Wait for people to calm down. Talk about something unrelated. When the acceptances come in, you should be fine.
You took the SAT last September (11th grade?) and then took the ACT in February. Lets try to see your mothers point of view for a second. Your parents have saved all their life so that they could provide you with the best education possible but they want to see that you are equally if not more committed to getting into the school of your choice Early Decision. Could it be she feels that in one year you might do better on the SAT? In her mind she would have liked to see you actually studying and giving all your effort to performing your best on the test one last time. She wants to make sure you have put in your best effort into submitting the strongest application possible. I know you have done well in the past but she wants to see how well you can perform when you actually challenge yourself more.
You say you didn’t order the SAT book and this summer you didn’t really put effort into studying. You didn’t follow through on what she expected of you. She could be worried about your study habits. You may have been able to do very well in high school without much effort but in college you won’t be able to get away with that. If you end up going to a very competitive school you will be with a bunch of very smart students and she maybe worrying that if you don’t have the study habits you will perform poorly in a competitive environment. In her mind she wanted you to take the test in August and be done with testing before school starts.
The college application cycle in senior year is a very stressful and anxious time for both the student and parents. There are just so many things to coordinate and so many deadlines. You have to submit applications and continue to do well in school.
For parents they are going through so many emotions. They are worried about the cost of education, you being out on your own for the first time, and mostly about will you be able to perform in a competitive environment. The sticker price of a good private school is alarming and only increases each year. That total amount is a very big sum of money that they could be putting towards their retirement or to make their life more comfortable as they get older. They are putting their faith in you that you will do your best if they are investing that much into your education. Also if there are other siblings they will have to pay for their education too.
Maybe your mother is questioning if attending an elite school is really worth all the effort and cost. Maybe there is a way for her child to get a great education that is more affordable with merit money.
That money that your parents saved for your education is their money. How they wish to spend it is up to them. They have to be comfortable paying the bills. Come up with a college list that has safeties that you would be happy to attend, matches, and reaches.
Arguing with your mom is not going to solve anything. Give her time to calm down and when ready sit down and have a talk about expectations and what they are comfortable paying for college. Find out if they want you to apply to schools where you would qualify for merit. Don’t be so hard on your parents. If you have expectations from them remember they also have expectations from you in regards to being mature and responsible for yourself. Lots of bright students attend instate schools because of costs associated with getting a college education.
You’ll probably get a full ride to UNM, so you’re in good shape even if she decides not to pay.
Other than Penn, what schools interest you (not your Mom)?
- Your life is not ruined at all, and you should just tune out your mom’s exaggerated reactions.
- Even if you had perfect everything – perfect standardized test scores, perfect GPA, perfect extracurriculars, etc. – it would not guarantee you a place in an Ivy. The Ivies and other top colleges turn away thousands of such “perfect” applicants every year.
- Just go to your state school or wherever your parents will pay. My father gave me one choice for my university, and I took it. If it’s their money, they can decide how to spend it. You can be successful in life even if you do not attend UPenn or some other reach university.
My friend has 2 very bright kids who got degrees from state Us in NM. They both are happy and have jobs. Work with your folks on this–a 34 ACT is a nice score (I believe S had the same score). It may qualify you for some nice merit awards. If you want to improve your SAT, studying before re-taking does make sense.
Sorry, your mom sounds unhinged. Hopefully it’s temporary. Maybe your dad will talk her down. If not, do you have another relative who can talk to her?
For those who said OP should look at the situation from her parent’s perspective - her parent has told her she won’t pay for college if her daughter gets into top tier schools with her existing test scores. This is not normal “wanting the best for your child” sentiment. If a top tier school accepts her with a 34 ACT, then telling her she can’t go to that school because she didn’t improve upon her SAT score is just bizarre.
A normal, supportive parent does not lose faith in a kid or pull the rug out from under the kid’s future over SAT prep when an SAT re-take wasn’t even necessary in the first place.
My guess? I think your mother is thinking that she cares more than you do. You haven’t been studying for the SAT, although you seem to have agreed with her that it would be a good idea to retake it. She’s investing a lot of money into your future, and you don’t seem to respect that enough in order to follow through on your mom’s one request. Your mom feels a bit used, which I understand. I think right now, you should try to avoid her a bit. She’s upset, she’s not happy with the way you are going about applying, and ultimately, anything you say now will make things worse.
Stay in the library or in your room. I recommend that you start taking practice tests every day. I know they are long, and I know that it’s gonna suck. But all your mother asked is that you take the SAT one more time and study for it. She’s not “unhinged” she’s just visibly stressed from this whole experience.
I took at least 15 practice test before I took the ACT, scoring a 36. It can be done. Just push for two weeks. It will help the situation with your mom.
I don’t agree with your mom’s stance at all, but perhaps you need to take a bit of responsibility in this situation. It sounds like you did not follow through on something you agreed to do (ex. ordering the review books and studying for the SAT). Does your mom not want to pay because she doesn’t feel you are putting forth your best effort in the college admission process? Perhaps she feels you won’t put forth your best effort in college without being nagged? Like it or not I think you need to show your mom that you are responsible and hard working and that you will take advantage of your opportunities.
I would apologize to your mom for not following through, go to a bookstore and get the review books tomorrow and study hard over the next two weeks. Show that you care about the process. After than perhaps you can have a more even keeled conversation about what schools she will pay for.
FWIW you have not answered other questions posed such as do you have the SAT II scores (these tests are recommended and with your GPA below average for Penn I’d think they might be important to your application), ECs, essays, LORs etc. to make you a competitive candidate for top level colleges.
Congrats for your effort. My son have score less better than you and I’m filling very happy and so proud of him.
And just a little remember to you, its your life not your moms life, don’t worry, make dessitions for your happiness, I suggest you take the SAT, nothing to lose.
And feel proud of what you have achieved, you are in the 5% of the better students in this country, I don’t think that is a problem in your mom’s life.
@happy1 I have taken two subject tests Mat II 730 and Bio 730 (both below average),
I have a ton of ECs: lots of volunteering with pancreatic cancer action network and meeting with state senators and reps in NM as well as in DC, I interned for the CEO of a non profit geared towards ending homelessness, I am also an award winning attorney on a mock trial team that has placed 4th at nationals and won nationals twice in the past 5 years, I play varsity soccer and am the captain of my schools chess team, I have sung in the Santa Fe Opera and in multiple auditioned groups at my school, I am on the school newspaper and part of student government
I have a great rec from my bio teacher and still have to get two more recs; I am working on finalizing an essay about my uncle who died from pancreatic cancer
@ConcernedRabbit @eh1234 @HImom @mommyrocks @nw2this @raclut @Mimi2018 Thank you all so much for your feedback. I am going to take a practice test a day until the SAT and try and wait until my mom calms down to engage in a meaningful conversation with here.
What field do you want to go into? The 730 for Math II and Bio are solid, very respectable scores. Work with your counselor and do some homework about what schools give significant merit to students with your types of scores.
You have 2 more weeks to prep. If you know what subjects you want to improve on, you can work on them and if timing is a problem, practice that with timed actual old SAT exams.
It may be more worth your time to try to improve your ACT score versus your SAT score. As noted above (#17), your 34 ACT is equivalent to a 1540 SAT score, so improving your 1470 SAT score by 70 points or fewer gets you no gain over your existing ACT score.
Yes, please ignore the percentiles on the subject test scores. 730 is solid for bio-M and fabulous for bio-E. 730 is solid for Math 2.
The percentiles on the subject tests are not the same as the percentiles on the regular SAT. The regular SAT percentiles are of the general college applicant pool. The pool of kids taking the subject tests is really just the better scorers on the regular SAT.
I agree with the above posts about working on your ACT since it’s already very solid. Also to reiterate you can have a perfect GPA and ACT/SAT and still not get into an Ivy. I’m not saying that they don’t matter but what I am saying is that Ivies have a much more holistic view. Your essays with be very important and so will the interview you have with an alumni. I think you just need to take a deep breath and not put so much pressure on yourself. Your scores are good and you have to ability to improve on them and you will improve them. Also there are many online resources you’ve can use and some libraries often have test books. Your haven’t messed up anything, hell you haven’t even started senior year just relax and know that you can do it, and you will do it because you’re dedicated
@mocktrialer5 I mean yur EC’s seem pretty good. I skimmed through them and they looked pretty good. Just like stack up on Community Service, You mentioned you played a sport so that’s good as well. Only thing that offsets me is that 730 on Math 2. Not saying its a bad score but in my opinion,I don’t think its competive enough for Ivy’s. Then again its just my opinion.
@mocktrialer5 Your sat score is not bad compared to the average scores of UPenn Students(1380) for 2016. Infact the average act score there was a 32. Both of your scores beat these. If I were you , I would apply with the ACT though.
Wow. I think your scores are amazing. I agree…send in the 34 ACT I’m sure that score along with the rest of your application will get you some wonderful admissions. I hope that you get into the schools (with merit) that are the perfect fit for YOU. You know everything your mom is saying is ridiculous right? You are a whole person who happens to have great scores but even so, you are much more than a score. Just remember not to do this to your kids one day.
@mocktrialer5 Are you in contention for National Merit? Is your mom worried about a confirming score on the SAT? I would think the 1470 would be sufficient.
How well regarded is your high school? That 92/3.8 GPA will be interpreted in the context of the rigor of your school. Does your school rank and/or do you know where you stand comparatively?
Your overall profile looks very competitive and the 34 ACT is more than good enough for your applications. However, if your parents insist and it will make them happy, why not make a good faith effort and cram for the SAT for the next couple of weeks?
I have seen many examples on CC of parents who say that will only pay for top 20 schools or the public state option, not perceiving value added in lesser tier schools that cost nearly as much. Maybe a guidance counselor at your school could provide some perspective for your folks?
A final piece of advice - make sure that you have some matches and safeties that you love, in case the super competitive schools don’t work out. Places like Penn are reaches for everybody.
Good luck!
If your mom want you to get more merit aid, I do understand why she wants you to get a further higher score. For admission, your ACT score would not be a reason for rejection by any school. Nevertheless, it seems ACT may be a better choice for you. Anyway, you have registered for the SAT already, just do your best. You only need a couple weeks to go through the prep book and Amazon ships within 2 days.