My current SAT score is a 2040 (CR-620, M-650, W-770), which I KNOW makes me an unlikely candidate for now!
I am posting this because I have ONE MORE shot at the SAT because the last issuing of the current one is this month! I am already registered, I just am hoping someone can tell me how much I should bring up each section to become a competitive applicant. I work with a private tutor and am confident I can meet a higher score with hard work!
Besides testing here are my credentials:
4.0 Unweighted GPA
Crew Team
Marching Band- Flute
Concert Band
Key Club
Interact Club
Relay For Life captain one year
National Math Honor Society
National Science Honor Society
National English Honor Society
National History Honor Society
Science Research Competition
National History Day- 3 year participant
Math Tutor
AP Courses
BTW I am a white female, and a junior in high school. I am looking to pursue STEM, which I know can help in some cases but not in others.
Your SAT is bringing you down. The average scores for Duke for the SAT (according to a quick Google search) are
SAT Critical Reading: 670 / 760
SAT Math: 700 / 790
SAT Writing: 690 / 780
Your writing section is fine. In order to be in right at 25% of admitted students, you need to bring up your CR and M scores by 50 points. No small feat, but you can do it.
If you aren’t happy with the results on the next exam, it isn’t too late to do a prep course for the new SAT. Though this is the last test sitting for the new exam, you will have ample opportunities to sit the new one. Though it certainly isn’t ideal, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
If you can keep your GPA basically constant throughout junior year and can take on a leadership position senior year you will have a great shot! Hope this helps!
You absolutely need to crack 700 on all three SAT sections. PLUS you need a much higher math score. It’s expected that successful applicants to top-tier STEM programs get close to 800.
Thanks guys! @theaussie if I don’t score as high as I hope to for the last issuing of the current sat, do you think it would be better for me to then focus my studies on the new sat or the act?? Which would I be more prepared for with my current knowledge of the “old” sat?
Also, I really want to found a club at my school that focuses on drives for charity. Of course some clubs here have annual drives like a book drive, thanksgiving drive, etc., but I was thinking a club whose purpose was solely to collect donations for charity would be great. It would focus on collecting items that you don’t typically see drives for, such as jeans, sneakers, prom dresses, and more. I also thought a good idea could be to create a job board for students at my school and hang available positions with business contact information on it in the guidance department. Does this club sound like a good idea?
@shannon14-- I only took the ACT, so I’m just speaking from friend’s experiences. But most found that it was easier to switch from the SAT to the ACT, than the ACT to the SAT. With some prep, I think you could do really well on the ACT. That might be easier than taking the new SAT. I don’t think SAT II is absolutely essential, but it would be a good idea. Take Math II-- if you’ve taken precalculus then it shouldn’t be too hard.
I think that club sounds like a great idea-- passion always leads to success, so go for it girl!