This discussion was created from comments split from: Georgetown Subject Test Policies.
Help! Up until today (when I just got my subject test scores) I thought I was a good candidate for Georgetown. Now I’m really worried about my chances of getting in. What do you guys think?
Stats:
ACT: 35
APs (including senior year): Bio, Psych, Calc AB, Chemistry, Physics, Calc BC, Stat, Latin
otherwise all honors classes
GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 5.0 weighted
no official ranking from school, but definitely in top 10 out of 80
EC: varsity cross country (4 years); varsity soccer (3 years); model un (4 years); Latin club (3 years; President for 2); Personal Finance Club (secretary for 2/2 years); student ambassador; day prefect; NHS, National Latin Honors Society; 2 Latin awards; over 200 volunteer hours
Subject Test Scores: 590 us history, 690 Math II, 630 Chemistry
I am usually a good test taker and I thought I knew the material, and I have no idea what happened.
In the regular decision round of georgetown admissions, your SAT II scores are probably too low. Your ACT ad GPA and APs look good (assuming 4s and 5s on APs) and your extracurriculars look fine, not extraordinary or unusual or “super high level within the field of interest”. You should still apply if you’re interested, but assume rejection so that you’re prepared come the afternoon of March the whatever, and so that you’re delighted come a waitlist or an acceptance.
Alternatively, if you choose to apply EA, you don’t actually need SAT IIs, and can be admitted without 3 SAT II scores. At this stage, I think it would be advisable to either retake those SAT IIs using a Barron’s or PR prep book, or take a new one (do you do well in English or a foreign language? you should consider lit, for instance, or latin if you have previous experience). But again, it’s one item on a long, long checklist, and a rather unimportant one at many schools these days compared to other more qualitative items (essays, ECs, recs, academic preparedness for the workload etc.)
You need to look at a VARIETY of schools. Your ACT score is wonderful. Your APs, combined with your GPA which shows success in them (perfect grades) is a reassurance to colleges that you can do the work. The BIGGEST risk I’m seeing right now is ECs. They don’t look unusual by any measure, but if you promote them authentically, thoroughly, and passionately, that will be the difference between admission and rejection at any school. Good luck and don’t make the mistake of obsessing over scores - your standardized profile is great for any school that doesn’t require SAT IIs. Tufts, for instance. doesn’t require them if you take the ACT, and with a score of 35 I’d say you’ve a good shot somewhere like that. Many Ivies don’t even require them but only suggest them (not that your ECs look Ivy caliber tbh). Just things to think about.
I wish you all the best.