How much will low SAT scores affect my future?

Test Preparation
1

<p>I’ve taken the SAT twice now. In March I got 1740 and now in June a 1680. No idea how, but I am studying incessantly this summer. I hope to get at least 1900. However,
Let’s say I go to a normal state university, (was planning getting into honors program buts seems difficult)…I don’t have any hooks or like a million or have amazing ECs. I have a 3.8 UW GPA and 4.7 W. My question: will graduating from a regular state school affect my chances of medical school? I have great motivation and I know I can perform well enough to get into a top grad school. I know that getting into med school is all about getting straight As and amazing MCAT, and it seems obvious that the SAT would not matter, but I’m pretty sure that a top med school prefers a graduate from Yale than one from a state university. </p>

<p>I just see how everyone worries about undergrad admissions and everything and I feel that all hopes of med school are lost with this terrible SAT. </p>

<p>I’ve seriously been doing practice tests everyday (math only for now, worst subject) and studying 4+ hours. It’s been about a week of this hardcore practice and I haven’t seen any improvement. But I do keep getting 1720+ on practice tests, I seriously don’t know what happened in June, not my day I guess. Anyway, I’m retaking on Oct.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to read (or skim) this :)</p>

2

<p>While acceptance to Yale or Harvard will undoubtedly help your med school application, there are many more important factors. For example, they want to see that you did well in college, not just that you went to an Ivy.</p>

<p>Here is a quote from [Harvard</a> Medical School](<a href=“http://hms.harvard.edu/content/selection-factors]Harvard”>http://hms.harvard.edu/content/selection-factors):
"The Committee on Admissions evaluates applications based on several factors, including:</p>

<pre><code>Academic Records
Applicant’s essay
Medical College Admission Test scores
Extracurricular activities
Summer Occupations
Life experiences
Experience in the health field, including research or community work
Letters of evaluation"
</code></pre>

<p>My dad went to a local state college for pre-med, then he got his MD from the same state college. Because he performed incredibly well (even though it was a state college), he completed his residency at Yale.</p>

<p>Which college you attend is important, but not as important as doing well and satisfying those admissions criteria listed above.</p>

3

<p>Wow your weighted average is great. And the prestige of your undergrad school does not play a huge role in medical school acceptance, it is just considered. There are other aspects that contribute to your acceptance such as ec’s, MCAT scores, and and overall grades.</p>

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<p>No - The mentality that state schools are garbage needs to get ditched. While not all of them are necessarily great, there’s plenty that are.</p>

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<p>^ AMEN. There are plenty of state schools that are fantastic, unlike some others</p>

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<p>In the grand scheme of things, a SAT is pretty insignificant. The SAT is only a small portion of your college application. Your undergrad college is only a small portion of your graduate college application. Your college degree is only a small portion of your resume (experience counts for way more) to get a job. Though I’m in no way insinuating that you should neglect the SAT.</p>

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<p>^ The SAT is a small portion of your college application for some schools; some schools rely on the SAT as much as they do your gpa. If you don’t like your October SAT score, maybe you can try out the ACT?</p>

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<p>When you start thinking about graduate schools four years from now, you’re going to look back and laugh at how foolish you were for worrying so much about undergrad.</p>

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<p>Thank you all so much :slight_smile: I bet I will @Calvin. And my state school is a pretty great school, I can make it in. I’ve tried the ACT, and did much worse on it than the SAT. I guess I’ll just keep studying.</p>