<p>So my December SAT scores came in. They are atrocious. Ridiculous. 2080 total (which, granted, is down only 20 and 30 points from my previous scores, but is a decrease nonetheless). And I thought I had a 2300 in the bag afterwards...</p>
<p>So someone just break it to me. How badly does a 2100 in March, 2110 in October, and 2080 in December hurt me? Does it show I consistently suck? Maybe that I try for the test scores and not the personality area? Please help!!</p>
<p>By the way...I'm applying to HYPS, UPenn, UChicago, Pomona, Columbia, N-Western, G-Town, JHU, Harvey Mudd, Carleton, and CMU. I'm Chinese (thus the stereotype basically fits) and I'm screwed.</p>
<p>I also applied to Cornell ED, UW, and USC, and was denied to Cornell. Haven't heard from the other two.</p>
<p>I just need someone to break to me the truth. Thanks.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that a 2110 is in the middle 50% of most of those schools. While a higher score definitely would have helped, you're definitely not out of it. What will make or break you are your ECs/GPA/essays.</p>
<p>Also I don't think the fact that you took it three times and got about the same score will matter that much.</p>
<p>Oh, and those scores are really good. Not crappy.</p>
<p>I realize that this is mediocre for most of my schools, with the exception of HYPS...but I'm just afraid that if I get pooled into the "Asian pile" (which I know they SAY they don't do...) that this will swipe me right out...</p>
<p>Maybe try highlighting some aspects about yourself that do not fit the stereotype. Of course, they should be positive aspects, but the biggest problem with being "pooled into the Asian pile" is that you might not sound/appear unique compared to them. There are a lot of Asians applying (including me), and so it is especially important for us to stand out. I'm sure you have something interesting about you that doesn't apply to the stereotype. However, if you already sent in your applications, I wouldn't worry about it and enjoy second semester of senior year. I personally can't wait to get all my essays over with in order to start working on my hobbies again.</p>
<p>I haven't yet sent them in...I keep changing things on them, because I'm just not sure if they are what I want to present. On sticking out...hopefully my essays can help with that...one of them is in the form of a slam poem, another is just a complete relaxed narrative...maybe? Too much of me fits the stereotype though, so it is difficult.</p>
<p>i think you're fine man. they are all in the same score range, this is the point of the score range.. the student will likely score within that range if he/she takes it again. to me it represents a bright student that didn't do much SAT preparation but still has a good score.</p>
<p>Mmm...thanks shook1. Sad thing is, though, I did a LOT of SAT preparation. Two summers, many hours on school nights and weekends...none of it paid off...</p>
<p>Hurts better than than having a fresh-out da oven apple pie smushed on yo baby-mayka.</p>
<p>You're scores are NOT atrocious- but the fact that you spent two summers studying for the SAT makes me sad. If we could all just study hard to ace the SAT, then it wouldn't be the SAT. It would be just like the tests you get in school- dull, simplistic, and just downright eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezy.</p>
<p>Sure, you can study hard for a decent SAT score- but what are the chances of getting that 2 4 0 0? Hint: Very low.</p>
<p>You CAN study hard and ace the SAT. The trick is to study things way harder than the SAT, and you will suddenly find the SAT is simple and clear. It's like in Samurai Jack where Jack trains with a giant rock on his back and then after a month of the pain they take it off and he can jump 80 feet in the air.</p>
<p>Your scores don't exactly put you at an advantage at the places you are applying to, but they don't remove you from consideration either. So don't give up!</p>
<p>I guess I was a bit unclear- when I say "acing", I mean getting a perfect score. Its possible- but not probable. And do you really believe that the "trick" is to just study harder material? Hm, I think you left out "knowing the basics", "Understanding your mistakes", and all those other "tricks" to do well on the SAT. The truth is, not everyone will find the SAT so simple and clear just by studying hard- you also need to study SMART. And studying smart was clearly something the OP failed to do. It's much, much more than just picking up a prep book and grinding the problems over and over. Now, about Samurai Jack. Sure, Jack accomplished an amazing physical feat- but we all know that brawn doesn't equal brain, and jumping eighty feet in the air sure as hell won't help you ace the SAT's.</p>
<p>Yes. I pwned the SAT mainly because I practiced with contest math, and reading which was over my level so I just had to struggle. It wasn't an overnight process, it took at least a summer. </p>
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<p>Hm, I think you left out "knowing the basics", "Understanding your mistakes", and all those other "tricks" to do well on the SAT.</p>
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<p>Those aren't "tricks" just for the SAT, they're "tricks" for studying in general. If you don't know the basics, you can't walk. And if you can't walk, you'll never run. And what's the point of a practice test without mistakes to understand?</p>
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<p>It's much, much more than just picking up a prep book and grinding the problems over and over. </p>
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<p>True, with the exception of math. And writing. </p>
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<p>Now, about Samurai Jack. Sure, Jack accomplished an amazing physical feat- but we all know that brawn doesn't equal brain, and jumping eighty feet in the air sure as hell won't help you ace the SAT's.</p>
<p>Guys, telling him this stuff now isn't going to help, whether he studied well or not :rolls eyes: He can't take the SAT again, so it doesn't even matter.</p>
<p>The fact is he's now got a 2110 SAT score (which is still a very good score) and is applying to some tough colleges.</p>
<p>Why don't you contribute something positive to the thread instead of how disappointed you are that he didn't get a 2400.</p>
<p>Oh man come on, a 2080 is NOT even close to atrocious.</p>
<p>It's a little on the low side for HYPS, but I think you're still competitive.</p>
<p>And they won't care that your score <em>decreased</em> with subsequent sittings. It really doesn't matter.</p>
<p>You're fine, calm down a little. You're almost done with apps and then just know that you did everything you could.</p>
<p>You've done your part, now it's up to college admissions, and we all know how ridiculous admissions can be, so just know that you're not alone and that you're probably smarter than plenty of students at all of the schools you're applying to.</p>
<p>Uh yeah, if you have the physical prowess to jump eighty feet in the air, you don't need to ace the SATs at all or even take the SATs for that matter, because you probably will have a very lucrative career as an athlete. </p>
<p>Are you kidding me? You are worrying about 2110? No offense, but I think it's very sad when people come on here to worry about these types of things. If you had a 1400/2400 then yeah, maybe you can worry. I would find something more productive to do than worry about a 20 point decrease from an already outstanding score.</p>