FSU Chance

payco88 · 11-20-2009, 01:01 PM

I'm a senior in high school and have been dual-enrolled since my junior year. As it stands now, upon graduation I should have 30 credit hours worth of classes that should, in theory, transfer to Florida State (waiting for a second opinion). I'm a Florida resident. I attend a small private school, and have been working substantial for my entire high school career, and this was included on my resume which was sent with my application. I'm in the top 10% of my class.

My GPA is a 3.8 according to my high school, but will receive additional weight to dual-enrollment classes when it's re-calculated by the FSU Admission Office. My major will be accounting, and I'm currently on track to pass my second accounting class with flying colors. I've taken AP American History, AP Literature and Composition, and AP Language and Composition (but have not passed the AP tests). Most of my classes in high school have been Honors, AP, or Dual-Enrollment.

I took the SAT during my junior year, and recently the ACT during my senior year and received a substantial increase in scores. I received a 27 composite score on my ACT (NO WRITING), while receiving a 1650 cumulative SAT score.

I'd appreciate any input you're willing to give it.

brysia · 11-20-2009, 01:12 PM

You should be ok, just don't have to submit your SAT scores. Just submit your ACT since 27 is probably good enough.

navarre1 · 11-20-2009, 04:13 PM

ACT no writing= ACT no good

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

sunnyflorida · 11-20-2009, 05:20 PM

Send both ACT and SAT. You need a writing score. They do mix SAT and ACT and will take the best subscore of SAT or ACT when it comes to math, reading etc but you need a writing score.

I think your in.

Dnerd · 11-20-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

ACT no writing= ACT no good

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Not sure where you got this misinformation, but I assure you that it is just that. Schools will tell you if they want you to take the writing section.

To the TC, when did you apply?

sunnyflorida · 11-20-2009, 07:48 PM

Sorry Dnerd but to apply to FSU one MUST take a writing portion of the ACT or the SAT. So navarre1 is CORRECT. An ACT with no writing portion is not good enough. This is not misinformation, this is written all over the FSU admissions requirement pages.

lizard · 11-20-2009, 10:05 PM

For freshmen, I don't think FSU "requires" applicants do writing portion of tests. FSU requires SAT or ACT scores, but writing portion is not a must. FSU says on its website ACT takers "should" take writing portion. When I attended a presentation at FSU in August, I am 99.9% sure the FSU admission officer said they didn't need or look for the the writing portion scores. I remember this because it kind of surprised me when he said it. It seems FSU recommends taking the writing portion, but it is not really part of their application review process. Still if FSU recommends it I would surely do it though, and I most certainly would do the separate essay too. If you got a 27 ACT without the writing portion you will probably be ok without it for admissions, but I would check with the admissions office to be sure. You should consider retaking tests with writing portions anyway to try to improve scores for scholarships.

Dnerd · 11-20-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Sorry Dnerd but to apply to FSU one MUST take a writing portion of the ACT or the SAT. So navarre1 is CORRECT. An ACT with no writing portion is not good enough. This is not misinformation, this is written all over the FSU admissions requirement pages.

Not sure where you got that, but FSU is not listed on the ACT site as one which requires the writing section. I talked with an admissions counselor on the collegeweeklive thing earlier this month and they said that it was still only recommended to take the ACT with writing if you don't take the SAT and they have no way of judging your on-the-spot writing ability.

payco88 · 11-20-2009, 10:57 PM

I received a 9 (12 being the highest) for my SAT essay score. I don't really see a reason why they wouldn't be able to mix-and-match, but I'm not positive on that.

I applied in time for the December 9th admission decision, so about 5-6 weeks ago.

sunnyflorida · 11-21-2009, 08:44 AM

ACT "no writing" ALONE will not get you even considered at FSU. If you took the SAT and have a writing score, you will be considered, if you take the ACT without writing; but IF YOU TAKE THE ACT WITH NO WRITING and this is all you take YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ADMISSION AT FSU.

The ACT site is out of date.

I am on the faculty at FSU. I love it when high school kids argue will me (sarcasm.).

UPDATE

The ACT website shows that FSU DOES REQUIRE the ACT writing and has done so since 2006
https://actapps.act.org/writPrefRM/d...rkLOlQrMpRjK.6

Quote:

What Colleges Have Decided about the Writing Test

Selected 1 record

Four Year Colleges

1 results found, displaying 1 to 1

ACT Code College Name City State/U.S. Territory Decision Begins*
0734 Florida State University Tallahassee FL Required 2006
Other Colleges
* For colleges and universities requiring the Writing Test, the decision will first apply to students entering in the fall of the indicated year.

© 2009 by ACT, Inc.

payco88 · 11-21-2009, 09:06 AM

The thread has gotten a bit side-tracked. I appreciate the information on my ACT (no writing) and the problems it may pose, but the question was: what do you think my chances are? I have taken the SAT with writing, and did recent in my opinion (540 on writing questions, 9 on the essay). That puts my writing scores in the 66th percentile nationally, and 71st percentile for Florida (according to the college board).

To my understanding, the admissions office will pull my best scores from different tests, depending on my performance in any particular section. If I'm wrong, then feel free to correct me. As of now, I don't see the ACT (no writing) hindering my application to a significant extent. I'm not going to be a writing or english major of any kind. My major is accounting, and I've been taking accounting classes at the college I'm dual enrolled at since my junior year. I also think that will have some influence, but I may be thinking too deep in to the application process.

Dnerd · 11-21-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

they said that it was still only recommended to take the ACT with writing if you don't take the SAT and they have no way of judging your on-the-spot writing ability.

So.. you basically just said exactly what I said. They want it if you didn't take the SAT with writing. I specifically talked with an admissions counselor and that's she told me (in front of two other admissions officers). I know that when I sent UF my ACT without writing, I was told that it wouldn't be considered. I highly doubt that FSU wouldn't have the decency to tell you "No thanks" or something if they weren't planning on looking at it rather than updating it to the website when you send your scores.

nycollegedad · 11-22-2009, 04:41 PM

op... did you apply for summer session or fall?

payco88 · 11-22-2009, 06:26 PM

I applied for the fall semester.

I think that I've got a reasonable chance for acceptance. My essay was well written, reviewed by several teachers and professionals. My resume also included other extra-curricular activities. My SAT scores were low, but my writing and essay scores were in the top 35% of those who took the last last year. In combination with my ACT scores, my testing shouldn't be an issue. Fall does have more competition, and I understand that. I applied in accordance with the earliest available deadline. It's just a matter of waiting another couple of weeks to find out.