<p>I can do fine on APs and chapter tests but I just can’t do well on Standarized testing esp SAT and SAT IIs. Is there still a chance for Harvard? I don’t have anything special in sports nor awards but I have a pretty good GPA and rank and decent ECs.</p>
<p>if you can make your essay really good/standoutish...then you might have a chance for all you know...you should apply...just so you don't regret not trying later on!!!</p>
<p>Have you tried the ACT?
Harvard typically does not take students who score below 1200 on the SAT (or the equivalent on the ACT). That may give you an idea of where you would stand.</p>
<p>aren't APs standardized tests?</p>
<p>Northstarmom-well not THAT bad combined..(600+740) it's just one is very low. SAT IIs (700 avg)</p>
<p>Tobsta- APs are just more specific and I do better with them. For instance, I only got a 680 on my chemistry SAT II but then got a 5 on the AP test and got like the highest grade in the class.</p>
<p>hot ice i am feeling you. i do extremeley well on APs and I have a high GPA and a high class rank, but I don't do well on SAT 1s specially (lower to mid 1300s).</p>
<p>however i think NSM is right in saying to take the ACT. I got so disillusioned by my SAT scores that I thought I should reconsider not applying to many schools I once I had envisioned myself applying to. then my counselor told me about the ACT test and I have taken a few practice ones and I am really quite shocked at my difference. </p>
<p>if your like me (and like Hot_Ice) i really recommend taking the ACT. I did much much better on the ACT and I am preparing to take in December.</p>
<p>btw if anyone knows. how do really top schools (like the Ivys, et al) look at an applicant who has strong ECs, high class rank (top 1%), challenging course load (not just Honors but many APs with high scores to back them up), top AP scores, but not so good SATs (1300s) ?</p>
<p>that i believe is also my dilemma along with hot_ice</p>
<p>Seven Nights- did you have to study a lot for the ACT? I don't know much about the test at all, so I don't know if I'll have enough time to study for it before the December 11th one. How are your SAT II scores?</p>
<p>i PMed you</p>
<p>I second (or third) that ACT recommendation. My SAT is 1310, my ACT is 34 -- which equals a 1510 to 1550 on the SAT. Try it, you might get hooked. :-)</p>
<p>Hot Ice: i've heard that most ppl don't even study for the ACT and get above a 32 which is considered good...(i personally have little idea what the ACT is like)...so i guess study as much as you can and take it...you don't have to use your score...but you'll probably good well...good luck!</p>
<p>yeah, you dont really need to study for the ACT</p>
<p>"shjanama77 and chidimma", Your statements may not be inaccurate and one, insult people who did very well on the ACT and two, may give people who plan to take the test overconfidence that they will do well on the ACT.</p>
<p>I myself have not ever taken the test, but according to the ACT website itself, a composite score of 32 is the 99th percentile of all testakers, meaning 99 percent of testakers scored a 32 or below. Therefore, even if you were just exaggerating shjanama, saying that most people dont study AND get above a 32 is just ludicrous. Even people I have talked to who are pretty smart have not gotten above 32, AND the 99th percentile in the SAT is in the 1500s, so that WOULD be a comprable score, not necessarily an easier one. </p>
<p>Also, I know that the ACT includes a writing/grammatical section, reading comps section, and analogies, all of which people study for being that these sections are of similar format to the SATs where people study vocab for analogies and prepare for SAT 2 writing by studying assiduously.</p>
<p>No, there are no analogies.</p>
<p>I don't know any other seniors who got 31 or above (I got a 33.25).</p>
<p>According to the various online conversion charts, 32 is converted to about a 1420, 33-1470, 34-1520, 35-1580, 36-1600.</p>
<p>As for the sections, look out for the science! It's what killed me (34E, 35M, 35R, 29S)</p>
<p>I used to be in your position, Hot Ice. I sucked at standardized tests. but, I took a short princeton review 1 on 1 course and they showed me the fallacy in my thinking when I approached the SAT. Once I found out all the idiotic tricks the testmakers use to deceive people, the SAT became substantially easier. I mean, in 7th grade, I did that Duke University talent identification program thing...where you take the SAT as a 7th grader. </p>
<p>I got a 960 as a 7th grader (560 math, 400 verbal)... then, i didn't do a thing after 7th grade, and in 11th grade i took the princeton review 1 on 1 course before i took the SATs, and got a 1500 (800 math, 700 verbal).</p>
<p>So basically, if you still have time, I highly recommend the princeton review course. Take the regular course, and then the supplemental 1 on 1 tutoring, and it'll show you how to achieve the "SAT-mind"</p>
<p>Do you have to pay for those courses on the princeton review? b/c if not then I will definitely signup but if you do ......you should just sum up what they told you and post it here.</p>
<p>Science has been the bane of my ACT score both times. I got a 34 English and Reading, a 33 Math and a 32 Science. The second time I got a 36, 34, 34, 32. So each time, if I had done as well on Science as the other two sections, my composite would have been about a point higher. I don't think I'll retake it because I got a 1540 on the SAT. I may take the new versions of the two tests, though.</p>
<p>Princeton Review courses are definitely not free, sorry Heathcliff.</p>
<p>I'm not taking the ACT (much to the disbelief of my Midwestern classmates), but from what I know, science seems like one of the easier sections. I was under the impression that it doesn't test any past knowledge, and is just about whether you can read graphs or not. Is it difficult because of the time crunch?</p>
<p>Partly time and partly I don't know. I'm excellent in Science and graph reading. In fact, I'm actually very good at the exact things the Science section tests, which is why it's so puzzling I don't perform better. Maybe I just don't test well. ;)</p>
<p>I'd say that for very objective things like math and science where there is a clear answer then there is a lot less understanding for bad test taking. But for verbal or writing where there is no definite 100% accurate answer there is a good amount of leniancy for a bad test taker. I got 800 math and 680 verbal because i always second guess myself in verbal and think, "well, i can definitely argue that this would be the best answer". I hate verbal with a passion. Oh well.</p>
<p><i've heard="" that="" most="" ppl="" don't="" even="" study="" for="" the="" act="" and="" get="" above="" a="" 32="" which="" is="" considered="" good="">
i agree completely...i took the ACT w/o studying and scored a 33...as a freshman!</i've></p>