JordanSaidWhat

(I apologize in advance for the length.)

So here is my situation. I come from a small town with one public high school. Standards are awful, but I'm still shooting high and applying to high schools and some Ivies. I'm very worried about my scores, though:

SAT (March 2012; junior)
2120
CR: 620
M: 700
W: 800 (E: 11)

SAT Subject Tests (December 2011; junior)
Literature: 590
Math Level 1: 720
Biology M: 650

SAT Subject Tests (May 2012; junior)
US History: 700
Math Level 1: 720
Biology E: 720

My SAT score was what I expected for my first sitting and only one practice test. I need to explain my Subject Tests though. In December, I thought that Literature would be easy and general English, and that my molecular semester of AP Biology (and one year of Pre-AP) would help me get high scores. I was wrong.

So I resolved to retake Math Level 1 in May, hoping to get an 800 this time. I also was preparing heavily for the APUSH and AP Biology exams, so I took the Subject Tests for US History and Biology E. I still scored a little lower than I would have liked on those two. Math Level 1's retake result upset me. I should have just take Math Level 2; I has an easy time in Pre-AP Pre-Calculus this year and the curve would have been way nicer.

So here's the dilemma: My app's are all due by January 1, 2013. That only leaves me with the September, October, and December SAT's. Due to marching band, I cannot take the exams in September or October. I only have one opportunity then--December.

If I retake my SAT, I am certain I could raise it and even it out more. However, that leaves me without the seemingly crucial Math Level II test, and relatively weak Subject Tests. Instead, I could take more Subject Tests in Math Level II... And maybe a Literature retake with prep for both.

However, then my ACT comes in, which is yet another element to consider:

ACT (April 2012; junior - sitting 2)
34
English: 34
Math: 34
Reading: 33
Science: 36
Essay: 09

This is a good score, better than my SAT, and helpful since I want to be a Biology major! So now I'm really confused... What should I do? Which tests should I take? January would be too late, so this is very hard... Please help!

cheerioswithmilk

Frankly your SAT score just isn't up to par. And neither are your subject tests. Ideally you would take one month and get the SAT up and the other to take/retake three subject tests but since you can't b/c of marching band that's not possible. So here's what you could do:

1) Skip a weekend of marching band and do what I said above or

2) The more likely: hope that your ACT score will suffice (since it is pretty good) and take Math II, retake Biology (especially if you're studying bio) and retake a third subject test. It'll be tough, no doubt.


Good luck. Keep in mind that this is just one person's advice; you'll have to look inside yourself for the true answer (sorry for getting philosophical).

JordanSaidWhat

IIRC, 2120 roughly converts to a 32, albeit on the lower end.

Also, there's no way I can skip marching band. I'm Head Drum Major and both days are competitions. However, if the local community college does the SAT in October, then I might be able to rush out of their and make it to the competition in time.

Tennischick97

Well I'm not sure exactly which ivies/ top schools you are applying to but I know most of them (Columbia, Yale, Princeton) only require 2 subject tests. I would suggest retaking the Sat and only sending in your top 2 subject tests. This time for the Sat, really focus on the cr section because your writing score is excellent and your math score is ok.

JordanSaidWhat

I'm starting to lean toward simply sending in my ACT and taking Subject Tests in Math Level 2 and Biology M in December with a lot of studying. Does this seem like an advisable plan?

JordanSaidWhat

bump bump bump