Stand a chance with low test scores?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
1

<p>Hello,
I am applying to Claremont McKenna regular decision. I am a strong student and am dedicated to school and leadership. My test scores, however, have been holding me back—I have tried so many times to improve, and although progress has been made, it's not good enough. Here are my stats:
9th Grade (No AP/Honors available):
Algebra 1: A-/A
Spanish 1: A/A
Physical Science: A/A
Social Studies: A/A+
English 9: A-/A
Computer Skills (satisfies elective requirement): A/A
GPA: 4.0</p>

<p>10th Grade (AP/Honors available, but I didn't take any because I didn't feel prepared, and I was recovering from a serious illness):
English 10: A/A
World History: A/A
Geometry: A-/A-
Biology: A+/A
Spanish 2: A+/A+
Oral Interpretation (elective): A/A-
GPA: 4.0</p>

<p>11th Grade:
AP English Language: A-/A-
AP US History: A-/A-
Honors Chemistry: B/B+ (w/o weight)
Algebra 2: A/A
Spanish 3: A/A
Student Leadership: A/A
GPA: 4.33</p>

<p>12th Grade: (Foreign language not taken because of a scheduling conflict between AP English and Leadership.)
AP English 12
AP American Government
Trig/Pre-Calc
Student Leadership
Physics
(Quarter 1 GPA: 4.4)</p>

<p>Test Scores:
SAT I (taken once): 1590 - CR530, M520, W540; Essay: 9
ACT 6/08: (Composite 24) - Reading: 27, Math: 23, Science: 20, English: 25, Writing/English combined: 26; Essay: 10; ACT 10/08: (Composite 24) - Reading: 22 (time killed me), Math: 24, Science: 22, English: 26, Writing/English combined: 27; Essay: 10
SAT II: US History: 650; Chemistry: 570; I will be taking the SAT Literature exam in December. (I know SATIIs don't apply to CMC).</p>

<p>I have been in student leadership for two years, both times holding an elected position—Junior Class President and ASB Business Manager (this year). I went to a leadership camp this summer as well. Other ECs include helping my old middle school with computers and my former teachers privately with their computers as well (400 hours of computer work, total). I am co-captain for Relay for Life (been on a team for three years). I've tutored last year and am doing it this year. I also organized a speech contest for English learners my sophomore year and will be doing so again this year. Lastly, I have work for a resort where I maintain the front desk and and computer systems.</p>

<p>I honestly love leadership. I am so dedicated to it and want everyone at the high school I attend to have the best experience possible and to be happy with the works of leadership.
Many students confide in me and I hold that trust as a very valuable asset.</p>

<p>Despite my low test scores, do you think I stand a chance?</p>

<p>Also, I know that interviews are optional, but do you think that they will help at all in the admissions process if I were to do one?</p>

<p>My prospective major will be Political Science/Government or Legal Studies. I want to be a lawyer and eventually a judge—jobs that require great leadership.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Truthfully, it would seem that your chances would be low but why not apply anyway? Concentrate on having dynamite essays. I'm not sure why you have taken the SAT just once; with practice you may have been able to bring them up to 600. Your good marks in junior yr are a +, try your best to get all A's this semester and send them to CMC. </p>

<p>If you have any educational deprivation; income, illness, other, I would mention it w/o offering it as an excuse.
Good luck!</p>

3

<p>BTW, other than CMC, I would look at the schools that are SAT optional since otherwise your record is very good. Pitzer, one of the Claremont colleges is SAT optional.</p>

4

<p>Hey,
I only took the SAT once because I felt more comfortable with the ACT, and therefore took it twice, WITH STUDYING...but I don't know what happens. Honestly, test scores have really shattered my confidence because all the top students are getting good scores, but it's different with me. My writing score, however, does reflect my writing abilities accurately...a 9 on the SAT essays, 10 on ACT essays twice. </p>

<p>I am applying to Pomona (big stretch...) and Pitzer, but I really want to go to CMC though because of its leadership atmosphere, great student government, and stellar academics. </p>

<p>My essays were good. The Personal Statement was about how a horrific incident in my life has shaped me to be others and how it has sprouted an interest in law. My analytical essay is about well-written and is about a unique non-ficitonal person. I hope this gives admission a good overall view of me.</p>

5

<p>you know what, other than your test scores everything seems fine. decent ECs, good grades, etc. so you never know! they may look past your test scores so id say you definitely have a chance but i cant say how high or low</p>

6

<p>I really hope all the colleges that I am applying to look beyond test scores. I honestly thought for a while that I was stupid because I didn't get decent or high scores, but I realized that I just don't test well. Not to sound condescending or egotistical or anything, but there are students at my school who don't try or don't really show a big interest in learning as I do (with AP/Honors classes, being dedicated to my work, being a diligent worker, etc.), and they get better scores than me. All in all, it seems like these tests are unreliable factors because I honestly know that my scores don't reflect my effort and truly what I know.</p>

<p>Do you think CMC will look past this, or does it have a tendency to look past scores?</p>

<p>Should I schedule an interview?</p>

<p>Thanks--</p>

7

<p>An interview is always helpful, so if you are comfortable with an interview I'd say go for it.</p>

<p>AND I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE TEST SCORES THING! it frustrates me SO MUCH because some people who honestly dont try at all or dont spend any time preparing for these tests do so well, and i find it very unfair. And then i know other people who work so hard preparing for them yet they fail to perform well. i do hope colleges look past test scores... its only ONE factor anyway, and tests scores are the least weighted out of the academic portion of the application luckily</p>

<p>i dont know too much about how CMC will analyze scores, but since they are highly selective they probably do look past scores in many situations. i think you just need to make sure you emphasize your other strengths. i think they'll notice that you just arent a good test taker since you have excellent grades</p>

8

<p>Yeah, I just hope that my perception of "being a bad test taker" is true, and I am not just plain...not smart enough to do well in college. I mean, I don't think there is much grade inflation on my transcript--I can sincerely say that I have worked hard in my classes and not just slack off and ask for an A. Another place where I am bad at tests in with AP tests. Although I got a 4 on US History, I got a 2 in AP English Language...I have gotten good essay scores, but I don't know what happens...</p>

<p>Ugh, so stressful!</p>

<p>Would a LC college like CMC be more inclined to look past test scores than a public institution like UC?</p>

9

<p>most definitely. UCs are basically all about test scores and GPA.</p>

10

<p>well if you applied to the test optional pitzer...</p>

<p>you could still take classes at CMC.</p>

<p>just a limited number</p>

<p>even so, your gpa is high enough that you should still apply to CMC, because you have better qualifications than some of my friends that went there!</p>

11

<p>Your record is quite good, but your relatively low test scores may be your downfall as far as CMC goes. Despite scoring scoring 2170 on the SAT and 31 on the ACT and having similar grades to yours, my child was denied at CMC last year. She does not exhibit very good leadership skills and frankly CMC would not have been the right school for her. It was my mistake in suggesting that she apply there (she currently attends Pitzer). You should apply and state your case well - you never know. If you don't apply you'll always wonder if you would have gotten in. Good luck!</p>

12

<p>Yeah the suggestion about Pitzer, if that's the type of school you want to go to would work. Just find out more about them, they're pretty..intense. </p>

<p>As far as CMC goes, they do expect pretty high test scores ususally, but they do not look at SAT Writing right now. They're just collecting data on it, observing trends over the past few and next few years, but not actually using it to consider you as a prospect.</p>

13

<p>i totally know what you mean! i'm in your same position! i've had straight a's forever and extracurriculars and i'm in love with acting, but those test scores kill me! ug...</p>

14

<p>Hedge your bet and apply to Pomona, CMC and Pitzer. Just because CMC's a leadership-focused school doesn't mean you can't be a leader at the other campuses. If anything, CMC's very interested in finding + nurturing leaders in government. Pitzer's more social justice focused, but do not mistake that for not being leadership. God knows we need more social justice advocates in American society. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, CMC will expect the scores. If you don't have them, better have something else to make up for it.</p>

15

<p>Yeah, I applied to all three, including Occidental College in LA. I have heard that Pitzer is very hippyish and all—not that I have anything against hippies, but I just don't think I'd fit in there as well. CMC really seems perfect. I have great grades and extracurriculars as you can see with my original post, but, at the end of the day, if CMC doesn't see me as a candidate for their institution, not much I can do. It's really frustrating because I'd qualify for so many top schools If my test scores were good. I know the stuff, but the way they phrase or ask things is just crazy, making it, at times, impossible to solve. And with reading, although I understand it, I am just bad at reading—multiple choice tests because it's pretty much subjective if you're interpreting it—there is really is no right or wrong answer. ugh. I hope college/law school/life won't be like this!</p>

16

<p>For something like law school, your GPA and LSAT score count for EVEN more. In undergrad, you can have some leeway with excellent softs because they care, imo, about bringing fantastically talented people together.</p>

<p>law schools are there to produce lawyers.</p>

<p>Interview if you can.</p>

17

<p>Hey,
I think you and I are identical! I'm a big leader at my school also, have fabulous grades, but most of all - a story to tell. But it's those darn tests that bring me down. I got a 27 on my ACT and 1690 on my SATs. I had an interview and I think that really helped ( instead of going for 40 minutes, it went for 70 minutes!!!). Honestly, scores don't make or break your applicaiton. It is their overall impression of you that counts. There's so many people in the world wiht high test scores on the ACT/SAT/SAT II's/ etc... we dont need numbers, we need HUMAN BEINGS who can think, act, and make a difference. When will colleges realize this? Respond if you agree!!!</p>

18

<p>I totally agree. Luckily, I'm applying to CMC as a transfer so test scores carry a liiittle bit less weight (not much though). I too, suck at test taking. My SATs were R 650 M 500 CW 670. The math score is what is absolutely killing me, and unfortunately I'm nervous that it will STILL effect my transfer application. I hate the SATs so. much. They should abolish them all together, they are in no way indicative of intellectual capacity.</p>

<p>I really feel for the OP and I'm sorry to say that yes, your scores (and mine for that matter) will definitely hinder our chances at getting into CMC :/ With your scores, your shot at admittance is pretty low. My fingers are crossed for you though! You sound very very smart and competent, and it's unfair that schools will not consider you because of a stupid test. It's bull*****.</p>

<p>I can't tell what your sex is, but if you're a girl I would definitely advise you look at Scripps. It has quickly become my #2 school and if I don't get into CMC that is where I will attend. It's a LOT easier to get into and the small applicant pool allows admissions to look way beyond test scores. In fact, my friend that goes there now got even lower SAT scores then you. I was skeptical about the whole "all girl" aspect but after spending a night with my friend I realized that the Scripps girls are very close with the CMC campus. My friend is bffs with a bunch of guys from CMC and is actually dating a Pomona guy. That is the beauty of the Claremont Colleges system.</p>

<p>Plus, if you attend Claremont school it should be a LOT easier for you to transfer within the system. ie, after a year at one of the Claremont schools you could transfer to CMC with no problem at all. My point is, not getting into CMC is not the end of the world. The other Claremont schools are amazing. Take a look at them!</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
Plus, if you attend Claremont school it should be a LOT easier for you to transfer within the system. ie, after a year at one of the Claremont schools you could transfer to CMC with no problem at all.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I highly doubt that!</p>

20

<p>And what evidence, may I ask, do you have to support your doubt? </p>

<p>If you look at the transfer statistics for transfer applicants seeking to transfer from one Claremont college to another Claremont college compared to the transfer data for applicants from outside of the Claremont colleges, I think you'd quickly lose all of your doubt and instead become a believer.</p>