<p>If you have amazing ACT scores and you give them those, do the admissions people take a looksie at your SAT I ones too? I know its SAT I ORRR ACT scores but someone told me that they look at both and that completely freaked me out. Is it true?</p>
<p>and with a weighted GPA of a 4.3-4.4, a 36 ACT score, bad AP scores (x6), and 790-800 SAT II... Along, with all the generic Extracurriculars/ Leadership (debate, MUN, sport, helpline blah blah blah) and some "unique" edges (volunteer trip to Mongolia, internships, Published Poetry, painting exhibit)....do i stand a chance????</p>
<p>or is it a reach? and if so, how much of a reach?</p>
<p>i got in with an ACT of 34 and SAT 2 average of upper 700s with the same gpa but good AP scores (all 5s except one 4). similar level of activities. The way it works with SAT and ACT is that they convert your ACT to SAT. So it's just like taking the SAT on a separate date. If your score on the ACT is higher, they'll take it. However, it won't look credible if the gap between your ACT and SAT is HUGE.</p>
<p>Your GPA shows that you are a good student. The function of the tests is to show that your school is not super easy or that you are an overachiever. In other words they validate your grades. Your current tests are enough to validate your GPA. In other words you are a candidate, but because of the large number of applicants it is still a reach, just less of a reach than it is for some other applicants. Admissions will look at the rest of your application.
I don't think you have anything to gain by retaking. The validation function is the reason they take your highest SAT or ACT. Retaking will not affect your AP test grade, but alot of AP results depend on the teachers teaching to the test. I think that that is how I would interpret low scores from someone who is otherwise a good student and test taker. My younger daughter goes to a school that gives honors courses but no APs. You may want to suggest this to your school as the APs are becoming less important. This frees up the teachers to teach more challenging courses to the better students without having to conform to a particular program. Her chemistry teacher uses three texts in three different classes: a simple text for those not headed to college, an more advanced HS text for those headed to college and a college text for the class made up of those who are one year or more ahead in math and are recommended by the math and biology teachers.</p>
<p>I don't know if it's a reach at all. 36 ACTs are pretty rare...and far less common than 2400 SATs. I'd say that is an excellent indicator of your GPA and academic ability. Good luck.</p>
<p>Did you work for him or take a course from him? I would check the application to see the categories of recommenders. On the other hand if your looking for legacy status there may be a place on the application to note that or he could call admissions and they would make a note in the file.</p>
<p>But does an uncle qualify for legacy status? I could be wrong, but I thought by legacy most schools mean parents or possibly grandparents. Actually if uncle is included, it helps me.</p>
<p>36 ACT is excellent, don't worry about it. Also, near-perfect or perfect SAT2 scores will really impress. If you scored above 2100 on the SAT, you'll be fine. You can't get a perfect ACT without having a high level of intelligence.
Just as a note, I wouldn't go so far as to say that getting a perfect ACT is harder than getting a 2400...36 ACTs are rarer than 2400 SATs because fewer people take the ACT in the first place.</p>
<p>my SAT sucks though. i was really sick that day and just in an incredibly non-motivated attitude....score: 2000. Do you think they'll look at that and think 'woah, major discrepancy!'</p>
<p>and mardad, im sure an uncle doesn't really help for legacy status...but does it help at all to MENTION that he is a prestigious professor there...i dunno. or should i not even touch it.
no, i havent taken a class with him OR work with him...but it's just...anything that highlights my app...</p>
<p>o and should i just retake the SAT I, just to improve it a bit...so it's not such a contrast when they...gaah look at the two? do they look at both?! or the one presented???</p>
<p>Having a legacy or a relative on the faculty is a "tipping" factor. It helps only if you're on the edge. I would think you are a good candidate academically. The relations help in comparison to another candidate.</p>