I am a junior, and would like some advice on how to proceed with the rest of my high school career. I wasn’t sure where to post this, so am posting here. Feel free to move this to correct forum if needed, mods.
In sophomore year, I scored a 1330 on the PSAT with only 1 practice test taken the night before.
Unweighted GPA so far: 4.0
Weighted: 4.72
Rank: Not released by school yet, won’t be till October
I took 2 AP classes last year (Euro and Chem) and earned 5s on the test.
I got a 740 on the SAT Chem subject test.
I am taking 4 AP classes this year along with 1 honors class, and band.
I plan to take the SAT for the first time in spring of junior year. I plan to start preparing in the next week or so, after I settle down in school which just opened last week. I also plan to take the PSAT in October.
In school, I play badminton but am not on JV or Varsity yet (just joined the team last year). Also, like I mentioned, I am in band, this is my 2nd year in band. I play the clarinet (not well at all) and have joined percussion this year because I was trash at the clarinet.
I’m part of Amnesty International club and key club but not really involved in them.
Ethnicity: Asian Indian
Outside of school, I am currently working on a project with my local elementary school. It involves bringing VR learning to the school. Over the summer, I talked with the principal, got her approval, and started building a website. The website is almost done, and I have logged community service hours from building the website over the summer, about 23 hours so far. Once the website is set up, I will start asking for donations (I need about 11k) from parents through advertising in school, sending home flyers etc (principal will help).
So, as you can tell, this isn’t really a Chance Me thread yet, as I am only a junior and haven’t even taken the SAT yet. My questions are, is spring a good time to take the SAT for the 1st time? Should I take the ACT? What subject tests should I take? Is the project I’m working on good enough that I don’t have to work or do any extra community service? What can I do to beef up my application? Any feedback or tips would be great. Thanks!
I’m a senior in high school so not the most qualified, but I can tell you that taking your SATs/ACTs in the fall/winter of Junior year will save you a LOT of trouble. Junior year Spring is normal for SATs to be taken, so if you can get it done in 1 or 2 tries its fine, but I still recommend earlier the better. Spring is time for AP tests and lots of other people are also taking SATs then, so getting it over with earlier leaves time to take subject tests or retake anything. (plus you get to laugh at your friends who aren’t done) I got mine over with in November of my Junior year and am so glad i’m done with testing because my friends are all on their last couple chances and freaking out.
As for ACT vs SAT… well just take a bunch of practice tests and see which one you do better on or that you like more. SAT has 2 math sections, so if you like math maybe go for that one? But it depends on the person really. I got the exact same PSAT Score as you in 10th grade, got a 1460 in 11th grade, and got a 1540 on the SAT. I think you would do well on the SAT, but just take some practice tests to double check.
Your GPA and test scores make me want to cry they are so good, so good job. You’re on the super right track so I wouldn’t worry if I were you.
Your first step should be to sit down with your parents, and find out how they expect you to pay for your education. Do they have a top figure that they can contribute each year? Will they pay more for college X than for university Y? How do they feel about you holding paying jobs and taking out student loans? And, do they care what you major in? Will that affect how your education gets paid for?
Your grades and test scores are strong, so you should have good options as far as admissions goes. However, getting in won’t matter much at all if you can’t pay for it. Your parents may whine and fuss and say it is too soon to talk about money, but be strong. Help them run the Net Price Calculators at the websites of the places currently on your shortlist.
You don’t want to land in the Financial Aid Forum 18 months from now asking about how you can pay for college X or university Y.
@banana02 I would have taken the SAT in fall of this year, but I was not farsighted enough to study over the summer, and now I think it might be too late for me to take even the SAT in December. I fear I might not get to study enough. Do you think I should take the SAT in December, and depending on how I do, take it again in June after AP testing is over? Or take it in March and then again in August if needed? Again my only problem with taking it in December is lack of preparation. If I had Thanksgiving AND Christmas break to practice, I would feel much more prepared.
@happymomof1 I’ve talked briefly with my parents, and there should be no trouble financially with any college. We are upper-mid class. I’m not 100% sure for the really pricey private colleges, but I’m fairly confident we will not have much of a problem financially.
@MrPepe I studied only the 2 months prior for my November SAT, so it really doesn’t take too much practice to get a good score. If you really feel like you are unprepared then I would take it in January, but I honestly didn’t feel ready and did 50 points above my highest practice test score. I would give December a shot because it’s not too difficult to prep for the SAT. Just do a practice test once a week and you will be solid. Again, if you really don’t feel prepared, January is good, but try and be done the earlier the better. At least be done before summer. Summer is for college app essays.
