SAT vs. the Golden Child

Chance Me / Match Me
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<p>Hi I am an first generation African-American student at a somewhat prestigious and competitive private school. I am low income, father is not in the picture, and have overcame many obstacles to get where i am today. If the SATs did not exist, I would be set for any school, but I am pretty average in that department. If you could please weigh my stats vs my sat scores, it would help a great deal to know whether i should retake them.</p>

<p>GPA: 92.55 = 3.75?
SAT: M620 CR690 W620
SATII: Bio: 660 Math 2: 600
APS: Jr. year: Bio 4, Calc AB?, Sr. year: US Gov, Chem, Calc BC
Class rank: top 10 %
Work experience: internship in federal office, volunteer at daycare, volunteer at museum
Prominent Student government leader: yes for 2 years
ECs: amazing, not an isssue at all, plus supplemental rec from organization leader leader
college counselor: nationally recognized</p>

<p>major: neuroscience</p>

<p>I dont know what else to put but this is my list:</p>

<p>reach: columbia, dartmouth (admissions connection, went to a minority outreach program)</p>

<p>match: JHU, tufts?</p>

<p>safety: bucknell?</p>

<p>any other college suggestions are welcome, and also any guidance whatsoever would be great!</p>

2

<p>You could study some more and take the SATs again, unless you’ve already taken them 2-3 times and those are your highest scores. Most schools only consider your highest scores.</p>

<p>Alternatively, you could try the ACT, which is oriented toward more students stronger in science and math.</p>

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<p>thanks for your advice, i have taken it twice though, i am thinking the ACT might be a good option as well. do you think my math classes make up for it tho, do you think college should look at my ability to do algebra/geo, or the fact that i am qualified for calc bc?</p>

4

<p>Dartmouth will probably take you. They are DESPERATE for black kids. But their minority outreach program, while a good sign, is in no way a guarantee of acceptance. It is basically an attempt to draw other minority students away from other top universities where there are actually other black kids.</p>

<p>However, you will find no such special treatment at the other schools. Tufts, JHU, and Columbia will all say no. Columbia has other minority recruitment programs that bring in plenty of black applicants just as qualified as their white and asian counterparts. Tufts will want to see more from you and your SAT scores just aren’t up to snuff for JHU who are, by the way, not need blind.</p>

<p>Bucknell is an OK safety. But find more.</p>

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<p>alright thanks for the honesty, any suggestions for safeties that want minorities and have alot of money?</p>

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<p>just retake the SAT. you seem pretty intelligent and could easily raise that 690Cr to a 750, as well as those 620’s to 700’s. good luck to you.:)</p>

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<p>Tufts and JHU are definitely not matches – they’re reaches.</p>

<p>You need to up your SAT scores.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>As far as actively recruiting minorities, the more rural you get (and, to a certain extent, the further West, the better).</p>

<p>Carleton, Brandeis, Macalester, and Oberlin would all be good match/high match schools for you (with Oberlin being the most selective).</p>

<p>Other options include: Davidson College, Hood College, and Columbia College in South Carolina.</p>

<p>Hood and Columbia could give you merit aid. And plenty of other women’s colleges, especially in the South, could be good fits.</p>

<p>Simmons in MA, for example.</p>

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<p>well thanks for the help, im registering for the ACT right now!</p>

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<p>also another question, lets say i get a 30 on the ACT, what difference will that make?</p>

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<p>A 30 is better, but a 31 would be a better bet!</p>