<p>Hi...I feel...horrible. Please don't judge me when you hear my story. I've always been very competitive and ambitious, and I've always believed that if you work hard, you can do anything. But my SAT results, twice over, have made my world come crashing down, my hopes and beliefs. I'll be honest~I'm not a strong person. I don't know how to deal with stress at all. I cry easily. But I know how to study hard with passion and diligence. I studied extensively over this past summer for the October 2012 SAT, and I got a 2320 with a 720 in Math, 800s in Writing and CR, and a 10 on the Essay. It was devastating to me...particularly because of the 720 in Math. Perhaps if I'd gotten a more evenly distributed score I wouldn't have felt so anguished then. Anyway, I resolved that I could do much better, and decided to re-take in January. I studied really hard, balancing my 5 AP courses in school, maintaining As, staying involved~I was so proud of myself. I took the Jan SAT. I got a 2300. Last night. I'm still recovering. I had to skip school because I have no energy, no life in me. I got a 730 in CR, 770 in Math, a 800 in Writing, and an 11 on the Essay. Isn't it funny? The category in which I had always done so well on...all the practice tests and exercises and even the first SAT~I'd always done near perfectly/perfectly in Critical Reading. And that category diminished the happiness I could have had from the increase in the math score from 720 to 770; the essay score from 10 to 11. My score, overall, decreased; my CR score, plummeted. I have no choice now; I have to re-take. Otherwise colleges will see my drop in CR as evidence that the first time I was lucky. Honestly, I have no idea...what happened. I'm so bewildered. I feel like I'm dreaming. I literally pinched myself when I saw my CR score.
And before you say that I'm hysterical, exaggerating, crazy...please, please try to understand me. I've worked and spent countless hours for the goal of a 2400, twice. I'm intending on applying to a few Ivy Leagues, namely Harvard and Yale. I don't know what to do. I mean, I know I NEED to re-take now...primarily because of the CR score...but...I feel that I've studied to the max. If you knew me...you'd know. I've definitely gone to the extreme when it comes to studying for the SAT.
This is my battle plan: Take the March SAT. Before then, flip through the CR sections of a prep book for an informal, relaxed review to build up my confidence. That's it. Oh, and I'll purchase a copy of my test from Collegeboard to see what I got wrong in CR and also Math and try to learn from my mistakes...that's it though.
I don't know what happened. Did I misbubble?? I remember that I was very nervous...but nervousness shouldn't...couldn't...affect my score...that much, could it? </p>
<p>Anyway. I just needed to vent. I feel...like...death. If I could get opinions, suggestions, reflections, or maybe just some kind, emotional support, I would be very grateful :)
Thanks.</p>
<p>2320 is an excellent score. I don’t even know why you are so concerned. Many people dream of being able to get that. Plus once you are in the 2200+ range scores become the least of the worries of college admissions offices–SAT isn’t a very significant component in considering a candidate.</p>
<p>Your first score itself is awesome. Your second score is also awesome. Your superscore 2370 is super-awesome. Don’t worry, kid. Now officially your SAT score is 2370 with 800 CR, 770 M and 800 W–that’s it. No college considers your CR drop–seriously. Please don’t retake SAT and again spend countless hours of your precious time towards SAT prep. Remember that there are many things much more important than a mere increase in the SAT score. Play a guitar, swim the waters or shoot a pistol–do anything you love and make life peaceful and meaningful.</p>
<p>I sincerely hope that you would come out of your pain and decide against retaking SAT.</p>
<p>EDIT: As far as your SAT scores are concerned, you are well in range (the top 1% of the student pool) for Harvard/Yale/MIT/P’ton/Stanford/any other elite schools.</p>
<p>I think you need to realize something: with the 2320 and 2300 you can easily superscore to a 2370 without causing any harm to your application. Whether you got a 2400 or 2370 superscore (or even 2320 not superscored), I can guarantee it would make no difference on where you end up at for school. As said, once you are in a certain range (which you are well in), it becomes more about extra circulars (assuming you have a high GPA). </p>
<p>I can confidently say having a 2400 would not increase your chances any better and a 2400 vs 2370 superscored would definitely NOT be the deciding factor on a rejection vs acceptance – your score is far competitive enough so it really comes down to what ECs and more make you stand out… THAT is what I would focus on; not gaining 30 pts you don’t need.</p>
<p>Go ahead take it again if you must, but what would you do if you got a 2290 next time? Or went back down to the 720 in math? 2320/2370 is absolutely NOTHING to be upset about. For your own sanity, I would be done and satisfied. </p>
<p>I suggest talking to your guidance counselor…</p>
<p>I saw this on the Harvard forum, checked your posts to see if you were a ■■■■■, and then saw you posted the same question in a bunch of different forums. Sadly, I can see that you’re serious. You need to CHILL.</p>
<p>First off, no, I mean NO, school is going to auto-reject you for a 2320/2370 superscore. NONE. The fact that you think retaking it will help your chances or that your scores will hurt you in any way in crazy and shows that you’re either a) overly paranoid or b) unaware of how college admissions works. </p>
<p>This may sound harsh, but you need to get a grip. The real world will eat you alive if you shut down over every little thing (especially if you couldn’t go to school after getting a 2300 on the SAT, which is amazing and not ever a bad thing.) I suggest talking to someone about the stress you’re feeling because it is not healthy at all.</p>
<p>(To put some perspective on this as me trying to help and not just being “rude”, I got into Harvard taking the SAT twice, getting a 2170 both times with a 2210 superscore. And the second time, my math score dropped from a 680 to a -gasp- 640. The SAT is not the end-all-be-all of admissions factors.)</p>
<p>Your SAT is fine and well within the top 25% of H&Y. The main problem is somewhere along the line that you have tied in your self worth to a 2400 SAT? I don’t know why but I do know you are worth so much more than a test. GL</p>
<p>Hi, thanks for responding I know that my stress isn’t good…I’m trying to work on it. Whoa, you got into Harvard! So cool…I guess part of the reason I’m stressing is that I’m not taking as many APs as some of my other friends[2 sophomore year, 5 junior year] whereas they took [3 soph year, 6 junior year], and since my GPA isn’t going to give me an advantage, I hoped that my SAT score would. @ iluvbooks94</p>
<p>It sounds like someone above has investigated if you are a ■■■■■, and apparently you are not. Wow. I second the poster above who says you need to talk with someone about all this, and pronto. Take the time and effort you would have spent on retaking the SAT (or surfing CC) and find a counselor to talk to about this obsessive thinking that is making you feel so terribly low. You should be dancing in the streets with these scores, not feeling “like death.” You’ve got so many challenges ahead of you in life. Getting a grip on these issues NOW is really important. I hope you do this. Start with your counselors at school for a referral, or your pediatrician. Please.</p>
<p>Dude, seriously? I was convinced that you weren’t a ■■■■■ until you asked what a ■■■■■ is. Either this multiple-thread posting on your part is some type of bizarre CC performance art, or you need to gently back away from the computer and get some fresh air (and a mental health evaluation). </p>
<p>If you don’t know what the term “■■■■■” means in this context, you need to spend more time on Urban Dictionary and less time prepping for the SAT. And when you return to your computer, google the term “emotional intelligence.” I gotta believe places like Harvard place as high a value on that as they do SAT scores and unweighted GPAs.</p>
<p>Listen, I don’t really know what a “■■■■■” is but I can guess…
all I wanted to do by posting here is to get some feedback and some support. @LucietheLakie</p>
<p>No need to be rude, Aspiringstudent is probably just a newbie. A ■■■■■ is someone who posts controversial messages just to cause arguments or disruption. The reason why people are calling you a ■■■■■ is because your question, no offense to you, is ridiculous by most people’s standards. You are seriously depressed over a 2300? If I looked up my results and saw a 2300, I’d probably faint from shock and glee. You are obviously smart, and even if your score isn’t what you wanted, you should realize that a test result does not determine your self-worth. Let me state it in a way your 770-math-section scoring brain will understand clearly: “you> your SAT result”. In fact, “you> a 2400”.
Now that you’ve hopefully cheered up, I think that you should take a break from your schoolwork. No, I’m not saying you should slack off- just, go out with your friends, play some video games, or just take a nap. When you’ve done that, sign up for the next SAT test date. Some people on CC may think this isn’t a good idea considering you already have an amazing score, but I think it will make you feel better if you know you have another shot. This time, don’t study as much. Instead, just do one or two practice sessions a day, and take your time reviewing the answers.
The answer your question, “what happened?”, is not that weren’t prepared. It’s that you were practically a nervous wreck before the test. And yes, that can affect your score- in fact, you got an extremely high score considering how nervous you were. Before you take the March SAT, you should remember that you’re already almost guaranteed a spot at an Ivy League with your previous SAT score, and tell yourself that you’re only taking the test because you’re a perfectionist and want to get a 2400 so you can brag (even if you don’t). If you want, you can even sign up for the May test date: it might make you feel better.</p>
<p>AspiringStudent, first of all, I apologize if I hurt your feelings. I genuinely came here to defend you but when I saw your question asking what a ■■■■■ is I just thought I was an idiot to believe you were being serious. Or maybe you were but you can’t see the forest for the trees and need some frank advice. And, seriously, this is not helping you:</p>
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<p>Are you familiar with the term “enabler”? Well-intended or not, that’s what this person is.</p>
<p>There are NO, I repeat, ZERO guarantees that ANYBODY short of the child of a POTUS is getting admitted to ANY Ivy League university, regardless of his or her test scores. </p>
<p>Your obsession with test scores (especially given your outstanding score the first time you took the test) suggests you’ve completely lost sight of what it means to be a well rounded applicant. Seriously, you need to let it GO. If you want something interesting to read, to help give you some perspective, read Andi’s thread from several years ago:</p>
<p>Please, do yourself a favor, you are not a test score and no perfect test score will guarantee you entry into ANY highly selective school. But the good news is there are literally HUNDREDS of great schools here in the US who would be glad to have you (assuming you can handle the stress).</p>
<p>Again, I apologize for my harshness. But I honestly think you have a problem and you need some help. Your original post (which you placed in more than one thread) was like an Urban Dictionary parody of what College Confidential is all about.</p>
<p>Your scores are great. Go outside, find some friends, and get some ice cream (unless you don’t like ice cream). </p>
<p>After that, go focus on other parts of the college app (extracurriculars, grades, and so on) and make your high school experience worth more than a 2400.</p>
<p>Hi midnightdreary I’m kind of getting out of my depressive stage…my friends are going to LA and I canceled on them and I’m debating whether to go now or not…I probably should. And I will eat ice cream. I absolutely love it hehe
btw @ LucietheLakie I do have a life. Seriously.</p>
I know that my stress isn’t good…I’m trying to work on it. Whoa, you got into Harvard! 
So cool…I guess part of the reason I’m stressing is that I’m not taking as many APs as some of my other friends[2 sophomore year, 5 junior year] whereas they took [3 soph year, 6 junior year], and since my GPA isn’t going to give me an advantage, I hoped that my SAT score would. @ iluvbooks94</p>