<p>I am senior in high school this year in Iowa. I took the ACT and got a 23, and the SAT and got a 1490. I have a 3.71 GPA. I am applying to NYU, the Chicago College of Performing Arts (Roosevelt University), the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. I am majoring in violin performance in both NYU and CCPA and so i’m not too worried about my acceptance there. My audition will hopefully grant my acceptance. I am going to major in international relations at the University of Chicago and umich. My scores really are not up to par with the pool of new undergrads they usually accept, but i have many extra curricular activities that i have been with for over 10 years. I have been on a club swimming team since the age of 5 and i have been playing the violin since the age of 4. I have been on the high school swimming team all 4 years, varsity, and went to state this year. I have also broken 4 high school records. I am in a youth symphony and their honors quartet, playing with/for many famous string players. I made it into All-State 2 years and went to China last summer with a small ensemble, marking my 3rd trip to China. I also play at numerous events around the city. I am also on the honor roll and have taken a total of 5 AP classes along with many honors courses previously. I am vice president of my schools National Honors Society and the editor of my school’s newspaper. This next year i am taking a gap year to study abroad next year in Italy through Rotary International. I know this really is a lot. I was just wondering if my activities will override my ACT and SAT score. Thank you!</p>
<p>If you are able to express your passion for said EC’s with intriguing diction and style through your essays I think you could have a shot. Your numbers are going to raise eyebrows, but your other app items could do the same but in a positive way</p>
<p>I don’t think you can really “make up” for any part of the application with another portion. I think your best bet is to apply to schools where your interests and ECs are valued. No, you probably can’t go to Yale with a 23, but with all your amazing performance experience, why would you want to go to a school that values a number over your passion?
Cheesy? yes, but its still true! a school thats the right fit for you will want you too, test scores and all:)</p>
<p>Thanks! I used those in my common app on my essays. I also used my sister’s adoption from China, which is a really impacting story that i’m hoping will push me ahead.</p>
<p>Mandy67: That is a very good point. If a school doesn’t want me because of my ACT/SAT score then it’s probably not somewhere i should be going.</p>
<p>No, you won’t be able to get into UChicago, Michigan, or NYU with those scores no matter how good your ECs are. I’m unfamiliar with the violin audition process thing, but it seems unlikely that it will help you at NYU since your scores are well below their average. 1490 averages to about 500 in each section, NYU’s middle scores are about 680-700.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have a strong and well rounded app other than your scores, but your scores probably do put you out of range for consideration at the top schools on your list, especially in the RD pool. Search for the common data sets for your top schools to see if they have any students all in your range. My guess is that you’ll find few or no students with similar scores. Your Rotary year is an impressive ec on its own and it may give you time to study and re-test, improve and reconsider where you want to apply.</p>
<p>Adcoms’ primary consideration at highly selective universities is whether an applicant will be able to succeed academically at the institution. Your test scores and, to a lesser extent, GPA indicate that you would likely struggle with course work and would not be among your peers academically.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your opportunities with NYU and CCPA and best wishes for your performing arts career. However, UChicago and UMich are highly unlikely to admit you.</p>
<p>For the most part I’m seeing I centrally have a chance, and that’ll be ok. I’m just really bad at taking standardized tests. I have something else to add though that may help</p>
<p>I have gone to Central Academy in Des Moines since 7th grade. Its a magnet school that offers over 10 AP classes and many other honors classes. It is recognized around the U.S. and many students go to Ivy League schools. I have received both As and Bs in the 16 classes I’ve taken there, 5 being AP classes. I can handle my own in college level classes, I’m just terrible at standardized tests. I also put this information on my app.</p>
<p>Sent from my SCH-R530U using CC</p>
<p>Good in classes and bad on standardized tests can be a red flag for a previously unidentified learning disability. Talk with your guidance counselor about screening for processing speed issues (think dyslexia-lite). If you get a formal diagnosis, you can ask for appropriate accommodations on the standardized exams, and you can get help now at improving some of your coping skills before you face the college workload.</p>
<p>Why are you applying to colleges right now if you’re taking a gap year?</p>
<p>I had never thought about that before. I’ll definitely try and look into that.</p>
<p>I’m applying this year so I won’t have to when I’m over there. Wherever I get accepted, I will ask for deferred admission. I emailed all the colleges I applied to, making sure that I would be able to defer admission.</p>
<p>Sent from my SCH-R530U using CC</p>
<p>unless you need to audition this year, you would be better off applying next year. You will be a much more interesting candidate (to adcoms) after a year abroad.</p>
<p>Unless you are going in as a music major, with audition, almost zero chance at Chicago, Michigan and NYU in their liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>Take a look at test optional schools!
[SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)</p>
<p>I’m on the same boat as you. I did very well in school, but awful on ACT/SAT. From my experience, ACT / SAT scores are always their priority, then the GPA, then the ECs …Therefore, I really hate to say this, but your chance of getting into UChicago, NYU and UMich is very slim.</p>