Poor SAT Performance Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I will be a senior and thus I will need to apply soon. Out of anything, I would absolutely love to go to Stanford. I have visited it multiple times and I like everything about it. It supports Computer Science more than most universities and would be my dream college. Due to the information below, I'm not sure if this is really an option for me, though. What does it look like for me? What are some safe colleges for Computer Science and what ivies would be more likely to like me?</p>

<p>Race: White
Location: ID
School: Public (~200 in class, ~600 in school)</p>

<p>Grades: 4.0 UW
Courses: The most difficult classes possible, so all accelerated, honors, and AP US History (I completely failed the AP test with a score of 2)</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities: I have been an Environmental Club member for four years/treasurer for two years (collected hours and wrote a web app for members to give hours) and I will do a Mexico trip with this club for helping baby sea turtles. In the club I have a bit over 100 hours of community service. I have done Cross Country for two years and tennis for one. I was in the BPA (Business Professionals of America) national competitions. I have been in National Honors Society for three years.
Work: I have been working for a small software company for five years and I have been writing code for this company for three years during the summer.</p>

<p>Standardized Tests:
SAT: 1900 (660/650/590) R/M/W (ouch...)
SAT II: Planning to take the Chemistry and Math II</p>

<p>On the PSAT I got a score of something like 213 and I had horrible test anxiety/horrible essay for the SAT. I have actually been studying for it and I plan to get that score up quite a bit.</p>

<p>Colleges I would want to go to include:
Cornell
Stanford
Harvey Mudd
Caltech
MIT</p>

<p>Any and all help would be appreciated.
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Hello thehopeful! Here are a few things you should know. Most “competitive” applicants for schools like Stanford, MIT, Caltech have an SAT score of around 2300. They also have taken (and easily passed) many AP classes at their school. You have only taken one, which isn’t that impressive, BUT it is, as you say, the most rigorous schedule at your school. However, it will still hurt you. You should study hard for your Chem and Math II exams, and shoot for 800 on both. </p>

<p>I am not trying to discourage you. I just want you to know where you stand among other applicants, who want to go those selective schools as much as you do.</p>

<p>So:
-Get ~2300 on your SAT
-Get 800s on chem/Math II
-Maintain your 4.0 UW GPA
-Consider match/safety colleges
-Apply</p>

<p>You only have 2 months until the October SAT’s! GOOD LUCK :)</p>

3

<p>Being from Idaho helps but the credentials are at Stanford level.</p>

4

<p>Pretty low chances with the SAT and AP score. But you can retake, I got 1970 first time then it went to 2120, also try ACT.</p>

5

<p>I got an 1880 the first time I took the SAT and pulled it up to a 2180! You can do it! Of those schools, the one you probably have the best chances of getting into is Cornell, but you should apply wherever makes you happy!</p>

6

<p>Thanks for all of the messages. I’ve signed up for the ACT and I’ll make sure to take safety colleges into account. I would take more AP classes but there are only two to take at my school. (Actually three if AP Spanish is included, but I can’t really take that). How much do colleges take extra curriculars and jobs into account. I have been hired to build websites for people and I don’t know anyone else with a programming job.</p>