<p>Ok I got rejected from Colgate University ED.
So I’m really reconsidering the level of my SAT scores
On SAT 1 , I scored a 2120 on my second sitting, 740 MATH , 660 CR , 720 Writing ,10 Essay.
On my SAT 2 , I scored 720 on Math 2, and a 770 on Physics. (December sitting, so Colgate never got a chance to see these scores)</p>
<p>I know my 660 CR sucks , and so does my MATH 2 score.
Thus I’m definitely retaking the SATs in Jan.</p>
<p>I think I should retake SAT 1 , cause I guess I can improve my CR score (I got 660 on my first sitting as well, and the CR on my second sitting was WAY harder), and I’m definitely sure I can pull up my Math score, as the 740 was a result of only 2 wrong answers , no omits.</p>
<p>So what should I retake , SAT 1 or SAT 2 Math 2 ??</p>
<p>I’m planning to major in Computer Science.
Oh Yeah, I’m applying for fin aid.
and my college list is pretty much as follows :-</p>
<p>Colby College
Dickinson College
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Lafayette College
Macalester College
Vassar College
Washington & Lee University
Oberlin College</p>
<p>and any suggestions for some safety schools?</p>
<p>I don’t think your SAT score was what caused the rejection, Especially if your native language isn’t English, 660 CR is quite good in fact… maybe it was the financial aid. </p>
<p>We’re in the same boat,international aid is tough to get. There are no safeties. Best of luck in the other schools.</p>
<p>@ haru – I know why I got rejected and it wasn’t the aid because if it was the aid I would have been at most deferred.
The real reason must have been No SAT 2 scores + crappy class 11 (junior year grades) (all thanks to falling ill before the mid-year exams).
So to make up for my class 11 grades, I want to improve my SATs. And the thing is , the two other people who are applying from my school got a 680 and a 710 on CR respectively.
and my first language in school was always English.</p>
<p>@ no_novice – ahh thanks , kinda was expecting it though .
Anyway nothing can be done about that. Gotta keep trying , RDs still remain !!!</p>
<p>@abhisiv – since I’m applying only to liberal arts colleges , do you think they will weigh my Math 2 score more than my CR score ??? (highly unlikely isn’t it?)</p>
<p>Unfortunately I believe that SAT II’s are rarely the deciding factor in admissions…as others have said, it’s probably something other than SAT scores or aid, as you mentioned. If you’re going to retake either way, I’d say the SAT I, because although your score is high enough for most of those schools already, it influences the admissions decision more so than the SAT IIs do. </p>
<p>I am pretty certain that the reason I was rejected was not due to my ECs.
If you must persist, here’s my EC list, now tell me if my ECs suck or not.</p>
<p>ECs :-
Was chosen as the school’s representative at an inter-school fest. Brought back the First Place trophy. (14 schools participated)
Founder of my school’s Computer Club
Active member of my school’s Debate Club.
Won a LOT of awards throughout high school related to Computer programming, design and gaming(:P)
I sat for the Mensa (IQ) exam in my city and scored in the 97th percentile (missed being accepted into Mensa by one question )
Decent community service record.
Acted in a few plays.
Active in school sports.
Am an active photographer.
Am an active artist. (I most probably will be sending copies of my drawings)
Oh yeah, I also mentioned that I play the drums.</p>
<p>I think the reason I was rejected was </p>
<h1>1 – BAD class 11 (junior year) , because I fell sick two weeks before my mid-terms. I did make up for it in class 12 (senior year) though.</h1>
<h1>2- NO SAT 2 scores (hence no standard comparison to my high school level of difficulty to that of US high schools) …couldn’t help it, had to take my SAT 2 in December thanks to personal problems.</h1>
<p>Oh yeah and Colgate also did mention in their letter , to quote them, “We understand that you have many outstanding qualities which will enable you to make significant contributions to the college you choose to attend. Please understand that our decision is not a reflection on your prospects for success in college-- it is more accurately a reflection of Colgate’s admission competition.”</p>
<p>I have no regrets for being rejected by Colgate. Colgate is a great place and I still respect them for that. But that doesn’t mean that I’m gonna give up on my RDs. Thus if I’m not “competitive” enough right now, the only way I think I can become more “competitive” is to improve my SATs as it is impossible to change anything else (except perhaps my essays) now.
So that’s why I made this thread.</p>
<p>Lacs won’t care much abt subject tests, but subject cases could make up for your 11 grades. If ur able to score decent on maths 2c i don’t think that they’ll look at SAT 1 maths.</p>
<p>In your high school system, do you have to take any standardized tests (say A’Levels or IB)? If yes, then SAT IIs become relatively less important.</p>
<p>Board exams mean everyone has to give the same test right? So they would count as standardized tests.</p>
<p>My guess is that if you did well in the ICSE and your predicted grades in ISC are good too, your SAT IIs won’t be such a problem. People from India here should be able to confirm that.</p>
<p>ICSE and class 12 (senior year) is pretty good.
But my class 11 (junior year) mid-term results suck, and I can’t change them.</p>
<p>Anyways what do you think will look better
a 1500/1600 on SAT 1 (I have a 1400/1600 now)
or a 780 on SAT 2 Math 2 (I have a 720 now)
I’m guessing 1500/1600…</p>
<p>Yeah, I think you should retake the SAT I. In general, SAT I is more important than SAT II, particularly as you have the ICSE to prove your credentials in Phy and Maths. Plus your SAT II scores are already pretty high, whearas there is still some room for improvement in SAT I (although your scores are already very good).</p>
<p>But it also depends upon which score you think you will be able to improve upon the most. Retaking either SAT will be useless if you can’t raise your scores significantly. Plus another option you have is to retake the Math IIC SAT II and take a couple of other subjects as well.</p>
<p>I also do not think your SATs were the cause of your rejection - I would say it was the finaid… why would they defer you if it the cause was finaid?</p>
<p>But you seem so keen on retaking - I agree with NBZ, I think you should retake SAT 1 and aim really really high.
Good luck!</p>
<p>ok thanks a lot for your help guys.
I’ll be retaking my SAT 1 then, cause if I took SAT 2 then I would have taken only MATH 2.</p>
<p>@NoFX – I don’t think it was because of fin aid because people with similar SAT marks got in, while I didn’t and I would have most likely been deferred, not rejected. The only major difference I could find was no SAT 2 and bad class 11 marks.
It could have been financial aid if i had applied for almost a full ride, but considering that I applied for 70% aid, I still don’t believe that financial aid was the factor.
@ the Mensa thing,
I put everything I had (including copies of my drawing and photographs in my Colgate app). For RDs I guess I’ll reconsider the Mensa certificate (and I’m definitely not gonna waste time and money including copies of my drawing and photographs again)</p>
<p>I’d say that if you’re ICSE scores are good, ISC predicted are good, then the 11th standard drop’s a pretty standard phenomenon in most Indian schools…</p>
<p>I’d recommend retaking the SAT, do the other LACs you’re considering require/recommend SAT IIs?</p>
<p>I remember reading somewhere that past 2100, the SAT score really starts mattering less…the other factors such as EC and volunteer work, etc. start coming into play more around there. So someone with 2100 with lots of EC, actually has a better chance at competitive schools than someone with 2300 SAT with little EC. </p>
<p>But yeah, just for reiteration, if you want to take advantage of the last opportunity for SAT, retake it, it’s not going to hurt you.</p>
<p>@ k_twin – Most of the LACs do not require a SAT 2 exam, but I took it just to boost my app. </p>
<p>@ haru – yea, I’ll be sending all my scores now, and taking it again in January, so if my scores improve by quite a bit, I’ll re-send all my scores.</p>
, kinda was expecting it though 
.