Hey, I’m planning to retake the SAT in May (and if my score is still not my desired goal, August as a last resort) and improve my 1550 770 RW/780 M (don’t berate me for trying to improve from a high score––I’m grateful for it, but I want to at least make up for my subpar GPA) to a 1580+. Does anyone have any tips (for reading particularly––I always got perfect on my practice tests, but the actual tests have me losing 4-5 questions in reading) that could be potentially beneficial in my endeavor? Thank you in advance.
In an earlier post, you said that your GPA was in the 3.8-2.9 range, so although you asked not to be berated, I have to point out:
• it is disingenuous to call your GPA low.
• a 1580 vs. a 1550 is a very small statistical difference and will not mean the difference between an acceptance and a rejection, regardless of GPA, IMO.
You are better served using the time to write some well-polished admissions essays. Geed luck.
@skieurope Yeah, I felt I had that coming. It’s not low by any means, but it’s lower than the average for schools I’m interested in, so I am disadvantaged slightly in that regard and would like to compensate.
In regards to essays, I’ve started thinking about them and will start work on them over the summer. Thanks for the guidance!
I’d ask WHY is your GPA low…though I have no idea if it actually IS low or if that is your perception. If it’s low because there was some major crisis, then explain that in your essays. I honestly don’t think from the level SAT score that you have, that a few more points would make a difference. Congrats on your SAT scores.
SAT scores can’t “make up for” GPA.
@rofikicafe I have no excuse for my GPA being low (not even that low, but it’s not a 4.0, so I am at a disadvantage in that regard) other than my mediocre performance in my freshman year. I have plenty of personal troubles, but considering that those ramped up this year and I’m still doing better with a more challenging courseload, I can’t really say that’s the cause.
@marvin100 Well, it at least bolsters my application in some way, and I would like all the help I could get.
Thank you both for your help!
@Wolfgangbread - there’s no meaningful difference between a 1550 and a 1580 in admissions decisions. Everyone–including adcoms–knows that the SAT’s scoring usefulness doesn’t achieve that degree of granularity.
Your SAT score is amazing and although I don’t know why you need to improve it, the best thing I think you can do is just read as much as possible. I only took the SAT 1 time and got a 1410 which I was pretty happy with and I was able to pretty much get into all of my schools with merit scholarships. I don’t know what schools you are aiming for , but I think with your GPA still being very good, any improvement in your SAT isn’t a make or break. Plus, colleges don’t just look at your academics, no matter how much you think that way. They will also look at your personal circumstances and if freshman year wasn’t your best, as long as they see that you have improved a lot, that’s what hey care about. Good luck!