Should I even consider Harvard/Stanford/Yale, etc?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

My case is kind of interesting. I do really well in school, and outside of school, but I don’t test very well. For example, to name a few:

  • Eagle Scout
  • Class President
  • ASB Vice President
  • ASB President
  • Intern at Congresswoman's office
  • Work at City Hall
  • Work at SF HQ of the FBI
  • 500+ Hours of community service through working with Sheriff's department
  • School School Site Council President
  • President of 3 clubs and Founder of 2
  • American Legion “Boy’s State” Congressional Delegate
  • Rotary Leadership Council Alumni with honors in Community Outreach
  • HOBY World Leadership Alumni & Counselor
  • National Student Leadership Conference: Business Administration
  • 13 AP Classes (All available-all passed)
  • Department awards in every subject
  • Varisty golf, varsity basketball
  • Speak 3 languages
  • Middle Eastern

I take PolySci classes at my local JC every summer, and volunteer with the Sheriff’s department. Obviously, I plan on majoring in Political Science. I have good letters of rec, a great counselor’s report, and will have some great essays.

My unweighted GPA is 4.0 (never received a B in HS) and for my Junior Year, I am pulling a 4.7 weighted. However, I got a 1980 SAT score and a 31 ACT score.

I worry that while I strive for these great Ivy league/Private schools, my SAT/ACT score will basically disqualify me. Should I be spending time working towards these goals, or stick to some schools more realistic to my test scores?

2

How many times have you taken those tests? It’s worth trying to improve your score.

3

I have taken each test once.

4

study + re-take, to ensure at least the average act for these schools

5

Yes, try to bring up your scores and then you may try these schools. The rest are okay.

6

That’s not true. Those test scores are not even that bad, and the ivies (that I know of) probably won’t reject you just because of that. I know people who got into ivies with similar scores and even a lower GPA, probably because their essays were outstanding and they did a great job in their extracurriculars(which it looks like you did). Just retake one of them (I would go with ACT since your score was a little bit better) and even if you don’t get an amazing score the second time you have about as good of a chance as everyone else.

7

Your SAT is too low for those schools, but your ACT isn’t horrible. With a little bit of studying (ACT has practice tests on their website), you can bring that score up pretty easily. I would focus on the ACT since that’s the one you have the higher score on, so you probably align better with that test structure.

8

Being at or below the 25th percentile for test scores does not bode well for chances. Which the 31, the better score, is at the following:
http://oir.harvard.edu/common-data-set (below)
http://oir.yale.edu/common-data-set (at)
http://ucomm.stanford.edu/cds/2015#admission (at)

9

Note that those admitted with lower scores would have legacy, athlete recruitment, or really spectacular EC.

10

gotta get those scores up, buddy. otherwise you’ll be weeded out fast. Sorry :frowning:

11

2 points would make a huge difference.I believe understanding the test and changing your normal conventions can make a huge difference. Go for it.