<p>I got this free SAT I fee waiver from somebody, so I can take the SAT's for free as a sophomore...I want some practice, but I know my scores will be bad, since I forgot most of the Advanced algebra I learned....I know that when I apply for colleges two years later, I'll have to send all my SAT scores...Should I take the SAT's as a sophomore and get low sophomore scores, or should I hold off on it?</p>
<p>if you're just gonna practice why don't you just buy one of practice SAT books and take tests out of it... don't **** up your SAT scores just to practice.. and colleges do see all your SAT scores when you send them.</p>
<p>Yeah, in fact, if you don't take the SAT as a sophomore, we have no basis to judge your improvement on.</p>
<p>I took the SAT on March 12th and I'm a sophomore. Everyone seems to act like it's horrible to take the SATs before senior year but my counselor said that if anything, it was a good idea. I'm going to take them again senior year. And then I guess colleges can see how much I learned in my last two and a half years of HS.</p>
<p>Texasmathwhiz - you need to take your SAT/ACT the end of your junior year - do NOT wait until your senior year. There are several reasons for this - applying early action/early decision, if you do great at the end of your junior year you don't have to stress out your senior year, & some colleges don't accept results after December. I would never recommend waiting until your senior year. Your senior year will be very stressful & you will want to get your applications in at the beginning of your senior year so that they are finished & done with. I know many students at my sons school who waited until their senior year and guess what? There is not time to improve your score. In fact if you need merit scholarships they are based upon your SAT/ACT scores (in most cases). You don't want to get a 1380/1490 etc. and be 10 points away from missing thousands of dollars in scholarship money and not be able to have time to take them over. Something to think about.....</p>
<p>Oh okay, thanks. I knew it was either end of junior year or beginning of the senior year. So you're saying 1500+ is where the scholarships are. I don't know how accurate practice tests for the old SAT are, but I took one and scored a 1510, 760V/750M.</p>
<p>Texasmathwhiz - Just to clear something up. Merit scholarship money is different at all colleges. For example, at one of our state schools you automatically get free tuition & fees if you have a 1300 & up SAT with a 3.8 GPA. At that same state school if you have a 3.5/1600 SAT you will only get $1,500! At many other schools you can get $5,000 for an 1100 SAT with a certain GPA (or it can be just your SAT score too), $7,000 if you have a 1200 SAT, and $10,000 for a 1300+. Note: Some of the top tier colleges do not offer any merit money based on scores, and at most schools your GPA/SAT just makes you eligible for merit scholarships. </p>
<p>A lot of kids think that the top scores with a great GPA is going to get them scholarship money. That is a HUGE misconception that I see over & over. Usually if you have top scores/GPA/EC. etc. and you apply to a second, third, fourth tier school they are the ones that offer the most "free" rides or the best scholarships. I am not saying that it doesn't happen at the top tier schools, but it is pretty much the minority instead of the majority. Take a look at the college websites & look under the financial aid section. Most of these sites tell you what they give and the conditions. Also, double check to see if the awards are automatic or if you are just eligible.</p>
<p>Look at your SAT results if you are looking at a top tier college as more of an entrance requirement. Even with great SAT/GPA/EC's, etc. many many students don't get admitted. PLEASE make sure that you have three college groups - safety, match, & reach. Make sure that you like all of them. There is nothing worse that having safeties or matches that you just don't like. I made sure that my son liked his safety & matches. We visited all the colleges at least twice to make sure that he liked them as much or almost as well as his reaches.</p>
<p>By the way, your practice scores are very good. My son scored a little higher on the practice than on the actual test, but still very close. I don't think you have anything to worry about.</p>
<p>I hope I don't have anything to worry about. I'll have a better idea on April 11th when the scores from the March 12th SAT I took come out.</p>
<p>Everyone harassed me on this website about how it was such a horrible idea to take the SAT as a sophomore. I may be graduating mid junior year, so I told them that. Then they all start in about how it's such a horrible idea to graduate. Okay I think I'm done venting.</p>
<p>Texasmathwhiz - I have read your posts & I am somewhat familiar with you. Keep in mind that only you KNOW you. Only you know what is best for you (I hope that you are discussing this with your parents also) and that these people are just basing their posts on the little bit of info you have given to them. Don't be too hard on them....</p>
<p>As far as you graduating in the middle of your junior year what do you plan on doing with the rest of your junior year? I'm just curious.</p>
<p>I don't think that there is anything wrong with graduating early as long as you do something that will help your application stand out against others. I think that maybe other people are telling you it's bad because they think you won't have enough on your application. The competition is SOOOOO VERY STRONG. For example you will be competing against others with many AP classes. </p>
<p>At any rate, take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and remember that these people are only offering what they think is their best advice (although I do agree they sometimes they are harsh or don't put a lot of thought into their response). You will do just fine. Remember that.</p>
<p>I've already decided against the option of graduating that early. I plan to graduate after the first semester of senior year, maybe first quarter. That way I can have some time to volunteer without interruption of school and get a leg up on people who have only had the summer to volunteer. I can also possibly take some courses at a community college in upper mathematics if I succeed in Calculus, and certainly in the sciences.</p>
<p>I probably shouldn't be so vocal about my issues with this forum because I'm staying on aren't I. I've just noticed that cynicism seems to be omnipresent while the board lacks much optimism. I'm content with cynicism when it is accurate and well placed, but when people are just like "you suck, everything sucks," it's absolutely untrue and just an attempt to sound intelligent. I belive it's easier for most to sound intelligent by degrading things than by praising them.</p>
<p>Texasmathwhiz - I have come to realize that there are some people on this forum that just like to put down people, schools, & towns (perhaps jealousy...), but there are so many people who have really good advice and have a lot to offer. I just try to weed out the people that have nothing to offer or only negative things to say. I often wonder that when these students don't get admission to the college of their choice it is because of their teacher rec's. Oh well, have a great day!</p>
<p>Yeah, these people all talk about their 5.0's and 1600 SATs, which I doubt they have. Even if they do, 90% of them have no social skills from what I can tell on this board, they are pompous and arrogant.</p>
<p>No, texas, you have no social life. Am I mistaken, or was it not you who created some strange 'program' to 'create' fortunes for the other idiots? You said this took you how long?</p>
<p>What "leg up on people who have only been volunteering during the summer?" Since when is volunteering a contest?</p>
<p>Sounds like that message offended you mesaboogie. I didn't say how long it took me. And it wasn't very long, it was a bunch of trivial code and a little bit of trying to figure out where to put brackets. What took longer was typing in all the college names.</p>
<p>Volunteer hours are important for college, if you don't have a 5.0, trying to get a load of volunteer hours will make up for that.</p>
<p>I've been volunteering since I was 5 though, so don't feed me the touching line I know you're thinking of about how it's not just for college.</p>
<p>I have no social life, where did that come from? I was speaking of social skills in my post so why are you attacking me about my social life.</p>
<p>Mesaboogie, we've already established that I think you're an idiot, so don't speak to me.</p>
<p>mesaboogie - give Texas a break:) Students today are just so stressed out because they want to get into "elite" schools and know that there is just so much more than GPA's/SAT scores. If I would have read this CC board before my son started looking at colleges I would have thought he didn't have a chance at any college based on these posts. There are just so many qualified students for so few spots. One thing we learned after searching is that many of the professors teaching everywhere including state schools graduated from those "elite" schools. In most cases you will get an excellent education anywhere. Unfortunately we all live in a "label" society. When will we realize that it doesn't mean much in the end?</p>
<p>I'm not set on an ivy league, I just wanna do my best so that I have options. If you aim for Ivies, chances are you won't make it. So what if I aimed for state schools, what if my standards were lower.</p>
<p>Like I've said before, my family has two Harvard graduates, one of which was a professor there for 30+ years. They both say that they don't believe the ivy leagues provide any better an education than an accredited state school. And the main appeal of the ivy leagues is the sense of elitism, and prestige among the ivy leagues.</p>
<p>Thank you for your support mominsearch, we could certainly use more people like you on this forum.</p>
<p>Mesaboogie, please stop acting like you're so enlightened about the insignificance of certain things, and how volunteering isn't a contest as if I didn't already know that.</p>
<p>The problem is that some kids make volunteering a contest. It would be fulfilling and fun just to do around 100 hours I bet. And I've already done that throughout my life. But you have a lot of people who do make it a contest getting their 600 hours in when they really didn't wanna do it. Since I enjoy community service I plan to do a lot of it so that it truly reflects my enjoyment among all these community service hounds just doing it to get into Harvard or wherever.</p>
<p>I don't think community service is a very big hook unless it is very focused and sincere. It is so obvious when it is being done just to enhance an application. D did very little community service- she was very involved in her art (voice) and attended some selective summer programs in that field. She went to boarding school and with her academic load and her art, there just wasn't much time or opportunity for volunteer work. Didn't hurt her a bit in admissions. She is now considering the ministry, so she isn't just a self-centered person! S is not into volunteer work at all. He IS pretty self-centered, but also has to spend a lot of time training for his sport. He has done a few community service-type things (when he couldn't avoid it) but it certainly isn't a big part of his life. Not going to hurt him at all in admissions due to his other strengths. Yes, it is admirable to have a real commitment to helping others or giving back to your community, but there are many 17 and 18 year olds who just aren't tied into that yet. S also goes to boarding school in a fairly remote place, and there isn't much opportunity anyway. Don't overestimate any one piece of the application process.</p>
<p>A little off topic, but has anyone noticed that school websites suck.</p>
<p>Especially you MomofWildChild, being from my area. I think my school kinda sucks so I was thinking of trying out for the Talented and Gifted school in downtown Dallas, but I can't find a website for them with any information.</p>
<p>texasmathwhiz, as a person who planned on graduating junior year... don't graduate halfway through senior year either! enjoy it, it's the last year of your time with your friends!</p>