So I took the old SAT for the second time in january and got a score of 2110. 710 math, 710 reading, 690 writing. This unfortunately was the last time the old SAT was offered. I am wondering if I can be done testing with these scores to have a good shot at some of the more competitive schools I want to apply to. My top choice right now is UVA (im out of state MD). Schools I’m interested in: UVA, Berkeley, USC, Michigan, UT Austin, Wake forest, Emory, Duke, Vanderbilt, Cornell (ik those last three are big reaches).
-fairly prestigious progressive school (I don’t even know if this matters)
-3.97 unwaited.
-school doesnt offer AP classes but I have taken hardest classes school offers (except I took mid level spanish and decided doubled in math dropped art)
-dont know exact rank but definitely top 5%
-Very intense and time consuming extracurriculars- near 5 hours of sports practice a day in the fall. around 3 hours a day rest of the year.
-swimming on one of most competitive clubs in country
-Varsity sport 4 years, all conference award 3 years so far most likely also senior year and captain senior year
-Member of club for people with disabilities (leader senior year) and investment club (leader senior year).
-Life guarding over the summer all four years.
-finance internship over summer
-programming course over summer
-teachers who I will get rec letters from know how hard I work, and are good writers.
-hopefully captivating essays of course
I’m wondering if I need to continue testing besides for APs and subject tests (taking calc AP, bio AP, math 2 and bio. I took math2 sophomore year and got a 650 but am taking it again and expect to get mid 700s). I tried a practice ACT and it did not go great- 30, and I also was not a fan of the new PSAT. I hope I can be done SATI/ACT testing and focus on subject tests, APs and school. Should I take another test (I could prep for ACT over the summer and try to get 33+) or am I well within range for the schools on my list. Any advice would be appreciated!
Take another test. I got a 2210 when I took the SAT in January and I’m taking the ACT tomorrow.
Not sure what you should do…the current scores seem low without hooks (legacy, URM…). Hopefully you can focus the application essays and EC descriptions around the huge sports commitment and leadership, and demonstrate how it makes you extraordinary (very possible-- they know how much it takes to make it). This is a case where ED or EA might really make a difference if one of these schools is REALLY a top choice. For UVA specifically: What is your school’s track record with UVA? Your GC should be able to provide that; some MD high schools do a great job of placing at UVA (I went there – also was OOS, but from NY-- and there were tons of MD kids…but that was many years ago). You might want to outreach to swimming coaches (or coaches for your varsity sport) at these schools to “find out more”…and enroll them in your cause. If they are foreseeing a need for more team members in your entering class this will help. That-- combined with an ED or EA-- could get you seriously on the radar at any one of these schools (except for those California ones).
I know taking the SAT is a pain but I really think you should give the new test a go. You might do better. Try the ACT too.