<p>Hi guys, this is my first CC post. I am an international student from Dubai.
As the title says, I achieved a low SAT score.
Reading-500
Math-680
Writing-550 </p>
<p>Math IIC- 690
Physics- 630
I am repeating Math IIC and Physics SAT in January again. </p>
<p>Although, I have a low SAT score, I achieved an outstanding result in high school. I take the most difficult subjects in my school. I have the grades equivalent to a GPA 4.0 in the USA.
However, I am just not meant for the SAT. I don't like how it measures only your aptitude and not how you perform academically. I cannot work under a limited condition and I am used to doing everything till perfection except my SAT scores. <em>Sigh</em>
I also doubt the SAT machine readers. I love math and I have done every sort of higher math possible at my school including further mathematics, which is way more difficult than SAT Math IIC. As far as I remember, I left 6 questions and I was quite sure most of my answers were correct, so I assumed my score's going to be more than 780+
But I ended up getting a 690. It just does not make sense. I cannot get a raw score of 32. That's just insane!
I really doubt the whole aptitude testing system. </p>
<p>Anyway, I have a good profile of EC's including work experience such as recruited math tutor and several entrepreneurship opportunities in Dubai. I am a state champion athlete. I have a great story to write essays about and I have outstanding recommendation from my teachers and counselor.
I would like to join Cornell as it is my dream school. </p>
<p>Do I have any chances? Have you guys encountered anyone who got into an ivy with a 1730?
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys! </p>
<p>Are you applying this year? If so, don’t worry about your SATs. We have officially reached the point where you can’t do anything about it. And you’d apply whether we tell you that you have no chance, or that the adcoms will take your situation into consideration, or that you’re a shoo-in and you should pack your bags for Cornell. So don’t worry about it. Do the best you can on your essays, that’s the only thing left that you can still change. The rest of the dice have already been cast, and I’m guessing your mind is made up. </p>
<p>If you’re a junior (going to college next year):</p>
<p>Is the ACT offered in UAE? If so, give it a shot. I’m not sure if it will be better for you (it’s a bit faster paced than the SAT, but tests higher level math concepts and is often said to be more straight-forward), but it’s worth a try. I think the problem with your Math II was with leaving the problems blank. Just getting all the ones you answer correct is not enough - you have to answer all the questions and get them all correct. It kind of makes sense - someone who answered all the questions correctly should get more points than someone who only answers what they know/have time for, which may only end up being a few questions. There are strategies online (and on the SAT prep section of this website) that may help you out with raising your scores and making strategies. </p>
<p>Erm can’t you retake in January </p>
<p>Are you trying to justify your scores? Please do not do this in your application.</p>
<p>The CR score is pretty important. I don’t see anyone getting accepted with that subscore. The other ones aren’t as glaring as that one. Sometimes students do get accepted with lower scores and they are US recruited athletes or US underrepresented minority students. But still 500 is likely too low even for that. I doubt it happens with low scorer international students unless you have something very extraordinary as far as academically one of the best from your country, talent the best one for music or nobel prize winner, acclaimed author etc, or extraordinary hardship story, you achieved it despite genocide in your country or something. So apply if you like but have plans for other colleges too.</p>
<p>butterfreesnd- Yes, I have already applied to quite a few and I am trying my best to write some good essays for the ivies. I have taken the ACT too and although my math score is 35, but my reading and English score are really poor. I am not used to the aptitude test. I cannot work under timed condition. For example, ACT passages are really easy, I am sure whatever I answered, I got them right. But I could not finish four passages and that’s what dropped my score. My composite is only 25. I know it’s very disappointing.
I am still applying to ivies because I had an extraordinary hardship story I guess. I started speaking English in Grade 6. Thus, poor score in CR and writing I guess. Anyway, thanks a lot!
Slights32- I took it three times. I guess I am just a dumbass. I have achieved highest grade in IGCSE(British System) English but SAT CR is just different. It’s not a regular comprehension passage. It’s just different.
International95- Not really. I know I should not justify my scores in any college application. But Yale asks a question( Yale- I know I am very optimistic to even try for Yale) where it asks to mention something I wish I was good in. I am thinking if I should mention the aptitude test like SAT. Is it a good idea? Please advise.
Brownparent- I know and that’s what I am really worried about. But tbh the SAT scores are the only thing that I am lacking or else I have everything required to be a suitable applicant for an ivy. Although, idk if adcoms would think the same way. The thing is I have a good research project that I have in mind and I would mainly like to attend an ivy due to the great research opportunities. But I am just not limited to the ivies, I applied to Ohio state and penn state. I think I stand a good chance at Penn. What do you think?
Thank you guys so much! I wish I could get into any ivy. </p>
<p>@Nizamikn I’m actually working on my Yale app right now, and I know exactly the question you are referring to - “What do you wish you were better at being or doing?” I wouldn’t say taking the SAT. It might seem a bit short-sighted - you won’t ever take the SAT after college, so wishing that you could improve that one aspect is a little silly. I went for more of a personality thing (wishing I was more confident, grateful yadda yadda yadda). </p>
<p>Of course, I’m about as unqualified as you can get, so take my recommendation with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>@butterfreesnd Mhm yeah you make sense. I have a great answer to the second essay but I am currently stuck in those short answers. I would like to create a good image of myself. I was thinking about my speaking skill. I am not a confident public speaker. But wouldn’t that put a negative effect on adcom? Since Yale wants leaders and potential public speakers, they would not prefer someone who is not a fluent public speaker. What do you think? </p>
<p>@Nizamakin I’m not sure, but I feel like the question on some level is asking you to name a weakness you have. Public speaking is a rather common fear, and maybe you can kind of dress it up a little and say that you wish you could improve it so you could be a more effective leader. That allows you to keep the leadership angle while still answering the question. Just a thought. </p>
<p>@butterfreesnd I think I am gonna go with cooking. I love food and I wish I could cook better food for myself and my roommate.
What did you write for ‘think about a disappointment’? Everyone mentions solely about grades or an activity. Does my low score in SAT fulfil my answer? I could conclude it by saying SAT alone won’t determine my academic abilities or prevent me from future success. </p>
<p>Does your school use the American grading system?</p>
<p>@yikesyikesyikes No. I go to a British school. I actually attended two schools. One from grade 8-10, and a different school from grade 11-12. My first school converted my high school grades to an equivalent american grading system where I have a GPA of 4.0. But my current school doesn’t use the American grading system. </p>
<p>Ahh,… why are you set on going to an Ivy? After a cursory reading of your stats, you seem the STEM-type. Have you considered schools like MIT, CalTech, UC Berkeley (these about as selective as Ivies, actually sometimes more selective than some Ivies) or Georgia Tech, UIUC, UMich…</p>
<p>I’m not saying that you do not have a chance at Cornell (I could not even give you an accurate estimate since your system is different), but I was just curious since you limited your search to just the Ivy League, which is really a sports league.</p>
<p>Aren’t those more selective schools? I had caltech and MIT in my list but I removed it because I though I don’t stand a chance in those schools. My essays are very interesting though. Plus I have not mentioned any of my EC’s here, so you don’t really know much about my stats besides my SAT scores. I have excellent teachers recommendation and counselors recommendation. I am a regional top scorer in A-level examination and a recruited math tutor in Dubai.
I am applying to Georgia tech too and I am positive about attending Georgia tech( if I get accepted obviously~~~)<br>
I am also applying to UVirginia and UMichigan. Do I have a chance there? </p>
<p>I took the IGCSE English as a first language too, and found it very easy. The SAT is different, yes, and correlates with A Level English, not IGCSE, but that’s why you need to take a step back and look at it closely to understand how it works instead of arguing that you are not made for timed exams. Your ACT math score indicates that you are capable of doing timed exams, but English is tripping you up. It will take you practice and dedication to get better at this testing, as is the case for all kinds of testing. If you justify your SAT scores in your application, you will essentially nullify your chances. Maybe it’s time to realize your own weaknesses? It is impressive that you have come so far in terms of learning English late and stuff, but I know at least one person in my college who started learning it in the eighth grade and finished with a 730 in CR. That is not to demean you/your achievements but rather to help you understand the competition, as this bright young man was denied by many Ivy League schools. </p>
<p>It is also contradictory and sad for you to say that your test scores do not define you yet at the same time you want to write about how you wish you were better at it in your Yale application. Do not justify your scores in your applications; by drawing further attention to them, you lower your chances.</p>
<p>Since you probably don’t need any scholarship or financial aid to attend college as you are applying to Penn State (unless the UAE govt is paying for it), it will be harder to justify your scores because it is possible to surmise that you had all the resources in the world yet could not utilize them fully enough. Regardless, that you had the opportunity to go to an A Level school indicates that you were more fortunate than most people, and hardly constitutes ‘extraordinary hardship’. </p>
<p>Yeah, you are right. I think if I draw further attention to my SAT score, I’d probably lower my chances to attend any prestigious school. I actually need financial aid and that is why I am mainly attracted to the ivies. I don’t know if I stand a chance but I think it’s worth a try. Penn state is comparatively cheaper than the ivies, so I would like to attend Penn State in case I don’t get into any ivies or any other prestigious school in the USA.
I chose to write about cooking instead of mentioning my poor SAT score. </p>