<p>If I score below a school's low end of the SAT range in one subject, do I still have a chance there? I would like to think so, but I'm pretty worried about my math score of 560. I'm looking at a lot of SAT optional schools, too. I desperately need some advice!!! Personal experiences (successful, preferably - lol) would also be great.</p>
<p>Yeah, don't worry about it. SATs are only part of the equation. For my school my SATs were below the average 50%, my class rank wasn't where most peoples was (in the top 10%) and I still got in! Write killer essays, interview, great ec's, visit. You have to be within reason (ie: you aren't getting into a top notch Engineering program with a math score like that). Good luck!</p>
<p>Engineering is definitely not for me! Thanks for the reassurance, wilmingtonwave - I think I need to look for a few more safeties though!</p>
<p>Yeah, you should have a safety you absolutely love and would be delighted to attend (mine was UNC-Wilmington), that way you can't fail!</p>
<p>you gotta figure, schools give the 25th-75th percentile- which means 25% of students are scoring below that.</p>
<p>And a lot of those students are hooked in some way or another.</p>
<p>And the people at the bottom are recruited athletes, Urms, development candidates, legacies, prodigies, and children of the famous. Those groups make up half the class at top colleges.</p>
<p>Being at the bottom of the range makes any school a reach. Hopefully your GPA and ECs are exceptional for the school. If you honestly want to be prepared, and you're going for above average schools, seriously don't expect to get into a school where your stats are in the bottom of the range. This will be the hardest year in history to get into top colleges and it will trickle down from there. There's no big mystery, you need competitive stats. Love schools where you have them.</p>
<p>question: what are URM's?</p>
<p>Under Repersented Minorities</p>
<p>lol..ok Im one of those!</p>
<p>I have a 4.2 GPA (temporarily, I bet, after that killer math final) and I play three varsity sports, which is all my school offers in terms of clubs, sports, anything. I also did Youth and Government (outside of school) and will do it next year, 100+ community service hours, and I have some published poems and various academic awards. I don't know if my stats are really good enough to offset my math SAT.....but I'd like to think they do.</p>
<p>I have a friend personally who got into UofI Engineering wit a 23 ACT but was in the top 5% and had GREAT ECS. Personally, I still think you should apply to your dream school because the worst the can say is " NO". Do not get caught up wit what people think wit scores and everything because that can really screw up your confidence. I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>What schools are you looking at? Are you good enough at any of the sports to be recruited?</p>
<p>NY Mom here- Jackson I have this unproven theory that I have stated several times on these boards. SOME athletes and kids who are in performing arts do better on the ACT. I strongly suggest you give the ACT a try. If you are a solid student in school, the ACT doesn't need much prep. Just get the book- take a test or two to familiarize yourself with the format and give it a try. If you do not give your HS code or any college code, no one has to see the score. Once you get the score and it is acceptable to you, then you can send it out.
We had a discussion about ACT/SAT on the parents forum, and one of the mom's said that the college advisor at her son's prep school makes the athletes take the ACT as she too felt that test was better for many of the athletes. So my unproven observation has been validated by at least one college couselor who works primarily with athletes. You got nothing to lose but a few hours of studying. Good luck!!</p>
<p>I actually took the ACT today and I think it went pretty well. I'm not so sure about the science and I know I had to guess on at least five math problems, but overall, I thought it was a better test for my skills.
And no, I'm not good enough to be recruited. I could maybe play on a desperate Division III volleyball team, but that's about it. Thanks for all the responses, guys!</p>