When should I NOT send a low test score - even to state flagship schools?

Applying to College
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Hi! I have an 1140 SAT and 23 ACT, so they’re about equal. I have a busy fall and I’m not the best test taker so I don’t see the point in taking them again because I won’t have much time to study. My GPA is about a 3.4 Can I get into IU, or Michigan State? Or many others. It looks like IU’s scores were really high for the entering class. How do I know when to hold off sending them somewhere? I find Naviance for my school to be a little confusing with these statistics (anyone else feel the same?) and I keep getting conflicting advice from people I trust. Some are saying don’t send them, others are saying that it’s another data point and I should. So I’m really confused in general!

Also, is it really best to apply early? Even if my GPA might go up? But how do you know for sure? SOS.

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for the test scores, i would only submit if they’re in the middle 50% or above of last years class of admitted students, which can typically be found by just looking up “x college admissions statistics”

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Okay, so 2022 admits, is this correct? I have also been told to email admissions officers (or call) and ask, but I am not sure if this is the best idea?

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My opinion…I would not submit your ACT or SAT scores to IU or MIchigan State. Your standardized test scores aren’t going to make your GPA look better.

Are you instate for either of these schools?

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I also would not send those scores to IU or MSU. Hopefully you have some other factors that will make your GPA sufficient.

And I would try to take one of those tests again- you never know.

You certainly have a shot with that 3.4 if you have some decent EC’s and letters…but they aren’t safety schools.

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I am for IU.
What about University of Colorado-Boulder? I visited and loved it (we ski there every year). Would you send scores there?

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No.

My opinion…you only send test scores that will make your application shine brighter.

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I really appreciate all of the input. What about at a school like University of Missouri-Columbia. Would this be a safety and would I send scores?

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And I should apply as early as I can without sacrificing the quality of my essays and all, right? Sorry to ask so many questions, my parents aren’t super helpful with this because they’re really busy with work so I’m really glad I found this site.

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Missouri average SAT score is 1190

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so should I go by average or middle 50 percent, I’m confused about that too

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But yea I guess that means it’s not a safety…thanks.

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It is difficult for us to make recommendations in a vacuum. It would help if you answer these questions:

  • Is your 3.4 GPA weighted or unweighted?

  • Will you have taken 4 years of classes in each of the 5 core subject areas (Eng, Sci, Soc Studies, FL, Math)

  • Are you a minority?

  • Are you low income and/or the first in your family to go to college?

  • What state do you live in?

  • What is your college budget, per year?

Generally, you shouldn’t submit test scores if you are below the 25%ile. Submitting scores in the 25th-50%ile is a gray area. It is difficult to find admitted student score ranges, and easier to find enrolled mid-50% ranges. You can get mid 50%ile ranges for the class of 2025 from each school’s common data set.

Here’s Mizzou’s: CDS

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it is weighted and I have taken 4 years of each. Not a minority or first to go to college. Indiana. I need to talk more with my folks about budget, but for now I am trying to at least make a long list of schools to start with. I tried to click on this (thank you for sending the link) but it asked for a username and password. is there a way to get on without that.

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We need your unweighted GPA, core courses only, on a 4 point scale, where A+/A/A- = 4, B+/B/B- = 3 and so on. Many schools will calculate your uwGPA like this.

Step one is to talk to your parents about budget. Is IU affordable at around $25K per year, if you don’t get any merit or need based aid?

The Mizzou link works for me. You can get any school’s CDS by googling the school name and CDS or common data set.

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Okay. This makes sense. And IU is the most affordable because I am in state.

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IU’s mid-50% SAT range for class of 2025 was 1170-1370, and only 39% of the class submitted an SAT. IU CDS

So, I would not submit your 1140 SAT to IU. What school within IU would you be applying to?

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Okay. This is really helpful to know about the CDS. I will be googling those. That is also really good to see what percentage submitted scores. Liberal arts.

So it sounds like if I am even a little under the middle 50 I should not send them and try my best to make the rest shine. Does it help to apply soon?

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If you are under the 25%ile (which is the lower number in the mid-50% range), I recommend you not submit the score.

I don’t think you need to apply soon, but IU is rolling admission (so, for example, if you apply in September, you may have an admission decision by Nov). The EA deadline is Nov 1 and you should make that (again I am giving you recs in a vacuum and don’t know so much about you and your app).

You should talk to your HS GC. Have you requested at least one letter of rec from a junior year teacher? Does your HS use Naviance or Scoir (software packages to help with admissions process)?

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@pdiddy123

Google “common Data Set, University of Missouri, Columbia”

That might get you where you need to be.