I was wondering if I would even be considered for General Engineering with my current grades and all: (also I’m a junior)
SAT Score: 1890
CR: 650
M: 640
W: 600
Unweighted GPA: 3.8
Weighted GPA: 3.98
The Classes I’m taking this year are:
Civics/Economics
Honors Spanish 4
Honors English 11
Honors Pre-Calculus
Band
Honors Chemistry
AP Computer Science
My grades have mostly been around A-'s with some B+'s this year.
Is this close?
Courses aren’t as rigorous as they could be for engineering at VT. You don’t have a lot of AP’s plus no physics 11th grade? Will you be taking it senior year?
Get the SAT up and try the ACT too. You wanna be at least 2000.
Unfortunately, AP Computer Science is the only AP class at my school that I can take my junior year. Next year I’ll be taking the following:
Band
Psychology
Honors Physics
AP Literature
Honors C++
AP Calculus
Do they only compare my courses to my school or just in general because the classes I’m taking this year are the most difficult classes offered for junior year here.
What would you suggest for raising my SAT score by 100 or so points and for doing well on ACTs? I’m retaking it in April and I’m taking ACT’s in two weeks.
And with my grades being more of B+'s and A-'s, are my chances completely shot?
I’m not sure how much they consider extra-curricular activities, because I’m in FIRST robotics and I’m the section leader for the Sousaphone section in band.
OK that schedule looks good.
They compare your courses to what’s available at your school. The school profile your GC sends will say what honors and AP classes are available, and your GC will have to checkmark if you took the most rigorous courseload available.
SAT TIPS:
For reading, work on vocabulary and reading comprehension. Learn how to analyze the tone and interpret exactly what is being said and implied in the passages. The way I did it is I read the whole passage (took about 1-2 min) and then answered the questions. Usually, I’d be able to answer the question unless I had to flip back to look at something specific and I would underline the lines/words/indentations in quote question. (I managed to raise reading the most from 590 on my junior PSAT to 760 on this Dec SAT and 33 to a 36 on the ACT)
For math, work on the concepts and read everything carefully. It’s important to not be tricked by the questions. I couldn’t raise my math that much (only 60 points over taking it 3 times, but I’m good with it because I went from a 30 to a 32 on the ACT with math)
For writing, remember all the English rules and concepts. To get an idea if its grammatically correct, say it out loud and remember common idioms. Don’t get tricked or fooled. Also, don’t discredit E (no error). A lot of times, there isn’t an error.
For the ACT, the general above tips apply but the ACT is obviously different in format/timing and the addition of a science section.
ACT TIPS:
Science: It’s one of the hardest sections on the ACT. It’s not really science but a handful of questions may require some previous science knowledge. The science section is really interpreting the graphs, charts, experiments, and arguments. Don’t waste your time reading everything and trying to understand the jargon. All you need to read is the first blurb at the very top of each passage to familiarize yourself with what will be covered. Then, go straight to the questions. The questions will direct you back to the graph so you can answer the question.
The only exception is the Conflicting Viewpoint Passage, where there are scientists promoting their particular theories. Treat it like a Critical Reading passage. I’m not saying work so fast that you make mistakes, but make sure to work quickly. 45 minutes goes fast when you have 7 science passages. Prepare for 6-7 minutes to spend time on each passage and go through it smoothly. When I was in the ACT the first time, I wasn’t familiar with how to section my time, did bad, and scrambled at the end with three passages unanswered. I bubbled quickly and irresponsibly (Second time, I went in the ACT, was much more prepared and had time to spare at the end. Got a 28. Not the best but hey I got it up. Average is about a 22.)
A- and B+ are not bad, but you should definitely work if you can to get your grades up. EC’s help but don’t sell you completely. They look at rigor, GPA, and test scores first. Then EC’s, essays, and recommendations.
Thank you very much, this is extremely helpful. I appreciate it