So I saw my SAT scores.....and threw up. Thoughts?

<p>I woke up a 7something, got myself a glass of water, went to the computer and checked collegeboard. aggregate score? 1830. 10 minutes later my head was in the bowl, vomitting. Needless to say, I feel ****ty.</p>

<p>My situation is a wee bit different; I'm hoping to transfer (currently a 2nd year sophomore) to Columbia. I busted my ass to get a really good GPA. 4.08/4.30, got some great recommendations, a lot of inter-college competitions, and a very researched 'why'. Also, canadian international and URM. </p>

<p>But gatorade in my tummy aside, how much will this score hurt me?</p>

<p>Don't worry about "how" much your score will hurt you. Try the ACT or retake the SAT with more preparation. Worrying about how low yout score is won't change things for you. Just get the Blue Book and start prepping!</p>

<p>It's sort of too late for that. Transfer applicant. This was my last chance to take them. The school won't accept any later ones and I can't wait another year otherwise I'm no longer illegible for transfer.</p>

<p>So assessing the hindrance of this score is pretty much all I can do right now. :S</p>

<p>Even if it's too late, worrying won't help a bit. You've turned in your application and now it's Columbia's prerogative to decide whether or not you would be admitted. So don't lose your cool over a SAT score which cannot be changed.</p>

<p>hope you feel better soon!</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Oh: Another question. Right now Columbia only has my SAT scores. I haven't even paid the open my file yet. Will they </p>

<p>a) Keep my scores (and file) open until March 15th (the transfer deadline) and then review it with everything that will be there at that point.</p>

<p>b) throw out any score that has no file attached immediately. Especially such a craptastic one?</p>

<p>c) Refuse me based on this score alone....making any future application effort (documents, transcripts, essays) useless?</p>

<p>the answer is a)</p>

<p>good luck</p>

<p>Just wondering, are you transferring to CC or GS? I feel as though I remember reading somewhere that transfers are officially affiliated with GS, which could make admissions easier?</p>

<p>But who knows...</p>

<p>
[quote]
I feel as though I remember reading somewhere that transfers are officially affiliated with GS,

[/quote]
</p>

<p>dead wrong</p>

<p>To OP:</p>

<p>sorry to hear about your situation but truth of the matter is...game over. </p>

<p>The best thing to do right now would be to learn to accept/love the college you're already at and try to make the most of it. It sounds like you're doing well there....y would you want to transfer?</p>

<p>Shraf--my bad. Is GS also the only option for kids who take a gap year, or can anyone theoretically apply to CC? (I ask as a HS freshman who might be interested in a gap year but would like to a traditional college experience afterwards...)</p>

<p>a gap year before college is very very atypical ...people tend not to plan them out....I don't know of anyone who took a gap year by choice. Denzera's story of getting rejected and then taking a gap year is clearly not an example of him choosing to do it. Its typically people who have professional careers (music, dancing, acting etc) at a young age and can't afford to take the traditional route or people who have mandatory military service to fulfill...stuff like that. </p>

<p>That said....yes you can go the traditional route after a gap year.</p>

<p>actually, that's not at all my understanding. My own personal gap year was somewhat unplanned (but very, very beneficial to me as a person). Most other people I knew who took a gap year, though - such as a girlfriend I had at columbia - did it very consciously and planned in advance. Did a bunch of tremendously cool things. It's definitely best suited for a year between HS and college though.</p>

<p>I think a gap year would be a net positive for the vast majority of college applicants, especially high-octane ones like those hovering around CC.</p>

<p>undisclosed: What were your standardized test scores the first time, assuming that as a transfer student you were required to take either the SAT I or the ACT to apply to your current school? Unfortunately, an 1830/2400 SAT is probably going to hurt your chances of gaining transfer admission to Columbia.</p>

<p>Hmm? No. I'm Canadian (Quebec to be precise) so the SATs are not a part of our system whatsoever. It was my first time.</p>

<p>Did you apply to any other U.S. universities? Do you intend to study business, economics or ??? What university do you attend currently? Is your GPA (4.08/4.3) based on a 5.0 system?</p>

<p>Thanks for the info, Shraf and Denzera. I'm not really sure about that yet (if I get into any of my 2-3 top choice schools right away, I'd skip the gap year), but I think it'd be a neat experience to work in the peace core, get a cool internship or even pretend do be a bohemian for a while before reentering the bourgeois world where GPA's, SAT's, and EC's from souls and a the prestige of perfection can put humanity to shame...</p>

<p>But hopefully I can just get into Columbia or Yale at H.S. and then do a fun year between college graduation and journalism/law/other school.</p>

<p>Sorry to hijack your discussion a bit....</p>

<p>as an aside, i took a gap year and it was one of the best choices i have made, as far as personal growth is concerned. and yes, i had planned on it right out of high school.</p>

<p>Don't worry about it wmmk. I got what I needed and have exchanged constructive PMs....I'm good :)</p>

<p>As for the gap year....I wouldn't use it for a bohemian lifestyle (for a lot of my friends that basically translated to waking up at 11 each day and watching family guy until supper :S) unless you applied in high school and deferred admission. In that case you can slack it off right and proper; you know you have a spot waiting for you afterwards.</p>

<p>However if you really take a gap year without deferred application then do something constructive like the peace corp (that sounds awesome btw). Its an impressive stat but also, great experience.</p>