jellyb1991

-So I am in the midst of appyling and really stressing....no joke
-I am probably in the same situation as everyone else but I am NOT a good standerdized test taker....so I am a little bit behind...but anyway on to the interesting stuff!

Rough Academic and EC Resume:

-Student Council Representative: (9-12th)
-Over 120 hours of volunteer work and counting this year
-National Honors Society Member: (10-12th)
-Spanish National Honors Society Member: (11-12th)
-Ran Cross-Country and Track: (9-12th)
-Ran first varsity race at the Texas XC State Championship and helped team get third
in state
-Crowned "Donut Run Queen"
-Competed at Regional Level
-Voted as "Most Improved" by track team in 10th grade
-Co-Captain of XC team during senior year
-Spend at least 15 hours per week running (everyday of the week sometimes including Sundays)
-Going to participate in Science Olympiad during 2nd half of the year(12th)
-Blackbelt
-Vacation Bible School Teacher (9th)
-Coach for local summer track camp (9-12th)
-Nominated for a K-Award in Biology H (10th) and IPC H (9th)
-Homeroom (MAP) representative (12th)

A little Somthing Something.....:

-Hispanic
-Lived in Mexico for four years before coming to Texas (Tejas)


True Academic Standings:

-Maintained A's all through Highschool career except in Chemistry and Geometry (89) for only one semester each
-Rank: 37/ 947 (Large 5A School - almost 1,000 kids per grade)
-Percentage: Top 4%
-GPA: 3.947

Freshman:
-IPC H
-World Geography H
-XC/ Track
-Art I
-Algebra
-LA Pre-AP H
-Spanish 2

Sophmore:
-LA Pre-Ap H
-Spanish 3
-World History Pre-AP H
-Biology H
-Geometry H
-XC/ Track
-Speech and Health

Junior:
-English
-XC/ Track
-Videotech
-Algebra 2 H
-US AP History H
-Chemistry H
-Spanish 4

Senior:
-Bio II H
-Physics H
-English
-Pre-Calculus
-Anatomy H
-Government AP H and Economics H
-XC / Track


OKAY!! Got all of that?? Okay here comes the BIG POOPER.....

SAT:
Math: 600
CR: 530
WR: 620

I am a good overall student its just when I get to the tests I cannot focus and breathe...I just freak out!! I am planning to take the SAT in November and December so hopefully I can improve my scores. If you have any comments or suggestions feel free to comment - if you have any other schools that you think might fit my criteria better feel free to leave suggestions!

THANKS

nocousin

You have a lot going for you. BUT those SAT scores are not the best for the highly competitive and selective schools. I dont know how Fordham views that, only that they look at the overall student and what they bring to the table.

On test taking, if you have serious anxiety issues about it, you need to learn to deal with that. Breathing exercises. A good nights sleep the day before, good healthy breakfast with orange juice, and some meditation exercises to stay calm. Get some coaching on it if you can.

And in your application explain yourself. If you can take tests in classes, the SAT is not that much different, just longer.

There is a methodology to taking the SAT. Dont waste time on directions if you know what the section is about. Dont waste too much time on one question. If you are stumped and cant eliminate 2 of the 4 choices, move on. Come back to that later. A lot of kids answer questions correctly but are too slow. IS that your problem? Or did you get a lot of wrong answers? Find out. If you are too slow, then find ways to speed up, such as answering the ones you know first and come back to the hard ones later etc. If you are poor at guessing, then dont guess. But if you are good at guessing, then go ahead and make a stab at it IF you can eliminate 2 of the 4 choices.

Also, make sure you are applying to several schools: reach, match and safety schools. Maybe go to a safety school for a year, prove yourself and then transfer to Fordham if you dont get in on the first try.

Good luck.

chubeebo

hi jellyb. Not sure about registration deadlines, but do you have time to take the ACT. Maybe you can do better in that exam, as many kids have found out. Fordham would accept ACT scores.

Even with the "pooper", I still think your academic and extracurricular record would make you competitive. Good luck jellyb.

dadoffour

Couple of thoughts ... do try to take the ACT if there is time. It may be a better fit for you. Goggle "test taking anxiety strategies" and see if there is some help for you there if this is really an issue. If you have some anxitey issues, it best to deal with them now before you leave home and enter the high stress nature of a top university program.

All that being said, you need to address the test scores head on in your essay and if possible in the teacher recs you are getting. May even want to get an interview if getting to NYC is feasible. I think FU "super scores" the SAT, so try to do well in CR next time, don't stress about the other sections you have decent numbers there for your other stats.

There are a number of schools that don't require an SAT, you can find those on the web. Find the best fit, and good luck to you.

CU4L91

ull get in

icedrake

You will get in. I had worse grades, worse SAT scores, and fewer extracurricular activities. I applied Early Action but was put back in with the regular applicants and was accepted.

dadoffour

More good info Freshman Applications, SAT Scores Up - News

afitscher

u shud be fine, the SAT scores are the only things that suck fordham is a great school i imagine a 1200 makes you competitive