<p>So I've always wanted to go to those ivy leagues. But I doubt that's going to happen now. My sat score is about 1600/2400. </p>
<p>I took it in June, 2010 and it's my first time. But I can't retake it because the date in oct. is saved for subject tests (math lvl 1 and chemistry). And I can't take it again in Nov. either because I have to send in my application for the early decision. I feel absolutely 'dumb'. </p>
<p>What do I do now? Do I throw away the early decision and apply to all colleges on regular and retake the sat in november? ps. I took my sat in junior year.</p>
<p>Hrm. If you’re shooting for ivy, 1600 won’t cut it. If SAT I isn’t there, don’t bother with subject tests yet. Take October seriously and try your best on SAT I and November/December for subject tests. Hold off on early decision if you’re planning on applying to an ivy. gooood luck!</p>
<p>Would any of the ivies accept me on early decision? What if I made up this characteristic by scoring high on the subject tests? I think if I apply as a regular, it’d be harder to get in to my first choice.</p>
<p>The chance you get into an Ivy with a 1600 without being an URM or recruited athlete are very very low.</p>
<p>I applied ED to an ivy and was allowed to sent November test scores. You just need to contact their admissions office and ask.</p>
<p>Also, if you can’t raise your scores in time, there’s no need to apply early decision. ED is generally considered a time period when athletes or legacies are accepted.</p>
<p>Lastly, there are so many good schools out there that aren’t ivy leagues. When I went through the applying phase, I was set on wanting to attend an Ivy. As you’ll eventually see, things change.</p>
<p>The truth of the matter is that you took the SAT too late. Getting accepted to an ivy is hard enough but applying ED means you are competing with the best of the best and if you show a 1600, they wont even bother deferring you, they’ll just reject. The first thing you must do is take the ACT is September or October. You have all summer to practice and I suggest you start now. Although ED apps are due Nov 1 and the SAT is Nov 6, some colleges will let you send those scores. You would have to make sure that when you apply to take the SAT that you fill out the section for the colleges you want to send to. Otherwise, they would have to be rush delivered and they may not get there by the time of the cut off. I suggest you don’t apply ED and just focus on taking the SAT as many times as you can. You will have Oct to take the SATII’s and then you have a November and December test date to take the SAT.</p>
<p>Take the SAT in October. The SAT, IMO, is a lot more important than the SATII. With all of the summer to prepare for, you should be able to get a 2100.</p>
<p>If you do well in school (which you should be doing if you want to go to Ivy’s), the SATII’s should go your way. A month in between to sharpen your skills and get in touch with the SATII format should be fine.</p>
<p>Hopefully you have an outstanding list of ecs that you participate in that you are passionate about b/c even a 2100 isn’t really a competitive score in the ivy league applicant pool.</p>
<p>I’m really passionate about piano. I’m gonna be the pianist for the school’s choir for my senior year. As for my ec, I don’t think I have anything related to music. I’m headed towards the sciences, so the closest thing would be volunteering at a local hospital. Will 100 community service hours be enough? </p>
<p>Currently, I have the Gruber’s SAT guide. Do you recommend this book for the summer studying? I can’t afford a tutor :[</p>
<p>It might be beneficial for you to take a step back and truly think about your reasons for applying. Test scores aside, you shouldn’t be applying to a school-let alone be applying early decision to a school-just because it is one of “those Ivy Leagues.” Are you interested in one of the eight schools in particular?</p>
<p>You have a point. It’s as if I’m one of the many who are fixed on applying for the ivies JUST because they are the ivies. I like Yale, UPenn, and Princeton. But I do like MIT as well. MIT would’ve been my first choice and the one for early decision since it is non-binding, but early decision for me is now eliminated. </p>
<p>But smart people go to these schools, and I want to be one of those smart people that makes it there.</p>
<p>No offense Mirh00, but that’s a terrible reason to be applying to a school. You should do some research one what various schools have to offer in terms of their curriculums, social scenes, and study abroad programs.</p>
<p>I would also suggest that you take the ACT in September. My children’s guidance counselor recommends that students try the SAT and the ACT because some people naturally do better on one or the other. My daughter is a probable NMSF but did better on the ACT than the SAT the first time. </p>
<p>There are several threads on CC about SAT preparation that seem to be helpful. If you plan to buy a book to self-study, the blue book (the official SAT prep guide, available from College Board or Amazon) has many practice tests, and the red book (the official ACT prep guide) has three.</p>