I am just about to go into my senior year of high school. I am starting to write down all the deadlines and things I need in order to apply for college. I started looking at 2014 freshman profiles just to see how other kids who got accepted did on their tests, and now I am kinda freaking out. My top schools are Georgia Tech, NYU, and UGA. My SAT score is a 1700 and my ACT score is a 26. I know they are AWFUL!!! 
But my GPA at the end of junior year was a 4.14; I have gotten all A’s throughout my high school career (up to junior year). I have taken 3 honors courses and 3 AP courses. I plan to to take 4 AP courses my senior year, so that should be 7 AP courses in total. My junior year I took: AP Language and Composition, AP Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science. For my senior year I will be taking: AP Physics A, AP Computer Science, AP Economics, AP Statistics. I am also involved in many clubs in school and even have a leadership position in one of the clubs. The reason I am telling you all this is because I have read that colleges look at more than just test scores, but also your rigor and your extra curricular. I guess after still knowing all this I am still freaking out about my standardized test scores. I don’t know what it is, I can do regular school tests but these standardized tests are just what really get me. So…my question for you is, do you think it is time for me to stop taking the ACT and SAT? I have taken the SAT 3 times and the ACT 2 times. After all this I don’t know how much more my score will go up. From my first SAT I had a 1560 and my first ACT I had a 23. So my score definitely did increase, but I doubt it will go up to a 2100 or a 30. Thanks so much for you help and so sorry that you had to read this long essay of mine haha!
State schools tend to be more stats driven than private schools that will evaluate with holistic review. You are not your score. But you probably just don’t test well and it’s ok to come to terms with this. Looks like you have taken it enough times and taking it again will be seen as negative. You could look into fair test schools. You could look at schools where you are in their middle range of scores or even above. Remember that avg SAT and ACT are way below your score. What are your safeties?
Hi goingnutsmom, thank you for replying! Some of my safety schools are: University of Alabama, Clemson University…
Your scores a little low for Clemson, especially if you’re OOS. I’d take ACT one more time if you’re interested in OOS schools. IMO .
There are lots of excellent ‘fair test’ colleges (fairtest.org) that would be impressed with your academic history and other accomplishments. In fact several ranked colleges through their own research have found that the most reliable predictor of success in college is success in high school. Work hard and keep up your grades. I’ve no doubt that you’ll be accepted into a top college and get aid. Keep your spirits up.
Despite your stellar GPA. Your SAT scores are awfully low. At least bring it to a 1800. I would bring it to a 2000 for Georgia Tech or NYU. That being said, instead of repeatedly taking SAT tests one after another, study on sections you dont know, master it, and then go back and take the test. GOOD LUCK!
3 SATs and 2 ACTs is enough. Look into test-optional schools.
Yes. Stop!
Here’s a list from the Fair Test site with US News rank (Oct 2015). As you will find, several top tier colleges don’t require that you submit test scores.
http://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf
Use College Navigator to search the NCES database for admission stats on the colleges you’re interested in.
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
Also search ‘fair test’ and ‘optional test’ on this site for more information.
Thank you all for responding! I did bring up my SAT to an 1820