<p>Which test should I study for? I don’t know which one to retest. I did about the same on both, but I only want to focus on one right now. Calmom has already given me her input.</p>
<p>early_college – I just want to add something, as a liberal/progressive who grew up in a conservative part of the country. Even if you end up at a “conservative” campus, you will be able to find your niche of other students with a shared viewpoint.</p>
<p>For example, you commented that GCSU is conservative. I’m sure that overall it is --but any campus will also have some people who share your perspective, even if it is a small number. So if you arrived on a campus that you think is too conservative for your tastes, the first thing to do might be to try to find student organizations focused on politically or socially liberal causes - things like Young Democrats or Amnesty International. (I checked; GCSU has both, at least in theory) Now it may very will be that participation in those liberal-oriented groups is low, and that you are far outnumbered by conservatives - but the point is you will not be alone - you just need to know where to look. And the other students who are politically or socially liberal will be very glad to have you - you could find that you make some good friends very quickly.</p>
<p>(I was in high school at the time I lived in the conservative area - Texas – and I used to hang around on the college campus because that’s where I could find the liberals – they certainly were’t at my football obsessed high school.)</p>
<p>@early college: you definitely should look onto Adelphi U in NY &temple u in philly both are good schools and even ranked on usnwr 
don’t worry though…try practicing as much as u can this summer also try taking the act…but the science section might kill you though, Hahah…if that doesn’t work out you could always try transferring colleges to ur top choice and it wouldn’t be as weighted as much…I think.</p>
<p>Also apply to wake forest…even though it’s a reach…</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Sent from my LG-P509 using CC App</p>
<p>I met with my counselor and I literally got the OPPOSITE advice from her. I am not even joking. I was telling her my plans and how they changed since I took the SAT/ACT. We also discussed my academic GPA. I told her I have to make a new list because I did so poorly on the SAT. I told her how I could never get into UGA and GA Tech and how I may have to go to a lower tier school. She said along the lines, “I usually tell students that they are dreaming too big and their list is too reach heavy, but you are setting your standards too low”. She told me that I shouldn’t count UGA out and that SAT scores aren’t everything. She thought UGA was a great idea. She told me GPA/class rigor is number one. I again told her how bad my SAT scores were and she told me it didn’t matter. She did say I probably wouldn’t get into GA Tech, but I shouldn’t discount UGA. She said if I study I should do fine the next time on the SAT and if I want it, I will get in. She thought my grades and class rigor were impressive.</p>
<p>My school is not a bad school. We send a lot of kids to UGA every year and I attend one of the best school districts in Georgia. So, she sounded like she knew what she was talking about for instate schools. She use to be the college/career counselor at my school. I personally am not fond of her and was surprised how her advice was opposite from CC’s. We have a some students who do go out of state (NYU, Coast Guard Academy, Northeastern, Stonehill, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, etc)…</p>
<p>The U of Alabama gave a presentation at my school and they stated you only need a 3.0 cumulative GPA (including electives) and a 1000 SAT score or 21 ACT, and you’re in. And that you can apply this summer. My SAT score is a 900, but I’m sure I could get it up to a 1000 when I study. It costs about $15,000 a semester, but it isn’t that bad compared to other schools. Although, it is 30% greek life and HUGE on football. </p>
<p>How about the University of Minnesota Morris? I know I could get in there and the instate tuition costs the same for out of state students. Is the main campus of that hard to get into? I know Truman State is also good tuition wise, but it may be even more rural than Morris?</p>
<p><a href=“http://oira.ua.edu/reports10/cds2009-2010.pdf[/url]”>http://oira.ua.edu/reports10/cds2009-2010.pdf</a>
^here’s the common data set for University of Alabama</p>
<p>If you thoroughly read through the link, you will see that an ACT composite of 21 falls in their 25th percentile range. In other words, an ACT of 21 is in the bottom of their 50% range.</p>
<p>Also, a 500 CR SAT score coupled with a 500 Math SAT score falls in their 25th percentile range.</p>
<p>This would be a good college to consider based on your academic stats. You should work hard to get your SAT and ACT scores up even for this school.</p>
<p>I think you were correct last year when you said your school counselor wasn’t very good. Unless you are in a very rural part of the state (and you said you were in metro Atlanta) UGA will look at GPA AND SAT/ACT and your current scores will not cut it. Ga Tech is probably easier to get into than UGA these days, but they are stats driven too. We are all trying to get you to OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS and listen. GO STUDY FOR THE SAT AND/OR ACT and get those scores <strong>significantly improved</strong>, your you will be sitting with a big pile of rejections come senior year.</p>
<p>I just wanted to let you guys know what my counselor told me. She did not say they wouldn’t look at my SAT scores, but that they weren’t that important compared to my GPA/class rigor. I told her my scores multiple times and she basically said so? and told me I am setting my standards too low. She thought I had a good chance. I am not denying what you say, but simply stating what my counselor told me. I have already ordered my old SAT booklet with my answers and I plan on retaking it in June. I am studying for Georgia graduation tests right now and plan on studying full time for the SAT after that is over. Also, I have another new counselor this year. This is my 3rd new counselor. But, I really like my freshman counselor and I will have her do my counselor recommendation.</p>
<p>Nysmile- The admissions counselor said that once you had the required GPA/scores, you’re in. You need a 3.5 cumulative GPA and an 1240 SAT for a scholarship though. My cumulative GPA is a 3.4, so it is over the minimum requirement which is a 3.0. She said it is weighted.</p>
<p>PS: For any posters coming back, please go look at page 11 for my last two posts.</p>
<p>ec- is this counselor a college counselor???</p>
<p>This [UGA</a> to start adding in SAT writing scores | <a href="mailto:lee.shearer@onlineathens.com">lee.shearer@onlineathens.com</a>](<a href=“http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/092008/uga_334391852.shtml]UGA”>http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/092008/uga_334391852.shtml) explains some of UGAs formulary. Its not like a small LAC where they read every application. Many are weeded out if they dont make a cut. Dont you have to submit with the HOPE weighted grades? That is probably what they use to calculate GPA. What is your HOPE weighted GPA (which probaly doenst ionclude drama classes and such- cant recall). </p>
<p>And if you said you want a small LAC-type school in an urban area with the feel of a northern school (my assumption based on your posts), why the HECK are you looking at Alabama? Thats as antithetical to your goals as you can get.</p>
<p>you said:
This is NOT Alabama!!! Please stop wasting your time and go study for the SAT!</p>
<p>I am not sure what my HOPE weighted GPA, but my HOPE academic GPA is a 3.1. I do not think that is weighted. My high school adds 10 points for every AP class you take. UGA does not take off the ten points, they keep it. They usually add .5 for every AP class, but they do not since my county already gives us the 10 points. I have read this on the UGA admission blog. He has said on many occasions that UGA does not have a formulaic admission policy. Early Action does though, but Regular Decision is more thought out.</p>
<p>And yes- A small LAC in an urban area up north is <em>ideal</em>. But most of my options are not affordable and Alabama is more so. I was told to keep an open mind to every school on this thread particularly.</p>
<p>NYSmile, some public colleges use an admissions formula that calculates a number derived from a combination of GPA and test scores, and guarantees admission to all students who meet a certain numerical threshold. In such cases, a high GPA will offset low test scores… and high test scores will offset lower end SATs. Looking at score distribution for such colleges without knowing the GPA’s is simply a misunderstanding of their admission practices – at those schools, you can be pretty sure that the lower scores are offset with higher GPA’s. </p>
<p>I know that California university admission works that way. I did the math early on and my d. could have scored quite low on standardized tests and still be guaranteed admission. At one point, as she was taking her last SAT II, I think I calculated that as long as she scored at least 270 on the test, she was still guaranteed her UC spot. (Obviously she did better than that…b ut my point is that even with low scores she ended up with a comfortable margin of extra points on the admissions index formula).</p>
<p>I am guessing that the Georgia universities probably have similar formulae, and that early_college’s school counselor probably knows exactly what that formula is – and is giving very good advice based on that.</p>
<p>Early_college – apply to UGA. Please. Applying does NOT mean you have to attend. It will just give you one more option, perhaps a financial safety, at the end of the admissions season next year. I know that you don’t like the conservative atmosphere in GA and I know that you want a small LAC rather than a big U – but a larger university is made up of many different types of students, and once on campus you will find that there are many smaller niche communities. If anything, you are more likely to find like-minded people – even if a small minority of the overall campus – than you will at many LAC’s, which are simply too small to support the same level of social diversity. Additionally an urban university may offer more off-campus opportunities – for example, participating in volunteer work is often a way to find others with a shared social perspective. </p>
<p>Also, a large U. does not seem all that big or intimidating once you get to know your way around … and a smaller LAC that seems perfect when you enter as a freshman can seem very small and constraining after a few semesters. So don’t rule out a college that may be appropriate for your long term needs and goals simply because it doesn’t fit your teenage mental image of the perfect college. </p>
<p>Again - I’m not saying that you have to like UGA now. Forget that “love thy safety” business and think in practical terms – things like whether a larger U. is going to be able to provide you with a better array of courses geared to your interests. A bigger U generally means more courses to choose from and a better-equipped university library. Somewhere down the line you may have to make a choice between your social/emotional goals and your academic goals. There isn’t a right or wrong choice in that area – but I’m saying that you should be making that choice NEXT year when your choices are very clear. Don’t shut yourself out by failing to submit an easy application to your in-state university.</p>
<p>Thanks calmom, I agree. I plan on applying to UGA as well as GCSU and VSU. I am also considering Alabama because if I get my scores up, I would be guaranteed admission. I plan on applying to a variety of schools (12 maybe). BTW, should I take the US History subject test? I know that none of the schools I am looking at require it, but I feel like I can score highly since I am in APUSH.</p>
<p>Yes, I think you should take the test. At this point you have nothing to lose. </p>
<p>Do prep for the test with a review book, even though you’ve just taken the course. You don’t have to spend a lot of time on prep – but use a review book to familiarize yourself with the format of the questions and just as a refresher for all of the stuff that was covered in class at the beginning of the year. I hope you are also taking the AP Exam.</p>
<p>I’d note that my daughter did very well on AP exams even though she underperformed on SAT/ACT. Obviously both the SAT II’s and the AP exams are more content based, so it may turn out that you do o.k. on those.</p>
<p>Thanks. Should I try the Literature subject test too? I wouldn’t bother with math or science. I am taking the APUSH exam.</p>
<p>“I know that California university admission works that way. I did the math early on and my d. could have scored quite low on standardized tests and still be guaranteed admission. At one point, as she was taking her last SAT II, I think I calculated that as long as she scored at least 270 on the test, she was still guaranteed her UC spot. (Obviously she did better than that…b ut my point is that even with low scores she ended up with a comfortable margin of extra points on the admissions index formula).”</p>
<p>Some rude surprises this year though! for CSU’s, for example, where you live weighs heavily, so the formula alone doesn’t tell the story. And for the UC’s this year, SAT scores did not seem to do much, at least for a GPA under 3.4. …but I am still recovering from this very recent trauma</p>
<p>It’s true that Merced is likely the guaranteed UC spot ( Riverside certainly isn’t. ), and that for every student with enough eligibilty points, there is a CSU.</p>
<p>Big caveat-- do not focus on the SATII in place of studying for the SAT. You have consistently said you felt you didnt have time to study for the SAT/ACT and this is the area you MUST improve. The schools you are considering are not schools that require the SAT IIs. If you dont make the cut on the SATs/ACT it wont matter. If you are short on time, focus on the SAT/ACT. We dont want to hear “I would have done better but I didnt study b/c I was prepping for the SAT IIs”</p>
<p>UGA has tightened up sharing exactly what is in its formulary since it got successfully sued for reverse discrimination several years back. But unlike Calif, which has many good schools to apply to, GA has only one flagship and it is not easy to get into. I am sorry but your counselor is not giving you good advice. Sure it doesnt hurt to apply, but keep working on the list of academic and dinancial safeties. AND GO STUDY. Dont focus on SAT IIS . Waste of time.</p>
<p>
Do you read a lot? My daughter did very well on the literature SAT II (700+, I don’t remember exact score) – which was rather unusual for her, score wise – and I don’t think she prepped at all for that exam, so it was a pleasant surprise.</p>
<p>Again… if you are willing to sit for the exam, I don’t see how the scores can do anything but help. If you do poorly, you still can focus on SAT optional schools, and the scores aren’t going to factor into admission formulas for the schools that don’t consider them. </p>
<p>While I agree with jym626 that you shouldn’t let study time for the SAT II detract from studying for a retake of the ACT or SAT… you can’t take the SAT II and SAT at the same time anyway, so just stagger your testing and focus the 3 weeks immediately before each test to study on prep. Write yourself out a study schedule and stick to it, even if you can only squeeze in 20 minutes per day. </p>
<p>I don’t know anything about college admissions, but again you can’t be hurt by following your college counselor’s advice and applying to UGA – the worst that can happen is they turn you down. Your counselor seems to be on your side and may have the power to help you with admissions at many schools, based on what she writes on school recs, at least for colleges that will consider the counselor recs. </p>
<p>If you had your heart set on UGA admission, then jym626’s comments might make sense – it is by no means a guarantee. But you are just looking at it as a possible option when you are hard up for good options – and I think that if your counselor thinks you have a reasonable chance of admission, then you should go for it. If you get in, that may end up being the best option you have in a year. If you don’t get in, your feelings will be hurt (rejection is never fun)… but in the end you will have been turned down by a university that you honestly didn’t want to attend anyway, so I don’t think you will spend too many hours grieving.</p>
<p>Thanks! I will focus on the SAT. I don’t have much time to study/take for the SAT II. I could possibly take it in May. I do enjoy reading but it largely depends on the book. I like historic fiction. Also, wherever I apply, I will be keeping an open mind come March/April.</p>
<p>EC-
From reading this and other threads, it seems like it is hard for you to stay focused on one thing. There is a tendecy to jump from school to school, question to question, and then you report that you struggle with time management and organization. Each question answered leads to more unrelated questions.</p>
<p>If it were my child, I would tell them to do first things first. To me, taking the SAT II is a side digression that is not your focus. It will only distract you from what you need to do, which is get the SAT/ACT scores up. You are not currently applying to schools that require the SAT II. If, IF you can take a sat II without it taking any, ANY time away from studying for the SAT/ACT, then you can consider it (to keep options open re: schools that might require them), but take them AFTER you take the SAT/ACT, not before. Focus, FOCUS on the most important thing. Identify the priority and address it. Avoid the distractions and the side things that can lead to procrastination. Identify the most important thing and stay the course. No excuses. It is important to work on time management and prioritizing. This is a skill you will need in college.</p>