Like many on this forum, I want to go to a top school, which happens to be Yale in my case. Also like many, I got my SAT scores back today, and I’m not sure where I went wrong. I got a 1450 total with a breakdown of 730 reading and 720 math. I got 4 wrong on the language/grammar component, and 4 on the reading. I’m ordering the QAS, so I’ll have a more complete idea of what I answered incorrectly.
Unlike a lot of people, I have studied. A lot. I studied 80 hours using Khan Academy prep and took all of the practice tests. I kept a notebook of the math questions that I got wrong and corresponding solutions. I got to the point where I was getting repeated reading/language passages and math questions because I’d almost exhausted Khan completely (I did buy the official College Board book, but I thought that it was useless). I was meticulous, and I wasn’t lazy. I did stay up late the night before studying, but I don’t think that could have had that much of an effect on my score.
1450 is clearly not Yale material. I need to score 100-150 points higher, though I wouldn’t be too upset if I could just get any score over 1500. I plan to take the test a second time. I’m registering for the SAT at the end of January.
I promise, I’m not a stupid person. I have a 3.94 GPA, and I took the absolute hardest course load at a private schools (almost had a bit of a nervous breakdown by the end of my junior year from being so stressed, but that’s another story.)
I really don’t want to come across as someone who’s full of it. I’ve just included the information above to give you a better picture of who I am, because as far as I know, we don’t know each other.
Advice would be really appreciated. I’m looking for a strategy. Please don’t tell me that SAT scores don’t matter, or that I’ll live if I don’t get into Yale. That’s not going to help me, and you won’t change my mind. I would gladly sell my soul to get into Yale. I understand that Yale looks to see if applicants have other talents, and I have some small hooks, but some things didn’t go as planned (think nasty running injury). These scores are very important to me and have a serious impact on my future. Thanks for looking at this.
Don’t worry, I’m not like that in public. If you met me in real life, you’d never guess that I felt this way. I keep my insecurities to myself, but here, I’m anonymous, so I can be as candid as I want. I’ll make sure that I come across as being very confident in my application. I’m just trying to be sincere, so people don’t think that I’m just some snob who went to prep school whining about a score that lots of people would be ok with.
Seriously though, is there anyone with a dream who isn’t at least a little desperate?
It sounds like you’re focused on stats, while Yale will look for more. You could improve the scores and still miss the point. Your strategy should start with being as savvy as you can about the whole picture they want. Not hearsay and certainly not assumptions.
I have done extensive research about Yale and and what they and other top schools are looking for. if you want, I can tell you more about myself and my other activites/honors ect. My recs are from two Phds (one of them is well known in my state), I’m not applying for financial aide, I have a particular major/program in mind that is unique to Yale, and hopefully (they think that) I’ve written a colorful essay that expresses my personality. Believe me, I’ve been thinking about this. While it’s important to be well-rounded and have a hook, scores do matter and will make a big difference on my application.
What I’m really looking for here is a SAT study strategy/study materials/tutors that I haven’t thought of yet. Let’s face it, the cold hard truth is that my scores aren’t good enough.
Don't dis TCB's official prep stuff. The Khan Academy material is of the same breed, and you want any practice you can get.
Relax. Seriously. Let yourself be prepared for the mental gymnastics that are the SAT, not overwhelmed by strategies and case studies from your practice.
Don't dis the advice already given. Yale is not the end. Insecurities are bad for your health. Masking desperation isn't enough; have you considered there's a reason these schools don't want kids utterly obsessed with the admissions ratrace? Take a chill pill; if not for yourself, for your candidacy at Yale.
Are your issues rooted in lack of content knowledge, calculation blips and lapses in reading comprehension, or pressure from the SAT's time constraints? If you don't know, follow this tried and true advice:
-take a practice test, taking your sweet time with everything
-copy your answers when you run out of time
-continue on in spite of the expired time limit until you feel certain of your answers
-check them
If they’re all right or nearly all correct, your content is gold.
If a significant number are wrong, you need review.
If your score w/ limit is much worse than the score w/o limit, you need speed practice and time saving strategies.
Of course it’ll impact your score negatively. So will excessive anxiety from the Yale obsession.
Get at least eight hours of sleep a night for several nights before the next test. Get up two hours before the test, have a good breakfast, then go outside and get a little exercise (jog, yoga, etc). Clear your head before going to the test.
BTW, a 1450 is clearly “Yale material”. Over 25% of the actual enrolled class of 2015 had a lower score according to yale.edu.
ay de mi, girl stop stressing you’re F I N E. That’s a great score. You’ll probably get in. Now go work on essays and prepping for your interview, you got this!
I used to joke that college was stupid and that I’d go run away and join the circus. Then, something happened to me (dunno what) and by the spring of my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to go to Yale. Yeah, I’m obsessed, but I’ve been that way for almost three years at this point. It’s just the way I am, and if you tell me that the majority of Yale applicants are not…it’s just not true.
I realized that going to sleep too late was a big mistake on my part, though I do think that the extra studying was worthwhile. I wouldn’t do that again, but I don’t need to either. I’ve taken all of Khan’s practice tests and answered almost all of his questions. My Khan practice test scores were similar to my actual score, so I don’t think that staying up that late had that much of an effect. I sleep more now, but there have been times when I was only able to get about four hours of sleep 5-6 days a week for about 8 months. It was brutal, but I mananged. I’ve learned to function on little sleep.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but with my score, I know that I won’t be accepted. I have some other honor/activities, but like I said, some things didn’t go as planned for me. I’m using the next few months to try to turn that around. These scores are important.
@OMPursuit
Thanks for taking your time to look at this but…
I thought TCB's stuff was worthless because I had already seen 99% of it. It's on Khan Academy and their website.
Again, as I have written, please do not tell me that I'll live if I don't get into Yale. It's easy for people to say stuff like that because it isn't their problem. If you were in my shoes, you'd probably be desperate too.
I've tried to run the analytics myself. I just don't know what to do. I've also tried the strategies you've mentioned. I'd get a handful of things wrong, and they'll be different every time. I also feel that it's hard to get a good practice test experience from Khan because there are a lot of mistakes. They might have a handful of poorly written questions per test, and you'll spend a lot of time on them on those few questions, which leaves less time to work on other questions. I feel like it skews the scores.
As someone who also hasn't applied to college and hasn't scored any higher than myself (saw a post you made yesterday, what a coincidence), I'm not sure that you know much more than I do. Maybe I'm missing something here.
@LoveTheBard
No, I have not tried the ACT. I originally chose to take the SAT because I’d heard that top colleges have a preference for it over the ACT–it’s perceived as “the gold standard,” and at this point, I feel that I won’t have enough time to study for a completely different exam. Thanks for the idea though.
I have a feeling that I’m going to get a whole lot of flack for the “I’d gladly sell my soul” comment. Let’s address that real quick, ok? My point is that there are plenty of kids at Yale who complain about this or that (you might have seen the protests on the news, I’m sure there will be more). Sure, it’s great to constructly criticize something, but I think that for some, it’s easy to forget that they are at the best university in the whole world. If I were (by some miracle) accepted at Yale, I would be grateful every single day. I am confident that they university would never regret admitting me. So, I’m desperate and confident all at once. How’s that for dichotomy?
So students who can only get their score up to a 1450 are stupid?
Yale is a reach for everyone. Do your best on the SAT, maybe try the ACT, and create a balanced list that includes matches and safeties (schools you’re sure to get into, can afford, and would be happy to attend).
I don’t think you do get it. Getting recs from 2 people with PhDs, even a well known one, is pretty meaningless. And Yale is need blind with a massive endowment — apply for aid or don’t, admissions will not care. Scores do matter, and higher scores would help. But Yale wants so much more on top of that.
@pennyforyourthoughts , you don’t have to “study for a completely different exam.” Get some rest, relax, and take the ACT. Your prep for the SAT will be sufficient. You might do well; if not, no harm done.
The way I interpret the data: Some kids submitted both the SAT and ACT, which accounts for the overlap. For example, 26% of students could have submitted both SAT and ACT, which would mean that 19% of accepted students just submitted the ACT. Based on the data, Yale clearly accepts both scores without bias or prejudice. As such, if your having issues with the SAT, you should try the ACT.
