There goes my Ivy admission flying out the window...

Test Preparation
21

<p>a little bit of both. I can still mantain my sarcasm with meaningful content.</p>

<p>Okay, here's the deal that most CCers don't get. I doubt Harvard, Yale, or Princeton are going to look at your score and say, well.... he got a 730 instead of the ideal 750. Let's drop him. It's going to sound cliched--but it's the entire package. If you had a 750+ on all your satiis no one would give a flying whoop--it's easy it's been done. Same thing about the 730. It's all within the approximate range of what it takes to get in. It's the extra push or edge that sends you there. </p>

<p>You wanna get in as a pre-med? well you already have your 780 in bio, they know you're worth it. But are you volunteering in hospitals? are you expressing your passion in everything you do? Are you an individual that presents a better package than an satii or sat can ever express? --then you're in. </p>

<p>Plus you're a rising junior. Plenty of time. Just chill. For HYPs you need 3 SATIIs anyway. So if the studying process was that terrible-get used to it.</p>

22

<p>i think it's a typical aznparentisia. Your scores are good, but you know the parents. They always expect something higher than what you get.</p>

23

<p>I'm not complaining about the studying process. Well, maybe I was. I don't mind studying. No, really. I read my freshman bio textbook in two weeks (although I do have to credit that idea to my parents), and I ended up loving my textbook rather than hating it.</p>

<p>I was just saying that since chem is a rather difficult subject for me, I don't think forcing myself to study for two more months is going to guarantee me a better score.</p>

<p>I'm a she, by the way. (:</p>

24

<p>hahaha
umm is retaking SATIIs bad???</p>

25

<p>No. If you got a 700 on an SAT II and you're saying you're going to retake it, it makes you look like a test taker only.</p>

<p>If you're in the 500s range or low 600s looking for high 700s, go for it.</p>

26

<p>dude. i am the one doomed. MY ivy admission is OUT the window. i got 2070 on my SAT I and am a rising SENIOR. (730 V, 690 M, 650 W) ....and i dunno what to do...><</p>

27

<p>OK first of all, don't let your dad give you a heart attack. No offense, because I am sure you love your parents, but your dad's logic seems highly immature.</p>

<p>Secondly, the scores you already have as a sophmore are absolutely incredible. Have you taken the AP classes for biology and chem yet? If not, your scores are amazing. The 780 in Bio is awesome, especially since you want to be a doctor. Biology correlates a lot more to medicine than chemistry. A 730 is a great score, it doesn't look bad, is definitely not dissapointing, and it does not make a 780 look like a freaking fluke. A 50 point difference is not a fluke, especially when you are already in the 700s. </p>

<p>Thirdly, if you honestly feel a 730 is bad and is going to affect your chances (but I garuntee it won't, especially seeing the credentials you already have at such an early stage in the game), don't tell the college you are going to major in chemistry. Tell them you will major in biology! It isn't set in stone, so when you get into the college, change your major to chemistry. You have two more long and thoughtful years ahead of you to decide. Don't start freaking out now. And if you have not taken AP Chemistry yet and you want to take it over, wait until you take the AP class to take it again. For sure, you will get a better score.</p>

<p>If I were you, I would start studying vocab for the Sats. Focus on those. </p>

<p>More and more, nowadays, scores are becoming LESS important. More people are getting higher scores because people are more aware of the competition, thus becoming more competetive and essentially studying harder. I know many who have recieved perfect scores and have not gotten into top colleges(a russian girl I know got an 800 chem and physics and was rejected from harvard). Everyone has great scores. It is what makes you different than others that will make the big difference. Yeah, sure, you need good scores to get in (which include a ****in 730 Chem as a sophmore), but they dont need to be 1550+. Get respectable scores, but focus on your schoolwork and what you do outside of school more. I would rather have a 1400 and have run a successful business than have a 1600, by far.</p>

<p>Awesome job so far! You are going to do great!</p>

28

<p>Some people on this board are crazy. </p>

<p>First of all: 730 is very good.</p>

<p>Second: SAT IIs hardly count on the admissions process</p>

<p>Third: You took it as a SOPHOMORE.</p>

<p>Lastly: Your parents sound a little neurotic.</p>

29

<p>Wow you're the same year as me and I plan on doing med too...I think you should chill. I haven't even taken any of the science SAT II's yet and here you are freaking out about your chem score...but, on the other hand, I think maybe I should start panicking...LOL.</p>

<p>BTW, what do you plan to major in as an undergrad? Premed?</p>

30

<p>
[quote]
Second: SAT IIs hardly count on the admissions process

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sorry, but that is just WRONG. SAT IIs account for a full third of your academic index, a number many admissions officers use to quickly gauge the scholastic competitiveness of an applicant.</p>

31

<p>tell yourself its a bullet to your head when you get a 680 on chem expecting a 700+ .. or a 560 on IIC. and yeah, i studied.</p>

32

<p>Hamster:</p>

<p>Uh... most colleges use the academic index to throw out people who failed lots of classes, got 500's on SAT II's, got <1500 on SATs, etc. If a college is going to sticker a number on me based on some tests I take, and decide my future on them, I probably wouldn't give a damn about admissions with them. I like how MIT just makes sure you are smart, and then tosses out your grades and looks at you as a person.</p>

33

<p>If you think a 730 on one satii test will get you rejected out of the ivies, then you have major problems. And youre a sophomore? lol, go figure</p>

<p>you can still get a 800 and get rejected out of every ivy if the rest of your app sucks just to let you know</p>

34

<p>My freshman son just received a 690 in SAT Biology. Contrary to everything else I read on the parent board, I did not freak out. I thought it was great as a beginning for him. He got his feet wet with the testing process. Having just had his older brother accepted to Yale, Harvard, MIT, etc with a similiar 690 in Bio his freshman year, I can assure all kids and parents out there that one exam, one essay or one application element will not make or doom a kid. These kids are running a four year marathon and as parents it is our job to be there on the sidelines with support, encouragement and patience. The application process has been made crazy through the last few years by rankings. As parent, we have to keep the stress level low.</p>

35

<p>Original: Gonzo12
"My freshman son just received a 690 in SAT Biology. Contrary to everything else I read on the parent board, I did not freak out. I thought it was great as a beginning for him. He got his feet wet with the testing process. Having just had his older brother accepted to Yale, Harvard, MIT, etc with a similiar 690 in Bio his freshman year, I can assure all kids and parents out there that one exam, one essay or one application element will not make or doom a kid. These kids are running a four year marathon and as parents it is our job to be there on the sidelines with support, encouragement and patience. The application process has been made crazy through the last few years by rankings. As parent, we have to keep the stress level low."</p>

<p>Exactly.</p>

36

<p>hey guess what? My friend got a 620 in BIOLOGY and still got into Upenn, which, last time I checked, was still an Ivy. SatII scores do not hold much weight unless you do incredibly bad or incredibly good...and by that I mean 800s. So just chill out. You'll be fine. My dad works at MIT and he says that as long as the score is over 700, colleges don't care.</p>

37

<p>Your 780 in Biol is awesome :)
I'm a soon to be sophomore, but you're in the same graduating class as myself because I'll graduate in 2007.
Anyways, I would retake the 730 but if you don't want to, don't. You should focus on what you're good at and what you want to do because you might just get a lower score and that..would be bad.
Just study for something else that you enjoy. I personally love chemistry and I took pride in my biology but after seeing my 750, I'm hating it.
Man. I wish I had that 780 <em>sniff</em> I took the SAT II Biol this year after a horrible teacher and rigorous self-studing and I was disappointed with a 750. <em>sniff</em> 'Nother $25 down the potty.</p>

38

<p>kisstheskyxx....whats wrong with you</p>

<p>Oh no, I got a 750 in both chem and bio, <em>boo hoo hoo</em> i think i should kill myself cause theyre so bad......WOW</p>

39

<p>^ LOL.
No, but I'm an international student and things pile on top of that.
I can get an 800 though, if I study :) And I have to go in to the MATH IIC anyway.</p>

40

<p>Can't we just all agree that if the score is over 700 to shut up about it?</p>