<p>Any advice on trying to raise an SAT score? I am scoring in the 2100s right now but my parents are telling me to aim for the 2400 and not take even one SAT in my junior year. In senior year, I will only have two chances. One in October and the other in November, as well as my college apps to worry about. I will definitely get my essays done over the summer, however, I am considering on taking Elite test prep classes. Any advice? I’m really stuck! Do colleges care how many times you take an SAT? Also, to get into UC Berkeley, is a 32 on the ACT enough? As of right now, with my junior and sophomore year grades combined, it looks like </p>
<p>Weighted GPA: 4.0
Unweighted GPA: 3.6</p>
<p>I know my gpa is really low I’m hoping my essays and SAT + ACT as well as my SAT 2 subject tests can make up for it. Any advice? I still have time to change things around. Of course, gpa will stay the same but is there anything extra to do? Extremely determined to work hard and get into my dream school- UC Berkeley!</p>
<p>Your parents are right about aiming for an 2400. Although it is a cliche, “if you aim for the moon, you’ll land among the stars.” So if you aim for 2400, hopefully you’ll get around 2300.
However, you definitely need to take the SAT during your junior year. If you take it in March or May of your junior year, you will still have a second chance (or third chance) to improve your score in October of your senior year. November is cutting it way too close, especially if you decide to apply early decision somewhere, like UC Berkeley. If you are scoring in the 2100s, you surely have the potential to jump to 2300 or even 2400. My own score increased from 2100 to 2300 in just three months.
Let me ask you this: What is your PSAT score?</p>
<p>:( Didn’t take the PSAT- huge mistake. I was really ill during my first semester of junior year and missed a lot of school, which is also why my GPA is low. Though that is no excuse, I took it in my sophomore year and got a 2000. I have been going to Excel Exam Club which is how I’ve been keeping track of my SAT scores. But what I’m most worried about is how colleges look at taking the SAT multiple times. I don’t want to take it two or three times if that lowers my admission chances.</p>
<p>Who’s dream is it, yours or your parents? I ask because your high school grades tell me that your conflicted. Anyway good luck, nothing wrong with chasing a dream (as long as it’s yours).</p>
<p>Two times to take the SAT is normal. Typical. Almost everybody takes it twice. Three time is okay. Four is too much. So three would be the maximum number of times to take the SAT. I don’t know about the UCs, but many other colleges, including most of the Ivies, allow score choice, so you don’t have to send all of your scores if you don’t want to.</p>
<p>I’m confused. How do you know your second semester junior year grades? I assume that you are a junior and that your school is on a semester basis. Are you an international applicant? Are those grades your personal projections? The “2100” score I assume is based on practice tests. If so such projections can be significantly off the real test. It all depends on how close the practice tests are to the real tests, and how carefully the essay is graded.</p>
<p>To get a sense of your chances at UC Berkeley you need to be more specific. Are you in-state? If so your class rank matters. Your weighted average matters. Etc. That you dropped APUSH is a concern.</p>
<p>My sense from your post is that you are setting yourself up for a major disappointment.</p>
I’m hoping my essays and SAT + ACT as well as my SAT 2 subject tests can make up for it. Any advice? I still have time to change things around. Of course, gpa will stay the same but is there anything extra to do? Extremely determined to work hard and get into my dream school- UC Berkeley!</p>