<p>Here's my situation:</p>
<p>My first try on the SAT was a 1940.
I took three SAT II: 770 USH, 750 Lit, 620 Math II.</p>
<p>I am planning to take the SAT I and the SAT II Math II in October and November, respectively. I will also need a really good financial aid package/offer.</p>
<p>Is SCEA right for me? Or should I wait until RD? </p>
<p>Thanks so much guys. I really appreciate your help.</p>
<p>1940 for the SAT I and 620 for Math II are extremely low for any Ivy League school in general.
Much less Yale.
Much less in the SCEA applicant pool.</p>
<p>so um. </p>
<p>?</p>
<p>Have you tried an ACT practice test to see if it suits you better than the SAT? </p>
<p>Yale is need blind so your needing good FA won't hurt you. In fact, if you are truly low income it might help you a little.</p>
<p>Wait till RD. You need to get your scores up before you apply.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your suggestions...</p>
<p>First, I know I can get my SAT I scores up; I have a few months to practice, and I have been doing so already. Same with my SAT II Math IIC. </p>
<p>I guess my real question is if I take my SAT I in October and SAT II in November, can I get the scores in to Yale in time for SCEA without penalty? If the answer is no, I will definitely wait for RD...</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your help!</p>
<p>I'm guessing the october date would be fine, but the November one would probably be late
: /</p>
<p>There's this website called yale.edu, and it tells you all kinds of cool things..including acceptable test dates. Pretty neat stuff, eh? </p>
<p>Sorry..couldn't suppress the sarcasm. I actually get lazy too and post questions rather than researching myself sometimes so I understand ;)</p>
<p>The november one is not too late.</p>
<p>The problem I see is that using SCEA and the October/November dates you will have no idea BEFORE you apply if you have indeed pulled up your scores (you will know the october but not the November). In contrast, if you wait for RD you would have gotten to see your scores and even been able to utilize the December date and even the January date (w/o knowing result) for your application.</p>
<p>^Really? Wow...it seems like RD would be the best option then.</p>
<p>SCEA is extraordinarily competitive, and Yale isn't the most sympathetic place to URMs/state residency/etc. out there (like a Columbia or Stanford), so low test scores are going to be a major issue. Yale SCEA '09 will probably be the most rigorous admissions process ever. I wouldn't recommend applying unless everything is a strength.</p>
<p>Why on earth would you have to retake an SAT II? Your USH and Lit exams are great! Besides, Yale only requires two subject tests if you are going to submit your SAT I results (and they will only take into consideration your two highest results if you submit multiple test scores). My advice would be to take the October SAT I and if you need to retake it in November, do so. Still apply SCEA if Yale is your first choice. (If I didn't know any better, I'd say several people here are trying to discourage you from applying only to boost their chances (karma's a witch)...but, hey, what do I know?)</p>
<p>By the way, your November test scores should reach Yale in time. Here is the link that mihan was referring to: Application</a> to Yale College | Freshmen | Office of Undergraduate Admissions</p>
<p>^ Took the words right out of my mouth. Try to get at least a 2200 superscore SATI by the time that you apply.</p>
<p>Hey Ambitiousmind07 - I personally was not trying to discourage Ivywannabe. Think about it, if I were truely out to get the him/her I would have encouraged him/her to apply while the scores were borderline and hope he/she would be rejected. Your catch on the SAT II was a good one. I missed that point. I gave Ivywannabe the same advice I will be giving my daughter. If her package is not the quality that will merit at least waitlist and that I believe that she can improve in time then I will recommend to her that she wait for RD and not risk a rejection that cannot be undone. Anyhow, please do not try and read between my lines. As i said, my advice was sincere but I did miss the SAT II point.</p>
<p>Smoda61...My comment was not intended for you; I have read several of your helpful posts in the past and am aware that you post questions/information from the perspective of a parent. My comment was intended for those applying SCEA next year. (I'm applying too and I find it pretty funny (in a dark humor sort of way) when the admissions game gets dirty.)</p>
<p>Anyway, I completely agree with you smoda61 that if Ivywannabe's entire package is not at least waitlist worthy, he/she should wait until RD. In a situation such as this, knowing more information would probably be a little more helpful in deducing whether or not Ivywannabe should apply EA or wait for RD.</p>
<p>^What other information would you like to see?</p>
<p>Also I have a couple questions based on the above posts.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Won't Yale (and other schools) see the 620 Math II even though I have two good scores to send in?</p></li>
<li><p>What if I took the ACT in Sept. instead of the SAT I again. I have been doing some ACT practice and I am doing substantially better on the ACT (practice test) than I continually do on the SAT. </p></li>
<li><p>The Yale site is kind of confusing when it comes to the ACT. Is the ACT sufficient with the two good subject tests?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for all your help!</p>
<p>FROM THE YALE SITE:</p>
<p>Which standardized tests does Yale require?
Yale requires either the SAT I or the ACT. Students who submit scores for the SAT I are also required to take two of the SAT II Subject Tests. They may take any two subject tests of their choosing. The middle 50 percent of Yale's entering class this year had scores between 700 and 790 on both the verbal and the math sections of the SAT I.</p>
<p>In evaluating SAT or ACT results, does Yale consider scores from previous test dates?
Readers of your application will see all of the test results that are in your file, and they will supply the admissions committee with the highest scores you attain on each section of the SAT I or on the composite score for the ACT. However, if you take a particular test more than once, the readers may note for the committee that results have been achieved from repeated testing, and committee members may ask at any time to see all testing data.</p>
<p>So as answers to you questions:
1) Yes, they will see all scores but the readers will be provided your best scores to consider but they will have the right to ask admissions to have all your scores to consider.</p>
<p>2) Yes, as I see you are from Arizona. You have an advantage over DD in that your sate offers the September ACT. (I forget that it even exists. DD refuses to be driven to another state, stay over night and then take the ACT. Actually, I think she is being level headed.) If you take the Sept ACT, you will have the score to consider somewhere around the beginning of OCT. You will then also have the Oct SAT open to you. Unfortunately, I believe that you will have to sign up for it before you know the results from your ACT, but I could be wrong.</p>
<ol>
<li>As you can see from the text above it is either ACT or SAT II + SAT II.</li>
</ol>
<p>Ambitiousmind07 - Technically, I could be one of those people out to get others. Currently, DD is facing the exact same question about SCEA this fall. We will not know if she is opting for SCEA until after the OCT Math SAT II comes in. Her scores are good enough to be considered but not mind blowing. Assuming we go forward, she will be applying w/ one unknown score - her October ACT. The choice for SCEA would be a heck of a lot easier for both my D and ivyleaguewannabe if they had 2400 SATs. Being on that line, makes the decision tricky.</p>
<p>More info such as GPA, class rank, ECs, hobbies, etc. (a regular chance me thread) would be helpful.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Yale (and other schools) will see the 620 Math II score regardless; College Board sends in everything. However, Yale mentions somewhere (please refer to the Yale website) that they will only consider your two highest scores. Besides, I don't think a 620 is really that bad. Furthermore, I am almost confident that you won't get rejected simply because of a "low" third<a href="additional">/I</a> SAT II test score (I asked an admissions officer about this and he confirmed). Don't worry yourself too much about that.</p></li>
<li><p>If you feel that you can do better on the *actual ACT test, take that in Sept. But I would still recommend taking the SAT I in October just in case you don't do so well on the ACT.</p></li>
<li><p>If you submit the ACT, you do not have to submit any SAT Subject Tests. Most people will say "it's a good idea to send them anyway," but they are assuming with no solid proof...just speculation. If the Yale website says (which it does) that if an applicant submits scores from the ACT, scores from two SAT Subject Tests are not required.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Smoda61 - Haha, yes you could technically be one of those people out to get others; the admissions game, as I am learning, is a dog-eat-dog competition and it will get ugly. I suppose I am a very optimistic person by believing that most people on CollegeConfidential are here to help each other, not stab them in the back. Regardless, I am in the exact same position as your daughter. I will be traveling to PA to take the Sept. ACT just so that I have time to evaluate the score and not have to worry about not seeing my October scores before sending them off.</p>
<p>Here are some brief stats about me:</p>
<p>I was homeschooled the first two years of highschool, completing 9th and 10th grade through Texas Tech University's Independent School District. I held a 4.0 throughout. I took no AP or honors courses during that time. I only took one community college class for math. </p>
<p>I transferred to public highschool for my Junior year and my upcoming senior year. I had a 4.25 every semester during Junior year.</p>
<p>So...</p>
<p>UW GPA: 3.95
W GPA: 4.05
Rank: 11/420 (?)
APs taken: AP Gov (4)
APs will take Senior year: AP Chem, AP Calc AB, AP Micro/Macro Econ, AP Spanish, AP English, AP USH</p>
<p>(You guys already know my standardized scores).</p>
<p>ECs:</p>
<p>Piano for 12 years, violin for 9 years, voice for 2 years
Teen Court Attorney (9th-12th)
Teen Court Bar Association Treasurer (10th)
Teen Court Bar Association President (11th)
Orchestra Club President (11th-12th)
Member of National Society of High School Scholars (11th)
NHS (11th)
Ignite Mentor (11th-12th)
Will have over 100 tutoring hours by app time.
Interned for an attorney's office for over 270 hours.
I play the violin, piano, drums, and voice on church worship team.
Will play a lead role in a church play this year. </p>
<p>I am considering starting a JSA chapter at my school this year (senior year) if time permits. </p>
<p>Worked on Bible Translation team translating the Bible from Spanish to the native Tarahumaran language of the mountain people in Chihuahua Mexico.</p>
<p>Have almost completed a book of poetry that I plan to publish this fall.</p>
<p>Registered for the Presidential Scholar's Program, and will submit some of my poetry in November. </p>
<p>Awards:</p>
<p>Nothing huge, just a few from my school and county. </p>
<p>Essays and Recs: One rec will be from my 11th grade English teacher, who has already stated that I am one of the best english students he has ever had. The other is from my AP Gov teacher, who will write a really good rec for me along the same lines as the English teacher's rec.</p>
<p>I am a decent writer, so the Essays should be good!</p>
<p>That's all I can think of now.</p>
<p>Hope this helps...</p>