a 1520
The third time I took the SAT, I got a 1480</p>

<p>This is on the 2400 scale.</p>

<p>I'm ranked in the top 3% of my graduating class of about 700 students. What should I do? Many of the schools I'm applying to have no minimum SAT score for the top 10% of their graduating class, but I have had people look at me with disgust when I tell them my class rank and then my SAT scores. And plus, I checked and I don't qualify for any merit aid with my SAT scores. I feel like I'm just destined to be mediocre, no matter how hard I study. How is it that I can be 20th in my class and have such bad SAT scores? It doesn't make any sense!</p>

2

<p>@CoachMadhouse‌ - Have you tried the ACT yet? How have you studied for the SAT? </p>

3

<p>Try the ACT or Look at score optional schools. <a href=“ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest”>http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Did you even study for the SAT? How did you score so low if you think you are so brilliant?</p>

5

<p>Either your HS sucks or you didn’t prepare properly for the SAT or Both.<br>
I suspect both.
Did you take all Honors courses? Difficult courses? Are you a grade grubber?
What are your other classmates that are in top 10% getting on the SAT. </p>

6

<p>Check if your school has Naviance data.</p>

7

<p>@observeraffect‌ I haven’t tried the ACT. I have studied for the SAT by taking their practice test online and thought the questions were very straightforward. I made note of the type of math questions and such and found similar problems in my precalculus book. I worked several problems and felt I was doing alright. By that, I mean I got at least an 1800 on the practice test online.</p>

<p>@TomsRiverParent‌ I don’t know if my high school sucks. All my top 10% friends are getting 2100+, and they mainly just studied for the test the same way I did. Many did no preparation and told me after the test that it was all just “common sense”.</p>

<p>I’ve taken all dual credit and AP classes. I wouldn’t call myself a grade grubber, but I do ask my teachers for help a lot to make sure my assignments are just right to their liking before I submit it.</p>

8

<p>One practice test isn’t nearly enough to reach your max potential score. Why do you keep testing without addressing the problem, which is that you need to study? You need to put in the work.</p>

9

<p>mathyone… Nail… Head… you hit it!!!

  1. Don’t believe everything your friends say on how they prepared.
  2. Obvious, you didn’t prepare for it. Didn’t even buy the blue book or any other prep workbooks.
  3. You are a product of grade inflation and grade grubbing.</p>
10

<p>It means you’re a professional information regurgitation without any critical thinking skills, and the SAT is meant to weed out your type. If you’re naturally smart, you should at least be getting an 1800 without studying. </p>