Need help...don't know what to do anymore

Applying to College
1

<p>this isn't a chance thread, so I won't post up all my info, but I will tell the ones that are needed to help me</p>

<p>SAT: single seating, 2100 (CR620, M780, W700)
GPA: U/W:3.67/4.00 (weak...) W:not here yet.
Ranking: most likely RIGHT on 10% </p>

<p>now the problem comes here. I've taken all honor classes and college level classes, but only 1 AP class junior year (AP US) and I got a 2...
But my senior schedule contains 4 AP's and a double science (Ap bio and honors physics)</p>

<p>Furthermore, I did horrible on my SAT2's
Bio: 660
Chem: 720
Math2: 700</p>

<p>My essay and extracurriculars are really great though. I'm a music oriented person with many awards and such. All state band, drumline, percussion leader, etc. </p>

<p>What's bugging me is I really wanted to apply ED to Cornell, Johns hopkins, Tufts or Boston College.
But I can't do that becuase i have to raise my SAT2 grades and take an SAT1 a second time.
I was planning to take SAT1 in october and SAt2 in nov, but ED is Nov and my SAT2 grades wont be sent. (I'm sure i can get 800 in math and chem and a 2200 on SAT b/c i've been studying and consistently getting these scores)</p>

<p>So I was wondering...would a higher SAT1 score make up to apply ED even slightly better than better SAT2 scores and a 2100?
and how is my AP score going to affect my admission ANYWHERE...? I was really devastated because I expected a 4...</p>

<p>and while we're on topic, can anyone tell me a good list of science colleges (premed) that can be considered as a match/safety/reach for me ?
It won't be ED, but just regular decision, so my scores will be better.
ASSUMING LOWEST POSSIBLE: SAT1:2150 min. SAT2: bio660, chem750, math800 </p>

<p>thank you so much...</p>

2

<p>I would retake the SAT I and apply ED. Although your SAT II scores are not the strongest, they are not as weak as you think they are. Also, colleges put much more emphasis on SAT I. For the AP US situation, you could choose not to send the score; it may look a little weird that you took the class and didn’t send the score, but it might be worth it in your case. For safety schools, you could try BU or University of Pittsburgh, which both have decent pre-med programs. If you can bring you SATs up significantly, you can also try WashU, but that’s probably a reach. As for ED, I would apply to Tufts or John Hopkins b/c Cornell puts a lot of emphasis on school grades (which may not be your strongest area) and I think can get in BC without ED. Good Luck!</p>

3

<p>If you are concerned about your SAT I, you might want to take the ACT, which is given in September. Also, AP US History is notoriously difficult. My daughter had a college interview today in which she was asked her AP scores; when she told the interviewer about her 4s and 5s, and then her 2 in AP US, he said, “That’s a tough exam,” very sympathetically.</p>

<p>Maybe the fact that you might retake some exams is truly in your best interest, though. It is mid-July and you are thinking of four different colleges for ED–could it be that the case is you are more interested in the concept of applying ED than actually in love with one of these four colleges? You might also want to discuss with your parents whether you are truly a full-pay student, as applying ED removes your chance of comparing aid packages from various schools.</p>

4

<p>Is a specific reason you really want to apply ED? I wouldn’t unless I had sights set on one college. An increase in scores would also increase your chances to other colleges.</p>

<p>I’m gearing towards pre-med as well, and I’ve heard Wash U has a fantastic program. Duke, and Johns Hopkins (like you mentioned) are also good. I’d use University of Michigan as a fallback, but I think having a college that’s fit for you is more important than anything else. You may find that “name-brand” colleges don’t suit you that well.
Good luck!</p>

5

<p>It’s fine to apply to a few super-reach schools, but you need to prepare yourself that you won’t get accepted to an elite school and have several back up schools in mind.</p>

<p>Also, since you’re considering applying ED, do you know if your parents will pay for the school if you’re accepted? Do you know how much your parents will pay each year for your schooling?</p>

<p>If money is an issue, you need to make sure that you apply to some financial safety schools that you’ll like and that will be affordable and/or you will get big merit scholarships for your stats.</p>

6

<p>i am in the exact same predicament as you, I want to raise my math scores on both the SAT I and the SAT II, my plan is to take the SAT I in oct. then the SAT II in nov. and rush the scores to UPenn(ED). Most colleges list the last SAT Date for ED as Nov. You just have to rush your scores.</p>

7

<p>Really, I believe that your SAT IIs are fine. It’s pretty impressive that you scored a 720 on chem - a notoriously difficult SAT II- with only haven taken (I’m assuming) an honors chemistry class and not the AP. Also, the 2 on your APUSH exam will not have a big impact on your application, so I wouldn’t worry about it. Raising your SAT 100 points will undoubtedly help, especially if you could get that little bit extra and go 2250+. Generally, I think that, if you had to decide between the two, raising your SAT I will have a larger impact.</p>

8

<p>You could take a shot at ED with what you have. You can also choose one of those schools for ED and still submit Nov SAT II scores since they take November scores for ED (just make sure you name the college as one of those to automatically receive the scores in your application for the test).</p>