<p>I have good Verbal and Writing scores, but my math is only 560, and I heard there is a cut off line at 590. I need to know if this makes me ineligible to continue, because I'm not willing to have my school send transcripts... and etc if there is no point to it at all. I'm also about to cancel my nominations.</p>
<p>Isn't there one more SAT date in December?</p>
<p>I thought you were retaking the SAT in Nov?</p>
<p>If you are serious re: your desire to attend the USNA, there is still time to get your SAT score up, if you are inclined to make the effort. Since you are running out of time (you can test in Dec- and even as late as January)- then perhaps a tutor at this time might be in order if you can swing it. Have you taken all the practice SAT math tests available to you? Practicing them under test conditions can help- many of the problem-types repeat themselves. ACT testing? That might be another option to consider.</p>
<p>Bottom line: it's all about how much you really want this, and how much of an effort you are willing to make.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>I took November, but I was sick.. I'm not sure how I did. SAT scores are very depressing to talk about for me, sorry. I am registered for December though.</p>
<p>It is getting late, BUT:
Get a tutor for the December testing, or at least take a prep class.
Take the ACT, you may do better as the test is different.</p>
<p>DON'T give up. You may qualify for NAPS or Foundation, which are stepping stones to admission. Only you can tell how much you want this. </p>
<p>Those who were committed to this goal did not give up when obstacles were in their path; some were admitted only after multiple attempts.</p>
<p>Good Luck
CM</p>
<p>Yep. Too bad USNA has a cut off though. Clearly they are abusing the tests and are using them in a way in which they weren't meant to be...</p>
<p>^^^^^
Sour grapes again.</p>
<p>Study for the exam and keep taking it until you get the results you are looking to obtain. My daughter took the SAT five times and the ACT three times. And yes, she was sick during one of those exams. You have to roll with the punches and keep plugging away.</p>
<p>If you are having difficulty with the SAT Math exam, you won't have it any easier at the academy.</p>
<p>Is the most crucial part of the SAT in my opinion. I got a 700 on the Verbal portion and have gotten no less than a B in any humanities class... ok that is an easy one to see.</p>
<p>But I was fairly confident with a 710 on the math, and I'll just list my math/engineering course grades so far:</p>
<p>Calc 1 B
Calc 2 C
Calc 3 C
Chem 1 C
Chem 2 D
Physics 1 B</p>
<p>In high school, I was on the math team and one of the leading scorers in the state in Algebra I and arithmatic.</p>
<p>It shows that even that activity didn't help, so even some of the most mathematically inclined people will struggle.</p>
<p>FYI, there are plenty of people doing better than me in mathematics here who did worse on the math SAT portion.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, no matter how smart you are, you could have a 560 and still get an A in any class if you work hard.</p>
<p>^^^^^
Proves my point.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Too bad USNA has a cut off though. Clearly they are abusing the tests and are using them in a way in which they weren't meant to be...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>First, SATs are only one part of the USNA admissions process. They look at classes taken and grades earned in those classes, class rank, ECAs, sports, leadership positions, etc. The value of SATs as either as assessment of knowledge or as a predictor of success is a debate for another time.</p>
<p>My first math SAT was 520. In my day, there were no prep courses. But there were lots of books (Barron's, Princeton Review) with sample tests. So I practiced every single day. My score improved to 570. I kept practicing. Eventually, I got my math score up to 700. Doesn't make me a great human being; does show that working on the problem helps more than complaining about it.</p>
<p>If you're really committed, spend your nights and WEs doing practice tests. If you can afford it, get a tutor. It is possible to raise your score -- how much effort are you willing to put in to make that happen?</p>
<p>GoNavyXC,</p>
<p>Thank you for your openness and for posting your course grades for your math and engineering classes.</p>
<p>It's incredibly helpful for future and current mids - they can see how near-perfection in high school does not always translate into a USNA 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>My son, a plebe, has at the 12-week point a mix of A's, B's and C's. He's studying ten times harder than he ever did in high school, and is pretty frustrated - he had a 4.0 unweighted in a very challenging (nearly all AP or IB classes) high school and 700s in both verbal and math SATs. </p>
<p>He has told me the same thing you've reported - that plebes with borderline SATs and less rigorous high school coursework are doing better than he is. He is doing some head-scratching right now, trying to figure out what the plebes are doing who have achieved beyond expectations.</p>
<p>The one thing they are doing, he says, is going in to the professors and the tutors on a regular basis. Getting a bit of extra clarification on assignments seems to make all the difference.</p>
<p>Mr Sinister:
Have you analyzed your SAT results to see what type of questions you are getting incorrect? There is a level of disconnect between your 560 Math SAT I score and your 4 on AP Calc (AB?).</p>
<p>My son was told he had to have a 600 in both sections of SAT...first try was MA: 650 CR 570. On the retake it went up 70 pts to MA: 660 CR: 630. The next big hurdle is the nomination...you are lucky to have what many consider the hard part already....surely you can work your tail off and improve your SAT.</p>
<p>GoNavy2011 -
Curious - did your son validate anything when he got to USNA?
I'm wondering how the AP & IB classes and strong SAT scores translated to the courses/requirements at USNA. How did he do on the AP exams? (It's possibly good info for those taking AP or IB classes to know which ones are better preparation for validation exams or course requirements in general).</p>
<p>Re: validation</p>
<p>Yes, he validated all his language requirement, and one semester each of Calculus, Chemistry, Physics (I think) and US Government.</p>
<p>So, now he is in Calc 2, Chem 2, and a different government class than most of the other plebes his Fall semester.</p>
<p>He got 4s and 5s on all his AP tests - took Calc, Chem, Physics, Spanish, Biology, US Government/History (not sure which). </p>
<p>Sorry I'm a little fuzzy on the details - during T'giving I will ask him about the validation exams - which ones the USNA made him take during Plebe Summer, and which ones they accepted the AP exam score for outright. If I remember it correctly, he had to take the validation exams for most subjects even though he had received a 5 on the AP exam. </p>
<p>I do know that he took the Calculus validation exam after standing watch from 2-5 am, and he was worried about it - he felt he was under-caffeinated for optimal exam performance :)</p>
<p>USNA</a> Course Validation Policy</p>
<p>Pretty much explains what is required for AP's or IB's to validate. One thing to keep in mind is that the AP scores from senior year will come into the Academy after validation exams have started so plebes may end up taking the validation exam for a class that will validate from AP's.</p>
<p>For my son (class 2010) he took Calc I Validation, was invited to take Calc II validation exam - when he got there was told he did not need to take it as he had scored a 5 on the AP, so validated both plebe Calc courses. I also recall he took the English validation test before knowing that he had received a 5 on the AP English Lit exam.</p>
<p>Chem ands Physics do not take AP scores.</p>
<p>For those who validate into 3/c courses - there are special sections for Plebes only. CalcIII, Differential Equations, Western Civ, etc.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yep. Too bad USNA has a cut off though. Clearly they are abusing the tests and are using them in a way in which they weren't meant to be...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>it's the nature of the beast- not only for USNA, but for the majority of colleges and universities..........</p>
<p>The ball is in your court, and Candidatemom is right in that you could still be considered for a foundation offer- especially if everything else is "good to go." Practice- it does help. Over 600 is key.....</p>
<p>Yes, I will do that! But I want to clear something up though. USNA and USMMA are the only 2 schools in the United States that have a minimum cut off for the SATs, and will NOT allow you to pass the Candidate Questionnaire. It is the nature of the beast for those two schools, but nowhere else. Your statement about the majority of schools.. is not necessarily correct then. Just thought I'd point that out. </p>
<p>But yes! A foundation offer sounds interesting. Do I have to apply separately for that?</p>
<p>Mr. Sinister, will you please quit moaning about the SAT/ACT criteria. it just the way it is, it is the United States Military's perogative to set whatever guidelines that they feel nessicary in order to get the most qualified applicants to ensure that the future leaders of the armed services are the best! My son was kept out of USNA last year because of a 25 english score, he was permitted to apply though and was waitlisted but not offered an appointment. He was offered civil prep for USMA and jumped all over it. As you have been told countless times, you do not apply for civil prep, if the admissions commitee feels that you are a good candidate for it they will offer it to you or they may offer you NAPPS or MAPPS.</p>