So, I have an SAT of 1910 (CR: 620, MATH:630, WRITING:660).
I have a pretty high weighted gpa (4.23) (uw 3.8), have taken honors classes at my school in every subject but science, and by the time i graduate will have taken 6 AP classes. My school doesn’t let us take more than 3 in a year and only lets us start taking APs sophomore year (annoying, i know). I also have great ECs, I am Editor in chief of newspaper, president of debate, have played piano for some 10 years now, am on varsity sports team for 3 years. My rank is 18/503.
So clearly I am not dumb, (haha) but my SAT score makes me feel like I am. I prepped so much and in the practice tests was constantly scoring around 2050 but when I took it… just …
It is too late for me to do anything now, as I am a senior, but I am just wondering, will I get rejected from schools I want to go to if my SATs are on their lower end? Of course no one knows for sure but I want to know if my SAT score will just disqualify me instantly. I’m very stressed out about it!!! And yes, I know there are test optional schools but I don’t really want to go to any of them.
Those scores are perfectly respectable. They aren’t Ivy League, but then again a 2400 on the SAT does not guarantee admission to the Ivy League.
Do you have time to take the ACT? Have you tried it? Maybe you might do better with it.
If you haven’t looked already, try test optional schools: fairtest.org
You are ranked in the top 5% of your school and have strong ECs so that’s all good.
Where are you/did you apply? Perhaps the CC community can evaluate your choices, determine if they are realistic, and suggest some matches/safeties that jibe with your overall record.
@mamaedefamilia yes I tried the ACT and didn’t do well. The sections are so long I get tired, haha. These are the schools I want to apply to (suggestions would be amazing!):
All UCs (besides riverside, merced, santa cruz & berkeley) - Cali resident
NYU
Davidson
Bucknell
Syracuse
The George Washington University
Wake Forest University
Colgate university
US
U Mich
Boston university
Boston college
Tulane
You should check the common data sets for those schools. If you fall closer to the high end of the mid 50 for SAT, you will have as good of a chance as anyone else. But you will likely be a reach at Davidson, Colgate, Mich and BC
@wisteria100 I am toward the 25th percentile for most schools I want to go to. Will my gpa/rank affect anything? Only 60 percent or so of Davidson students ranked in the top then percent of their class so I was thinking my gpa may help me
@collegebound200 Your gpa and rank will be assets. You may want to ask your counselor to take a look at previous students with stats similar to yours to see how they fared and to check to check specific data for Davidson for kids from your school who applied. If your high school is highly regarded, that can also give you a boost
You should not count on schools where you are in the 25th percentile unless you have a good “hook”. I think you have lots of reaches… but don’t get down on yourself. They are reaches for A LOT of students. You have done well and have a 1250 SAT (CR+M). That’s a terrific score.
I just think you need to refocus on a list of schools where you will be more successful with admissions.
Wake Forest is test optional. It is, however, not need blind.
Can you pay for all of these schools on the list? Outside of the UC schools, you have some pricey schools on your list.
Also my major is history and I got a 5 on the APUSH exam. Could that help?
@phoenixmomof2 what do you mean by good hook? Could you give me some suggestions of schools where I’d be successful with admissions but that are similar to schools on this list? Thanks!
@collegebound200, I see from another thread that your parents are separated or divorced and your mom is low income. You likely can’t afford OOS schools. I agree with the poster on one of the other threads you posted about this topic: if you can’t pay for the colleges you apply to, it doesn’t do you much good to get accepted.
Do you have any safety schools on your list? You need schools where your stats are in the upper end of their mid-50% range that you can afford and would be happy to attend. How much can your parents afford to pay for school?
Hooks - Play the one instrument that the marching band needs this year, from a part of the country under- or unrepresented at the university, kicker for the football team, from an area that doesn’t usually send students to that level of school, etc, etc. There are lots of “hooks” and it depends on what the school is looking for in any given year. Imagine they have a grid and each square represents a certain group of students… think of the square that doesn’t have too many students in it. That’s where 25% and below kids come from.
Loyola Marymount University
University of Portland
Rhodes College
There are hundreds!
Unfortunately, many students only hear of the more prestigious, tougher to get into schools.
Check out “Colleges that Change Lives”. There are some great ideas there.
Good luck! You’ve really done very, very well. I didn’t do that well on the SATs, though that was a long time ago.
The test score can be a negative for some of the colleges you list. With the superb academic record you can still apply but recognize that if your score is below the middle 50% SAT range, your test score could be one important factor that could result in rejection. As to your score range:
For Scranton and Syracuse you are fine, even in the upper middle 50% SAT range
For Bucknell, BU, Davidson, NYU and Tulane, you are right near and even a little above the 25% SAT range and thus still within range and the rest of your profile may win the day.
For BC, Colgate, and UMich, you are somewhat below the middle 50% range but obviously not so far out that you should forego applying.
Wake Forest and George Washington are test optional colleges so you do not have to submit any scores. In relation to those who do submit test scores, you are within the middle 50% range for Wake Forest and could send them, or not, your choice. With George Washington, you are also in the middle 50% range, although the lower part of that, and you must make a choice on the applicaiton itself to choose to apply with or without test scores. What GWU has said is that if you choose to apply without test scores, no assumption will be made that you scored badly and you will be evaluated based on your acedemic record and other information in the file and will not be at a disadvantage in relation to those who submit scores; however, if you choose to apply with test scores, the test scores will be considered, including against you if they are low scores. In other words, GWU is suggesting that if you have an outstanding acedemic record with solid EC’s, you may want ot go without test scores unless they are high.
You might be able to get into some of these schools if your major is “history”. Also, you can get financial aid if needed from some of the schools. My friend’s son got full financial aid for UNC, Chapel Hill as she couldn’t pay for his college.
@phoenixmomof2 I disagree. I believe @collegebound200 has a reasonable list. One statistic often doesn’t make or break a decision. Yes, the SAT score is low, but that doesn’t automatically make it a reach school, especially since @collegebound200 has a high weighted and unweighted GPA. I’m not saying you’ll get into all of those schools, but I do believe you have a fair chance. Remember, 25% of the people they accept are below that range, and you have the chance of being in that 25%, especially if your essays and rec letters are strong.
You have an amazing GPA and rank, so those will not hurt you. The admissions people are real humans, so I’m guessing they understand if you have low test scores because those tests are designed to trip students up and yeah they get that they are hard. However, if certain schools have a minimum SAT score, you might be at a disadvantage. Might. depends on how impressive they think your ECs, letters, etc. And no, a bad SAT score will not disqualify you immediately from being accepted. You are definitely a smart student and they can see that through your transcript. Good luck!
