<p>Question about ACT: Ok I know composite isn't as high as it should be but science is what really brought it done. To be honest, I didn't even know there was a science section on the ACT so when I got to it I was like *** and I ran out of time. So should I take it again and actually study? OR will admissions offices see that science sucked or else it would be a 32/33.
4.74 weighted, 3.89 unweighted *most demanding schedule possible according to counselor
College classes on the side that add to GPA (not added into 4.74): Computer Science, Economics (both count for AP credit)
Eagle Scout
4 years marching band
2 years Varsity Baseball (captain)
President/Founder of Investment Club, Safe Driving Club, Runner's Club
3 year lawyer and VP of Mock Trial
2 years ASB
Founder of recess program between our high school and nearby elementary school
One of the draftees of newest District Policy regarding grading
100+ hours of volunteer tutor work in the schools tutorial center
2,000+ dollars raised for Tsunami relief</p>
<p>**Letter of Recs fantastic, especially since I am getting on from the Superintendent of our school district, one of the top in the country (he knows me personally, in professional and non professional settings)</p>
<p>take it again and do the 10 Real ACTs in the Red Book. Make sure you do some of them timed in true exam period compressed hours. Please keep in mind that the entire student body at Vanderbilt prepares and tests very very well on standardized exams so if you want to live among them for four years, you might as well open the Red Book and prepare. You should not apply expecting people to realize your possible potential…show your work ethic in the ACT. Stop taking it when you feel you did your best. Everyone knows when they are done with these exams. My Vandy son made the same SAT score twice…DONE.
35s are no longer unusual composites on the ACT at Vandy. There are 27 thousand applicants! Many from California. Dig deep. This can only help you no matter where you are applying for college. Grades in many Vandy classes are based on few exams per semester. Your tests scores are not your entire application but they will get your essays and recs read with more interest. Son’s frosh roommate was from LA…great guy, works like a Trojan, is an RA now saving his parents room and board expenses and majoring in a hard major.</p>
<p>Alrighty, I guess I’ll retake it then in October…You did answer one of my questions, whether or not to retake the ACT however you never speculated on my chances based on my other stats. Assuming I raise my Composite score at least one point (which I honestly think won’t be too difficult if I actually study) how are my chances then?</p>
<p>If you are really interested in reaching your potential for being competitive in the final rounds of RD at Vandy and at other colleges like Vandy, and if you are interested in Vandy’s excellent No Loans need aid (which is a big reason why you have to be very competetive)…then you have to figure out how to stand out in a pool of applicants just as smart as you are but many of them will have achieved their potential in standardized exams. So yes, I am lighting a fire under you. You have done very well in classrooms but you have not done your best effort on the ACT. You have time to take it twice in December as well. The committees are still accepting scores and don’t even meet till early January anyway. My Vandy son retook his math SATII in January and sent it in because he cared about showing what he was capable of doing. You don’t have to report this ACT. My Vandy son had to report everything he took. The rules changed.</p>
<p>I personally know two National Merit Scholars with 35 ACTs who were not admitted who had very impressive recommendations and high GPAs and excellent ECs.<br>
Getting in is the battle, and you are not in battle mentality. Choosing where you go is a much more relaxed playing field in April. My Duke grad son was also coasting re his standardized exams, vaguely prepped, very good grades and he finally woke up and started doing practice exams and he raised his SAT 200 points in October of his senior year and turned in three SATIIs over 750.
In all honesty, you should also have a couple of stellar SAT Subject exams to put on the table although a fantastic ACT will go a long way to cover that lack since the subject exams in the ACT help. Also you will be asked to report your AP exam scores…they take your word for it…then when you start in your chosen college you have to prove you got your score for placement or credits.</p>
<p>You are clearly capable of doing fine in college and in doing demanding work. So you will be fine in your match colleges. Vanderbilt is a reach college for you. It is a reach college for most applicants based on odds of admission. You have read the website blog on vandy admissions? You can read backwards and see the stats yourself. You can also read backwards and see the postings of admitted and declined students here and on all the college confidential individual college blogs. Reading about who was declined is a lot more meaningful than getting opinions on your chances. My son at Vandy had a near perfect ACT but his score is no longer in the top quartile of enrolled students.</p>
<p>Once you have done your best in testing…then make sure “not to be a stranger” in your essays. Show who you are and what values, spirit and academic passions you will bring to campus. Vanderbilt has incredible resources and they will go to the students most clearly able to make use of them starting freshman year. Do not neglect to show your academic interests in your essays. Vandy is a very academic community even though it is well balanced and fun. </p>
<p>Adcoms are used to having seniors in high school who just don’t get it yet re the level of competition, and they regret turning down thousands of top students like yourself who will probably excel in college. But get your competitive spirit in gear, and by all means apply to at least one safety school you really like and make sure you have a financial safety. Vanderbilt disappoints thousands of students each year, including deserving students who are related to alum. </p>
<p>With sincere best wishes for your happy outcomes</p>
<p>Agree with Faline. The competition to get into a top 20 school is crazy now. The kids you are up against have spent 3 years studying for the SAT/ACT at private schools and hire personal instructors. When they walk in to take the SAT/ACT they have seen half the questions. You have the ability but need to step it up for these tests. A few weeks of pain is worth the reward of 4 years at Vandy.</p>