<p>I'm a senior. This was supposed to be my last SAT. On my last SAT I got an 1840. I dropped to a 1700 on this test. I can't believe it, I think I'm still in shock. I studied for it and everything. I've been having a horribly stressful 2 months (so stressed i've been making myself sick), and I think it backfired on the test.
I'm a terrible test taker – bad under time, anxiety, etc. I honestly thought my score went up to at least a 1900.
The rest of my application is solid – top 2% of my class, big community service project, 3.82uw (thanks middle school) 5.95w, extracurriculars, in IB, took AP classes since 8th grade, honors societies (like everyone lol)
I need to know where this SAT puts me. My test scores have always been the weakest part of my application, and now I'm wondering if I'll even get into the schools I really wanted to. I already sent my scores in in advance because I'm an idiot and thought I would've done better. My family can't pay for any of my college I'm doing it all myself, so I need aid but with these scores..... even if I get in I don't even think they'll offer me any money since I'm average on their radar
If anyone has any guidance or advice, I'd really appreciate it!
Also: I'm white (like, to the core) and have no legacy anywhere since none of my family has ever graduated from a college.</p>
<p>Hi Celery,</p>
<p>I wish I could answer your question in the way that would be helpful to you. As a mom of a senior who also experienced a big drop in her SAT scores from October, I can only commiserate and perhaps suggest you look at some of the responses people made to the post I submitted today. I guess the main points are that selective colleges will take a more holistic approach (i.e. they won’t depend on just one aspect of an application) but it is probably a good idea to see what other options might be available. Also, my D sound similar to you - not a great test taker but a very good student. My D didn’t so much as look at an ACT test but did better with that (at least in terms of the composite score) than with the SAT. However, that said, her score got into the 30+ range in ACT because of her high science score which I gather colleges don’t really look at closely. Anyway, I have heard over and over again that those good students who don’t seem to shine on the SAT can get a better score with the ACT. </p>
<p>Anyway, sorry to not be terribly helpful. I wasn’t educated in the US and find the entire system baffling. I’m definitely not someone who has taken notes for years from CC - probably a big mistake with 20/20hindsight. But I wish you all the best and many good and helpful responses. I guess your post just made me think what is probably going through my own D’s head right now.</p>
<p>I am in the same boat. Pretty good (3.85UW, 4.23 W), all AP/IB classes, strong ECs, IB Diploma, and have my own startup and non profit. My applications are solid….except for test scores. I got a 31 on my ACT with a 26 in math……
I got a mid 20’s the first time and I studied so hard over the summer, dozens upon dozens of practice tests and books. I feel like I have everything going for me….and then there is my subpar ACT scores. I have worked so hard in the past 10 years but that one test, 4 hours, is going to kill my application. We are in the same boat. It sucks. </p>
<p>Well misery loves company. I am however; glad to hear from some folks like my d. She has very good grades, AP, Honors, from an excellent private high school, unique EC’s with high achievement there, but her test scores are just not so fabulous. She actually did go up from her spring scores, in CR (50 points) and Writing (60). Math went down a bit, but with most of her schools superscoring, I am not too bothered by the math. She has a lot of test anxiety. I have to wonder if it is worth taking it a 3rd time? Or is this as good as it is going to get? She studied a ton over the summer, gained 100 points over all from spring, and super score is 200 points over her lowest scores. Hard to know. </p>