<p>Hi. I recently got my May SAT score: a lousy 2200. I didn't really expect that because on my practice tests(which I took without any leniency on myself) I scored much better. The problem is that I am Asian(non US resident Indian, to be precise) and I got a 720 on math, which really upset me because I had been getting consistent 800s on the practice tests. I don't know what happened, I think I was way too nervous on the SAT day...
So should I take it again? My score won't go down too well with my parents and I can barely afford this expensive test. And since I can't handle these tests because I get so nervous all the time, is there any point in retaking the test? Is there any hope of getting into a good college as an international student with this score? Or should I try to make up for my lousy SAT I score by working on getting a good SAT II score?</p>
<p>"Is there any hope of getting into a good college as an international student with this score? "</p>
<p>It’s a great score for a huge number of great US colleges. What sort of school are you targeting?</p>
<p>Hi. I recently got my May SAT score: a lousy 2200</p>
<p>Just stop. 2200 is by no means lousy.</p>
<p>A 2200 can be lousy in case you are an international applicant (miniscule quota), an international seeking aid, an ORM seeking aid, or simply an Asian MALE. It is also lousy if you have so so EC’s / essays / rec letters. This is all provided that you are aiming for top 20 univs…</p>
<p>Thanks Etuck24.
“What sort of school are you targeting?”
Sorry I didn’t mention that the first time. I’ve passionately wanted to major in nuclear engineering since ninth grade. I’ll be applying to MIT, TAMU, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell and Yale too. But the math score is killing me.
I am in the top 5 of my class(don’t know the exact rank because the school doesn’t disclose ranks), and in the national level 10th grade exams of my country I got a CGPA of 10/10.
My ECs are very few and focused in 3 areas that I am extremely passionate about:
1.Astronomy: I founded an astronomy club in my school. I teach kids, lobby the school for funds etc. I’ve won a couple of astronomy quizzes, and I finished 3rd in a national level astronomy quiz in 10th grade.
2. Quizzing: Regular participant on school’s quizzing team. Won a national level literature quiz(and an XBOX 360 which I can’t use as I am too poor to buy any of those games).
3. Music: I taught myself the guitar as I couldn’t afford lessons and I am regularly involved in bands, teaching guitar etc.
There is other stuff that I can’t place right now, but mostly this is it, I think.
I have a lot of faith in the teacher who’s writing my recos; she’s awesome and she really knows me well.
Yes I need FA, which is why I find myself agreeing with acooperfan. I mean, going to the top colleges in the world with a 720 on SAT math and asking for a seat in the most competitive math-intensive courses doesn’t really make sense, does it?
My dream school has been MIT, ever since ninth grade. There. I said it. Don’t care if I sound like the clich</p>
<p>It’s a crapshoot for the top names. Maybe less so with TAMU. You’re in the hyper-competitive international pool so you should not place any strong hopes into MIT, Yale, Cornell, Columbia or Princeton.</p>
<p>Your goal is to spread yourself to a wider set of schools. Look into UMich, Rose Hulman, Renssslaer, Purdue, Georgia Tech., U Wisconsin Madison, NC State, UC Berkeley, Penn State, UTenn Knoxville – some others too. Although “rankings” lists are faulty, they can be useful search tools. Look here for one with top graduate programs – there’s a good correlation to undergrad strength:
[Best</a> Nuclear Engineering Programs | Top Engineering Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/nuclear-engineering-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/nuclear-engineering-rankings)</p>
<p>@T26E4
A lot of these institutions don’t offer need based financial aid. I have been researching colleges for so long. Everytime I find a college that gets me excited(Purdue, Penn etc), I find that it doesn’t offer FA to “non-resident aliens.” Bleh.</p>