<p>I want to submit the preliminary application as soon as possible, but the problem is my april sat score. I received a 1410 overall. 490-verbal 490-math 430-writing. yeah I know that's bad. On the april ACT, I got 22. So should I submit the app with those scores or should I wait till late May/June to submit it once I receive my retake scores?</p>
<p>id wait to retake... i dont even think theyll consider you with those scores.</p>
<p>I have no idea if this is true, but I wonder if you sent those, then sent another set later showing a dramatic improvement, if it would be a plus?</p>
<p>Hmmmm.....</p>
<p>You will need scores vastly superior to those to be considered for admission. I don't even know if they'll send you a PCQ with those. Just being honest.</p>
<p>What grade are you in btw.</p>
<p>I think they'll want all your scores, but I don't know if I'd send the old ones until I had better ones. I'd say you need to add at least 5-6 (most likely more) points to the ACT and about 400-500(most likely more) points to the SAT to be competitive. That's just ballpark, as I'm not well-versed in the new SATs.</p>
<p>Just my opinion here: I wouldn't rush to send in the prelim right now. The admissions office probably isn't worried about next year--they aren't even totally done with this year. Also, retake that test (there are prep classes for the SAT.) </p>
<p>I didn't send my preliminary application until the very end of October, and it all worked out for me.</p>
<p>Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Admissions will ultimately see the first scores as they are on the printout, I believe. Just study and take it again and if you improve, the admissions office will see evidence of your hard work. It probably would be a good idea to not send in preliminary application until there is some improvement on the SAT. Possibly take ACT. GOOD LUCK.</p>
<p>Find a tutor or sign up for the classes. They DO help. I took the old SAT three times before I got a score I felt I could be competitive with. My first time I got a 1260, second time 1280. I finally got smart and found a tutor. She pushed me over the edge, and the third time I got a 1340. Nothing spectacular, but I eventually got the appointment (after a year of college, but I doubt it was my SAT that kept me out the first time).</p>
<p>Work hard and show them you're serious about it. Godspeed.</p>
<p>If you get at least 600's, you should be good, I believe.</p>
<p>As Oregon Mom said if you get at least 600's, and then really show yourself through working hard in extracurriculars and sports you should be all right.</p>
<p>flip, also if you are a recruited athlete, the scores might even be more flexible. Jake's friend didn't get 600's and was still offered an appt.</p>
<p>would have to agree with most of what was posted:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>get a tutor: for math and verbal. Try and get one that is has been used by someone you know who demonstrated improvement with their scores. They can be expensive, but consider it money well spent. Do every bit of homework they tell you to do. Then do more. It will help you regardless of what school you apply to.</p></li>
<li><p>retake tests and continue until all scores are above 600 (or as close to that as you can get them). Try the ACT and see if you score better on those.</p></li>
<li><p>wait to submitt peliminary applicaiton until your marks improve (hopefully on next test date)</p></li>
<li><p>take as many practice tests as you can- practice does help. Take the practice exams under "test" conditions: timed, in sequence, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>would not count on the recruited athlete stuff- the admission process is still just as competetive (sorry to disagree OM!) While the appointment may come, it just as may not...</p></li>
</ol>
<p>So do all you can to improve your chances and make your application stand out, and best of luck!</p>
<p>I wouldn't send those scores in because the SATs are technically supposed to be an aptitude test that you shouldn't really study for. And it shows that you are technically on the average-ish part of the bell curve. It's become such a huge business that people have found it profitable to provide services to help increase scores, so I guess I would take advantage of that and try and do better. But you need to think seriously if that's a good indication of your academic record.
Then again if you try again without studfying it oculd go up a lot. I didn't study and mine went from a 1920 to a 2120 within a couple of months.</p>
<p>To TacticalNuke: I'm a junior.</p>
<p>After the April tests, I've been studying and prepping. Hopefully my sat score will improve on the may sat. It seemed easier compared to April. Thanks for the help everybody. :)</p>
<p>flip: you can keep taking it until December of your senior year. They don't mind seeing all the scores, they will just scan through them until they find the highest of each. And 600 is the magic number. You will not be in the running until you get at least that on both math and verbal (preferably 650). Take the advice - get a tutor, now. And study, study, study, It worked for my son. His final SAT scores were sent in in November and he got an appointment in December.</p>
<p>There is also a ton of good advice in the SAT/ACT forum here. Personally, I improved 2 points on the ACT just by taking it again. I would recommend a prep program for maximum benefit though.</p>
<p>id recommend finding a book you might be interested in and reading it in one week. just keep sitting down and reading it whenever you have a chance. I never read, cause all the books we read in english suck. I got a 510 on the reading section the first time i took it with the attitude of "these stories suck, screw this," but the week before i had my second SAT test, i had a book report due so i read a book in like 5 days front to back, and went into the SAT with the attitude of "these stories are supposed to suck and i can beat them" and i got a 640, soooo i think a lot of it is the attitude you go into the SAT with (which the classes help with, although i dont believe in them ;) ), and also the preparation for reading concentration that you get by procrastinating a book report until the last week and then pounding it.</p>
<p>If you send them in, maybe USNA will think they were the old SAT's and will think you actually did well.</p>
<p>Retake the tests. I've not heard of people getting "bonus points" for the process of improving their scores; the bonus points come from having a high score. Whether that high score comes on your first SAT or your last is irrelevant for USNA purposes.</p>
<p>You will need close to a 600/600 to be considered an "official candidate" and receive the rest of your admissions packet. Depending on your geographic area, you may need a higher score to be competitive for a nomination. Thus, there's not a lot of benefit in submitting these scores.</p>
<p>I agree with those who recommend additional study. Whether you use a course (such as Kaplan), a tutor, or simply intense study on your own (books, previous tests, etc.) is up to you in terms of how you learn best and your finances.</p>
<p>One of the biggest things about the SAT in my opinion is simply understanding each section and what the questions are asking... BEFORE you get there. I took the PSAT my soph year and again this year. I did poorly the first time but was in the 98th percentile the second time. I did not study. Reason I recieved a good score? I knew what to expect.</p>
<p>I then took the SAT in December, recieved a 1970 (1320 M+V), again w/o studying. I knew what to expect from the questions and so I saved valuable time by not having to figure out what they wanted from me. I took the May SAT also and am waiting to see if my scores improved at all. Some of my friends thought it was ludicrous I was taking it again, but for the academies, you can never do TOO much. :D</p>
<p>My son applied for NASS and did not get a spot - he's 1330 on SATs and a 3.8 (unweighted, all honors, varisty athlete, NJROTC officer etc.) so he meets the basic minimums. With his application for NASS being 'rejected' does he have to do something to activate his application or will he get a candidate number just like NASS attendees, sometime later this summer. He has already started the MOC applications (essays, references, etc) targeting a September submission but I'm just not clear if he has to something else through USNA. Thanks in advance for your advise.</p>