<p>For example, if someone got 700-800 in the reading and writing sections, but maybe like a 350-400 on the math, what would college admissions make of that? Would they be more or less likely to admit a student? Say they scored around 1900, that is a pretty decent SAT score to me; but if the bulk of that score came from reading/writing would it make a difference?</p>
<p>Thanks to all who read/respond!</p>
<p>Really depends on the selectivity of schools you are planning to apply to. Also depends on your major. Engineering/math-heavy major departments will not be as fond of the lower math score, as let’s say, creative writing or Italian or something.</p>
<p>@Ctesiphon Man that’s a bummer for me than, I am hoping to be a Comp. Sci. major. I’m retaking the SAT this month but don’t see my math scores going up, I do have confidence in my eng/writing scores. </p>
<p>Maybe if I apply to schools that offer a BA in comp. sci? Or are less math-heavy…hmm…</p>
<p>Anyhow, thank you very much for your honest response I appreciate it!! </p>
<p>What schools are you considering?</p>
<p>@Ctesiphon
Fordham is my top choice, but all their mid range Sat scores seem to be in the 600s including math. They offer a BA with less math requirements. </p>
<p>I am also mainly considering LIU Brooklyn, Brooklyn College, Wagner, Manhattan College, and Stony Brook. </p>
<p>I already have a very limited amount of comp.sci. experience that is mainly focused on web design and it just seems like what I would enjoy doing most as a career…also I have noticed math but it feels for me like it is applied differently than traditional math.</p>
<p>I don’t really think a lower math score would mean the difference on being able to do a BS or a BA in computer science… If your overall SAT score is in the 75th percentile of your schools of choice, it will likely not matter as much. If you are in the 25% to 50%, that is where you may see some issue here. Of course, your GPA may make up for a lack in the SAT for selective universities.</p>
<p>That is a really low math score for any science based major. With such great scores in other areas, you should be open to new things in college, you may discover a passion you don’t even know about yet. Most good CS programs do have a good deal of math and to be really good at CS, math skills are important. If CS is in the engineering departments as it is at many schools, they will want stronger scores in math for sure. Web design is the lighter side of CS that could be found in digital media programs as well. Programming and coding requires logic with a math based skill set. I would look for a BA in CS or a CS/Business combo. Many people are majoring in CS now and you will be competing with them for jobs - and many of them have mad math skills. Good luck!</p>
<p>@Ctesiphon My highest math score is actually 370, I know I can get the other scores up but I’m insecure about the math…if you look here <a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1148”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg02_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1148</a> it shows that the lowest most common math score in SAT in in the 600 range. </p>
<p>I really hope my grades (I am a transfer, but I have to look back into what my highschool grades were) will make up for the SAT. Hopefully I can make some improvement…</p>
<p>Thanks for your input by the way!</p>
<p>@blueskies2day I was worried it would be low, I’m not looking to go into the electric engineering side of CS (like robotics), just mainly coding/web development. I originally wanted to major or double major with history, but I feel like the job market would be super competitive and I’d have to stay in school longer while working less/being in debt for longer.</p>
<p>I will keep my mind open to other degrees, though I’m very set on wanting a CS degree!</p>
<p>Thanks very much for your honest feedback!</p>
<p>@sofiacee, you should practice the SAT or ACT(whatever your preference) to raise your math scores. My Comp Lit major kid was apprehension about Math just as you, she practiced lots of math problems in the summer and went from 650+ to 800. Now I don’t think I’m encouraging you to shoot for 800 but I think if you look at your past mistakes you should be able to increase from 370 to 650. It sounds like you get dings for taking risk, don’t do the problems that you can’t guess. You should be able to guess and eliminate some bad choices on the SAT.</p>
<p>Yeah, the guessing part is a big ding on the SAT, unlike the ACT.</p>
<p>If you are able to eliminate one answer on an SAT question, statistically, guessing goes in your favor. Most questions you should be able to guess on… I haven’t taken the SAT myself, but I think there is a portion where you have to actually write in some math answers or something. In that case, I don’t know at all.</p>
<p>@DrGoogle & @Ctesiphon Thank you both! </p>
<p>I have taken the test twice before and just recently took a practice, but all of the time I leave most of them blank if I don’t think I can answer them because I’m afraid of losing points for guessing.</p>
<p>I will continue practicing/trying to learn some math problems that would be on the test, I’m afraid to guess though! I’ll try the guessing if I can eliminate one answer thing on my next practice test. </p>
<p>There is also this math plan called Keller I found here <a href=“Keller's Math SAT Game Plan”>http://www.satgameplan.com/satcharts/satchartframe.htm</a></p>
<p>It seems interesting but I’m not sure if it really works, do either of you know anything about this? Is this a good way to take the SAT? I’ll try this on a practice exam as well. </p>
<p>Just in the high 500’s for me seems like it would be a miracle, and even more so if I get in the 600s…I’ll keep trying though! </p>
<p>This SAT is in about a week! Thanks again for this help.</p>
<p>That’s a good way if you aren’t looking to get a very high score (when you would expect yourself to answer every question at a reasonable level). For a 600ish, that would be an okay strategy.</p>
<p>Both my sons did ok on the SAT Math sections but got higher scores on the ACT. I would give it a try.</p>
<p>@Ctesiphon Alright! That’s good, I think my main focus should be learning how to understand/do the problems then. I saw good reviews for Keller but felt skeptical on if it would accurately predict which numbers would be harder than others.</p>
<p>@Gumbymom Maybe I will give that a shot! </p>
<p>I am looking to transfer out of my CC by Spring 2015 and hand in applications as early as possible, but I think you are allowed to send in more scores later in the year after the initial application is sent right? I’ll see how I do on this SAT first though and go from there. Thanks for the suggestion!</p>
<p>@sofiacee C’mon man. You can raise that math score. Have you taken Geometry/Algebra 2/Trig? Try and master them by topic. I can’t remember the last time I got a geometry question wrong. Just take practice math sections and when you’re done, look up the answers and go over the ones you got wrong. Some people get under 400’s on each section! You already have the other two mastered.</p>
<p>Considering some colleges still use the 1600 scale, math is still a lot more important than writing – in my opinion. Some studies have shown that writing is the best predictor of college success, but who knows if colleges go by this.</p>
<p>If you want to be a CompSci major, you definitely need to get those math scores up.</p>
<p>and which colleges still use the 1600 scale?</p>
<p>@sofiacee, both of my daughters used the 10 old SAT, also check out the Xiggi’s SAT prep on this site. I think both of my kids started out really low and ended up with the top 1% scores. Good luck !</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggi-s-sat-prep-advice.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggi-s-sat-prep-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Well cornell engineering uses 1600 (math+Cr). Your math scores are extremely low for someone to get into a science/engineering field.</p>
<p>@ThanksIKnow Ah okay!! I am going to continue practicing, I had that in mind too that some colleges only use two or that some colleges don’t view the writing/essay as important as the other two sections. Thanks for to input/motivation! If I don’t score higher after taking this SAT I’ll have to decide where to go from there.</p>
<p>@mrnephew @ooohcollege Yes I agree, I really had that major in mind though…now I am realizing how important and related that math grade can be though, even if my overall score seems high.</p>
<p>@DrGoogle Thanks! I will check Xiggi out, I have mainly been using Silverturtle’s guide and it seems to be working well too. As for the 10 old ones those are in the blue book right? I have been using those as well!</p>
<p>Thank you everybody for the input.</p>