<p>Thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>I’m studying for the test, so hopefully, studying for the ACT will help.</p>
<p>I didn’t study until the day before the SAT.</p>
<p>to get a 32-34 on the act, you’re going to need some serious study time to bring up that 20 significantly and at that, nearly a perfect score in every other section</p>
<p>There’s always hope to bring up the score. </p>
<p>I’ll be studying to bring the score up even if it makes me over stressed.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if there is a way to improve over 400 points on the SATs.</p>
<p>Even if you test prep for years, scores will not improve to such a drastic extent because the core of the SAT is to measure not how much you’ve studied but how well you can process information. If you had say a score in the 2000, I’d say you might have been able to bring up your score to a 2100-2200 at best with “intense” focus on test prep, but clearly that’s not your case. As a few poster expressed above, realistically you have little chance at top private schools you mentioned like Stanford, Harvard, or Northwestern.</p>
<p>I’d say pour out every ounce of effort on your UC apps because with your instate status that would be your best shot. For back ups, you might consider some Cal States.</p>
<p>You may actually get into UC Davis or UC Irvine. I know a guy who got into UCI with a lower SAT score than you, but he had great EC’s and a 4.0 UW gpa (which you have). I improved my SAT score by almost 200 points, but that’s because I left a lot of the questions blank the first time and wasn’t paying attention. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone improving by 400 points. You should probably eliminate Stanford, Harvard, etc.</p>
<p>Reaches
UCB
UCLA</p>
<p>Semi reaches/matches
UCSB
UCI/UCD
Cal Poly SLO (match)</p>
<p>Safeties
UCSC
UCR
SDSU</p>
<p>I’m going to take the ACT. I scored 200 points higher on that on a practice test.</p>