Sats ----> Doom

nk9230 · 10-29-2009, 06:08 AM

I just got my october SAT scores.
They only went up by 30 points from last may (1880--> 1910), (1270--> 1300)
Is this seriously going to hurt me in admissions? Should I definitely retake in December?

tomzhang · 10-29-2009, 10:49 AM

I think it depends on schools you will apply. If I were you, I'd retake it.

alan007 · 10-29-2009, 11:01 AM

Your SAT falls way below Columbia's average (1360-1550). So if you don't have any other defining factors to advocate for you, then Columbia might as well be out of your reach. retaking may be an option for u (only if u r confident of making a significant improvement on ur previous scores). But if ur academics and extracurricular are good enough only ur meagre SAT score wont stand between u and ur acceptance letter.

nk9230 · 10-29-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Your SAT falls way below Columbia's average (1360-1550). So if you don't have any other defining factors to advocate for you, then Columbia might as well be out of your reach. retaking may be an option for u (only if u r confident of making a significant improvement on ur previous scores). But if ur academics and extracurricular are good enough only ur meagre SAT score wont stand between u and ur acceptance letter.

Retaking the SATs a 3rd time really wont work between IB coursework, and a major charity event with the orchestra I am in. I think Im going to try the ACTs. I otherwise think that my grades/GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars are strong.

confidentialcoll · 10-29-2009, 02:24 PM

it'll be very difficult but if you are a urm you still have a shot. If you don't have any serious hook (even urm might not be enough) then it will be difficult, you should only apply to one or two schools like Columbia, I wouldn't waste my time or money on more than 1 or 2. Columbia 25th percentile of accepted students is 2100, so 1900 probably puts you in the 0th -10th percentile of accepted students. Kids with such low scores have moved the earth to get in.

silverturtle · 10-29-2009, 03:55 PM

You should retake the SAT or take the ACT if you want a reasonable chance.

nk9230 · 10-31-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

it'll be very difficult but if you are a urm you still have a shot. If you don't have any serious hook (even urm might not be enough) then it will be difficult, you should only apply to one or two schools like Columbia, I wouldn't waste my time or money on more than 1 or 2. Columbia 25th percentile of accepted students is 2100, so 1900 probably puts you in the 0th -10th percentile of accepted students. Kids with such low scores have moved the earth to get in.

Well, I am a URM, but I don't rely on that to get in. I do have a 3.9 GPA and right now im 1st in my class, but to Ivy Leagues, Im sure that is a requirement.

undisclosed · 10-31-2009, 03:36 PM

You seem to have already made your decision and are just looking for justification not taking the exam again. Fine; don't take it.

The fact is that standardized tests are a huge part of admission and that is a really subpar score. I would cut the charity work and focus on getting a passable score (which this is not) but if you don't want to do that, KNOW that your application will strongly rely on you being a URM. And I've seen URMs with better scores and similar profiles (IB) get rejected.