dkljhvskf

Not sure where to post this.

So I've taken the SAT once, and I took it again today. I got an 800 on the verbal in March, but a 570 on the math. The two scores even out to a 1380, which is a good bit lower than I hoped for, but not that terrible. I've always excelled in math at school and did much better (as in, 130 points better) on SAT practice tests, so I don't really understand what happened...

Anyways, my question is: (If my scores aren't better this time) How much do you think bipolar scores like these are going to hurt my application? Basically what I'm asking is, where are my weird scores going to take me? Should I focus more on liberal arts schools, or should I just give up the more prestigous schools all together? Originally, most of the schools I wanted to apply to were in the UVA - U Mich range. Some harder to get in, some easier to get in. However, I've never even heard of someone having such a gap between their two scores. I'm kind of blindly looking for schools I have a hope of getting accepted to right now.

Beyond the cursed SAT, I have a 3.9 unweighted GPA and a decent amount of extracurriculars/awards.
As far as course load goes, by the time I graduate I will have taken 6 IB classes:
Computer Science
Math
Art
Psychology
Biology

and 2 IBH classes:
English (2 years)
Spanish (2 year course compressed into 1 year for "strong students")

Any insight is greatly... greatly... appreciated.


Another random question: Once you take the SAT, do all colleges have the ability to see your scores, regardless of whether you send them or not? I still have to take SAT IIs (Literature, Spanish). Can you only send the SAT II scores, or do you have to send all SAT and SAT II scores together? I'm asking about this because I am considering attempting the ACT instead because I did so badly on the SAT. If you've taken both, which had the harder math- the ACT or SAT?

EuropeGirl

I can't help you with an answer to the lopsided scores. The last time I took the ACT I made a 24 in math, a 34 in English, and a 33 on the essay. Is it clear what side of the fence I fall on? The problem for me is that I CAN do the math, I just need more time. I breeze through the passages so easily but feel suffocated for time during math.

You have no choice on what SAT scores you want to send, but the admissions office will take your best scores from each section. So if you make a 630 on the math today, and a 780 in the verbal, they'll take your 630 over the 570 and your earlier 800 (congratulations on that, by the way!) in the verbal.

The ACT has harder math, for me. It's more knowledge- than rational-based. I took the SAT for the first time today and actually liked the math problems on there. When I took the ACT in Feb., I hadn't finished my Alg. II course and there were about 5 questions that I just didn't know. I have difficulty "working out" math problems if I've never encountered the situation before, if I haven't been taught. So if you've got higher-level math courses than I do (which greatly varies from HS to HS) I'd go for the ACT. The SAT, I found, was just logical math. Did you see the question about the nutritional information on the cracker box??! I was like. . . okay. You should probably take the ACT anyway. You may be surprised.

. . . Coming from someone who really feels your mathmatical pains.

qtpie

when you send your SAT scores, all scores of all tests that you have ever taken get sent at once, both Is and IIs.

SAT math is usually easier to bring up than verbal is. so defintely take the SAT again. I took both ACT and SAT, and in my opinion, the ACT was easier, however, you had less time to finish it and so I felt a little rushed.

good luck with everything!

ohio_mom

d etc.
if you were consistantly scoring over one hundred points higher on practices, my guess is that you misbubbled, which could easily through a whole series off. You also could have gotten cocky about it. Hopefully, things went better today. Another option is to take the math IIC - it is more knowledge based and less tricksy than the SAT I. All SAT I and II scores are sent to your colleges. Most colleges (except the UC's and a few others) take the best composite score, so if you did better in the math and reasonably on the essay, you should be good to go.

I think you should probably just wait for your scores to come in before you change anything too radically. If your second attempt at the SAT's yields a subpar math score, you may well want to look at the ACT. What you want, if at all possible, is for your math score to be at least within the 25-75% range at the schools you are looking at. My son's score was also pretty lopsided - 790V 670M - and he will be attending UChicago this fall.

Your verbal score is tremendous, of course, and your class schedule and GPA are very good. I wouldn't apply to MIT, if I were you, but remember that the most important part of your app - your transcript - is very good.

RiceOwlHopeful

Twin!
I have the same dilemma. I got a 780 on the reading and a 610 on the math. I don't really know what to say, except try the ACT. My scores were way more balanced (33 reading, 31 math). Also if your practice tests were way higher, try again! Even if schools see both math scores they will see the remarkable improvement which I think is impressive in itself.