sockafan08

Okay, so I'm the type of student that works really hard in school, but I'm not so great at taking standardized tests. My GPA is a 4.0, but on my SAT's I got a 1770 (Writing: 600, Math: 600, Critical Reading: 570). I'm looking at schools such as B.C., Villanova, Emory, Holy Cross, ect. Are these school within my reach or are my SAT scores THAT bad?

Oh and for additional information about my extracurriculars, I play soccer, softball, I'm a member of NHS, I volunteer at a nursing home, I do community service work in my community (ie: Saturday morning soccer volunteer and special olympics), I've had a job during the summer for the past four years, I play the trumpet, and I'm a member of the bookclub at my school.

mom2collegekids

BC, Villanova, and Emory are too high of reaches (super reaches for your stats). I doubt they accept many with SATs under 2000 (and even less with SATs under 1800 - probably just athletes and other special cases).

Your SAT is not "bad," it's just that it's about an ACT 26 - both are about the 84th percentile. So.... that's not good for those 3 schools (I don't know much about HC)

I don't think your ECs can compensate. I also don't think a 4.0 GPA will make much difference, because it just suggests that your school employs grade inflation.

So, what are your matches and safeties?

sockafan08

I don't know if this effects the way the schools will look at my GPA, but I go to one of the top public schools in my state and I'm in the top ten percent of my class. I have a 121.8 weighted GPA (my school's scale system is 1.3x for honors and 1.35x for AP) and all of my classes are honors and APs. To reiterate my point, it's not that my school employs grade inflation, rather I just don't do well on standardized tests.

For my 50/50 and safety schools though, I'm applying to Susquehanna, Stonehill, Union, Holy Cross, and Davidson.

Also, I just wanted to clarify that for the schools I mentioned previously, you say that they, for the most part, only look at SAT scores? They would rather applicants have higher SAT scores than GPA or extracurriculars?

mom2collegekids

^^^

I'm not saying that those schools don't look at ECs. I'm saying that your ECs (while respectable), probably are not going to compensate for your SAT score. Maybe if you had a "hook" of some sort, it would.

Your match/safeties are very good Have you considered Marist?

Do you need financial aid???

Are you taking the SAT again? What about the ACT?

Are you a slow reader? If so, read my post here.... http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...53-post11.html

xAAAx

you can get into some of those schools w/ your SATs. If you have a good essay ecs interview etc, they will often times overlook your SAT which isn't terribly bad

sockafan08

I took that SAT's twice and my second score was lower than my first. I took the ACT's last weekend, but the scores won't come out for another 4-7 weeks. I'm a high school senior this year, so as much as I would like to take the SAT's again, my dealines are fast approaching and I won't get the scores in time. As for financial aid, I'm going to apply for it, but there is a good chance that I won't qualify for any because I think my family is above the cut off.

XAAAX, when you say that I have a chance of getting into the schools I listed, are you talking about my reach schools or my safety and 50/50's?

Thanks for helping me out!! I'm a little stressed with the Nov. 1 deadline coming up...

mom2collegekids

^^^

You should be able to get your ACT score online in about 2-3 weeks.

Don't worry that you won't "have" your scores yet. Many schools will accept Nov and Dec scores - even if apps were due earlier.


>>>
As for financial aid, I'm going to apply for it, but there is a good chance that I won't qualify for any because I think my family is above the cut off.
<<<

Ok...this is a real concern. that means you MUST apply to 1 or 2 financial safeties. You don't want to have no choices in the spring because all of your choices are unaffordable.

How much have your parents TOLD you that they can spend each year on your education?

What is your home state?

What will you major in?

Let's come up with some financial safeties for you.

1980collegegrad

Why don't you target the top SAT optional colleges such as Bowdoin, Holy Cross, Middlebury, Wake Forest?

mom2collegekids

^^^

Good ideas...but it looks like he might also need some Financial Safeties, too. He may not get any "real" F/A since his family's income is high. Plus, we don't know if his family can meet their EFC.