I was deferred from UCF and FSU and I applied back in November. I have a 3.0 unweighted GPA and a 3.6 weighted GPA. I got a 1920 on the SAT and a 28 on my ACT. I have 301 community service hours and have been in many extracurricular clubs since my sophomore year. I know my GPA could be better, but neither I or my guidance counselor understand how I got deferred from both universities. I have recently retaken the SAT, as suggested by the colleges themselves, but my score actually went down in every category to a 1720. My question is whether I should send in the lower score or if should just leave it out. On one side, it shows that I have taken initiative and that I care enough to take another SAT. But on the other side, it shows that my score decreased significantly. Also, if you could also chance my probability of getting into both UCF and FSU. Thank you.
I wouldn’t send it if the colleges don’t require it. A 200 point drop is not insignificant.
If not required, don’t send it.
Absolutely don’t send. It does not show that “you cared to take it again” it showed that “you slacked off”
The thing is, OP states that the colleges suggested he retake. Now, I’m sure they didn’t expect him to retake and go down 200 points. So if the scores don’t get sent, the schools will think a) the OP didn’t care enough to take their advice and retake the test or b) the scores decreased. If the new scores do get sent, the colleges will know that OP didn’t do any better but at least tried.
Either way, I think OP might be toast no matter which option is chosen.
I am not familiar with these two schools and their admission policies but is it possible that they use some kind of GPA / SAT matrix to determine admission? The 1920 might have been almost high enough to offset the low GPA and they deferred to give OP another shot at getting in by boosting SAT. But that didn’t happen. That’s why I tend to think it won’t matter whether the new score is sent or not. He’s toast either way. I hope I made sense.
The better question is, why such a low drop? Did you study before the test so you could get the score up or did you just walk in and take it cold? Explain your mindset going into the room so we can help you. I personally wouldn’t send it to colleges. It doesn’t show you have “initiative”. Initiative is taking the test and getting a higher score so you can make a merit scholarship benchmark or to get within a range of scores at a school.
@neatoburrito , I would not say I am “toast”, my SAT scores are WELL above the recommended score and my GPA is average or above average for both schools. But thank you to everyone. I will not send in the lower score.
I looked at FSU’s admissions page and it appears that they admit by the numbers. They don’t even read recommendations. So if your numbers weren’t good enough in the early round, and they suggested you retake the SAT, but you didn’t improve, I don’t see the decision changing. Your weighted GPA seems fine, so maybe they will go with that. I hope so! I do wish you luck.
@neatoburrito - I agree with what you’re saying, but you have to remember that schools defer students to compare them to the regular round.
Say a school admits by numbers alone and there average SAT is a 2000, and average GPA is a 3.2
A student applies early with a 1940 and a 3.6. Maybe they defer him because his SAT is slightly ower than their average, and many applicants in the early round had SAT’s well above their average. In the regular round, this student may stick out, he may be toward the top of the regular pool, and his high GPA will bring him in, even though he had an SAT below the average.
What I’m trying to say is that the early pool and the regular pool are two different things. It’s impossible to predict what will happen in the regular pool. The SAT scores may be higher, leading to a rejection for OP, or they may be lower, leading to an acceptance for OP.
I got into both UCF and FSU
Congratulations. I assume you did not send in the lower score? If I had seen this post back then I would have said to get verification of your score to make sure there was not a misbubble or something