Talk a junior in off the ledge - SAT/HS record match?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Hi, i’m a high school junior and have never been a good test taker. I worked extremely hard (had a tutor) to prepare for the Jan. SAT’s. Math has always been my greatest weakness - and fear. I actually wrote a poem in 8th grade about math; the feeling of sitting in a class and all of a sudden having no idea what the teacher was talking about. It’s a terrible feeling. I’m actually doing pretty well with Trig. this year, with an 85 average, which i’m pretty proud of.</p>

<p>Anyway, I knew just getting a 500 on the math SAT was going to be a challenge, based on all the practice tests I took. The writing/reading section was where I thought I would do well. based on my practice tests I was scoring pretty consistently in the 700-750 range.</p>

<p>Arriving at the test site that Sat. morning I actually felt pretty good. I took the test and thought I did as I had expected to. </p>

<p>Well, logged on the morning the scores were available and to my horror saw that I pretty much bombed it - even the writing/reading where I was supposed to do well. Math, was a disaster of course. Reading was a 630, writing was a 600 with a 10 on the essay (disappointing as well), and math 460. </p>

<p>My current GPA is an UW 3.7. I will graduate with 6 AP’s and two languages. My school offeres a crash course for seniors in German, so i’ll have 4 years of spanish (AP) and German. I’m actually going to language school in Costa Rica next week with 14 other spanish students selected from our honors program. My EC’s are pretty good (4 year honors musician among other things), and my teacher recs should be great </p>

<p>Everyone is telling me to calm down, that it’s still early, can take them a few more times etc. I can’t imagine how much pressure i’m going to put on myself when I sit down to take them again - knowing that with each time I take them, i’m running out of time. </p>

<p>Then today, my dad (i know he means well) “reminds” me that I better not let my GPA slip as that is really going to hurt. I think he was trying to be helpful meaning that I have more control over my GPA and not obsess over the SAT.</p>

<p>Interestingly, 4 out of my top 5 schools are SAT optional. Unfortunately my top choice does require the SAT and i’m afraid i killed my chances.</p>

<p>I’m now working with my tutor preparing for the ACT in april. I’ll then see how that comes back and then figure out which to take again.</p>

<p>So, assuming I won’t be able to duplicate my practice scores for the real thing, how do you think i stack up for:</p>

<p>Fordham (1st choice)
Holy Cross (thought it was a reach even before the SAT debacle LOL)
Providence
Stonehill
Loyola </p>

<p>thanks for letting me get this off my chest!</p>

2

<p>Three strategies come to mind, and you can pursue them all:</p>

<p>1) Retake SAT</p>

<p>2) ACT, as you are preparing to take in April</p>

<p>3) Look for the “testing optional” schools as potential places to apply.</p>

3

<p>I agree with strategies above, and would like to suggest that you look at some more LACs that won’t require test scores. That would solve your dilemma and may also be the educational approach that will make you happy.</p>

<p>The SAT is a standardized test, nothing more. It will not define your college experience no matter how ominous it seems at the moment. The difference between practice test scores and actual scores may be a reflection of your testing anxiety when you know it’s the real deal, so relax, allow yourself to think of the test as optional even though you are trying your best at it - don’t let it get you down!</p>

4

<p>Take the ACT…the math is less “tricky”</p>

<p>Also, the math will be diluted by 3 other subjects.</p>

5

<p>Holy Cross is test optional so just work on getting into the top 10% of your class if you aren’t a good test taker.</p>

6

<p>I would also tell you to start prepping now the the ACT. Those aren’t terrible scores though for your CR and W --but I understand, you know you are capable of better and it’s terribly disappointing after all the prep. I am a horrible test taker also and can relate! I have one child that will be taking the ACT --it’s a much better test for her than the SAT’s. Definitely think that’s the better option for you. Don’t let yourself get defeated --get back up and put loads of energy into the ACT now.</p>

7

<p>Forgot to mention test optional schools (though I don’t think you’ll need a list of these after you take the ACT WELL prepped):</p>

<p>-Denison University
-Guilford College (you may be above their gpa and even able to receive merit $)</p>

8

<p>Actually your scores for 1st time are not bad. Except for a very few schools, you can take the SAT as many times as you like, and forward just the two sittings that create the highest superscore. </p>

<p>The advice above about taking the ACT, and the SAT multiple times, is a good one. Maybe next time you get a 690 on the CR, a 650 on W, and 500 on M. Then you take the test a third time, ang get 610/610 CR+W, but 560 on Math. Your superscore will then be
690
650
560</p>

<p>for a very respectable 1900, which would be above the middle of Fordham’s freshman enrolled class.</p>

9

<p>Take the ACT (and if you want to, retake the SAT).</p>

<p>My kids thought the ACT was not very difficult. A good review book gives you hints and strategies to taking the ACT. This helps a lot. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

10

<p>“Hi, i’m a high school junior and have never been a good test taker.”</p>

<p>If you have always done horribly on standardized exams, and you are good at languages but bad at math, I have to ask: Have you always been on-level in your math classes, or a bit behind the average? Have you ever been screened for dyslexia or dyscalculia? Good class grades, and relatively lower standardized test scores, are practically a preliminary diagnosis for dyslexia/dyscalculia.</p>

<p>Instead of spending hours with an exam tutor, you may be better off spending some time with an educational psychologist so that you can determine if you need accommodations for the ACT/SAT.</p>

<p>All that said, the SAT is a deliberately tricky exam. The ACT is much less tricky. You might like it a lot better.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>