Made a terrible mistake

Test Preparation
1

Okay, I took the ACT and SAT once already. The problem is, I did both of these without studying well for them, and I’m worried I’ve REALLY badly ruined my chances of getting into certain colleges that require you to send all your ACT/SAT scores. I have a couple ivies I’m interested in, but I feel so dumb for not looking into what the consequences of taking the tests blindly would be.

Without giving my exact scores for either test, I did well, but I was NOT close enough to Ivy league scores, mainly because I wasn’t prepared for the math sections of either test at all.

Am I totally ruined to get into these kinds of schools? Obviously ECs play a role too, but on the pure basis of score chances, did I mess up everything? I’m terrified I might have ruined everything HORRIBLY. I know I can get way better scores than I did, but if they see that it took me a few tries to get a really high score, is that going to be bad? My english/reading (and the SAT equivalents) were both nearly perfect, but my math scores (and sort of science in the case of the ACT) weren’t amazingly high (not bad, but nothing Ivy-worthy at all). If I study really hard on the math section and they can see I’m improving a lot, will I be okay? I know it’s really hard to get into Ivies anyway, but I don’t want a stupid mistake to get me turned down immediately.

EDIT: One of the schools I’m really interested in getting into requires both my SAT and ACT scores, so now I have to get really high scores in both tests, right? In theory, if I have a really high score on one test but an okay one on another, are they going to dislike that a lot? I’m super stressed out right now and I’m not sure what to do.

(Just another note, please just focus on the test part of my application and not all the other variables involved with getting in. I know there are billions of other things that could get me rejected, but I just want to focus on this specific part right now)

2

Stop acting like it’s the end of the world. It’s not. I don’t know how “terrible” you did, but if it’s like 30 points (SAT) below or 1 point below the average(ACT), I doubt it will ruin your chances of getting in. They look at more than scores, after all.

3

well, first, let me say “ivy-worthy” is a very relative term. there are more schools out there than the ivy league, some that you may find are better for you.

second, when sending in tests, admissions officers will likely focus on your highest composite score unless they specify that they super-score, which is when they take the highest scores from each subsection and create a new composite score, so you’re going to be okay. study and do well the next time.

third, like paul said, many, many colleges practice holistic reviews. do not freak out so much over your standardized tests. you’re much more than a score on an electronically sent report.

4

Regardless of the school wants all score or not, taking SAT/ACT without preparation is at least a waste of money and time. It is a bad idea not only because the school will see your low score. Indeed, most schools would not mind if you have one lower score as there are many reasons may lead to that.