<p>Hi, I’m a junior, and lately I’ve become very stressed out with this sudden college search. First, I am performing way below what I was expecting on my practice SAT2’s (I’m taking biology and math 2c in june). Which has me worried that maybe there for nothing if I can’t get above 700 on them. Now, I realize 2c has a nice curve, but I feel like I’m dying on the Barron’s practice test. I tried going down to 1c, but it was too easy, and I fear getting a 700+ on 1c looks like I should be taking 2c. Secondly, this has made me reconsider where I might apply. I’m not so sure I should try applying to the top 20 if I’m totally out of the ballpark. Thirdly, and the main reason for this post, is that I’ve realized I have no clue what I want to do, and it terrifies me. I don’t mean I don’t know what I like, I like chemistry, biology, journalism, politics, english, etc. I’m afraid if I were to major in something like, international relations I would never find a job, and I don’t even know what kinds of jobs people can get in the humanities. I’m afraid of going to college, majoring in the humanities, and having to live at home for the rest of my life because there is no job suitable for that major. Any advice?</p>
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<li><p>Most colleges including some in the top 20 do not require the SAT IIs at all.</p></li>
<li><p>You are African American. Relatively few African Americans take the SAT II. Scores, sadly, for African Americans are far below those of any other racial/ethnic group on the SATs. A recent issue of “The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education” had a story titled, " The Worsening Racial Scoring Gap on SAT II Achievement Tests ". The story isn’t posted on-line, but here’s a link to the title: <a href=“http://www.jbhe.com/news_views/[/url]”>http://www.jbhe.com/news_views/</a></p></li>
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<p>Meanwhile, in 2004, the average v, m SAT I score for black students was 430, 427.</p>
<p>If you simply take the time to look around CC to find out the scores of black students admitted to top 20 schools, you’ll find plenty of evidence that you’re in the ballpark. The same, incidentally, would be true if you were white or Asian. There are people of all races that get into top 20s with the kind of SAT II scores you may end up with.</p>
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<li><p>Majoring in humanities can be great preparation for careers such as law or business. </p></li>
<li><p>Most students end up switching majors a couple of times. That’s normal. Thus, you don’t need to sweat your college major now. Most college grads get jobs. Most grads of good LACs or research institutions get good jobs or go to graduate or professional school. They don’t end up unemployed.</p></li>
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<p>This is a great time to start learning about various careers. Surf the Net to find out info by reading about people who are doing careers that sound interesting to you. Also check out advice posted by professional associations for various fields. </p>
<p>My overall advice? Chill while also keeping your junior year grades high. If you want to worry about something, focus on your grades because this is the most important year when it comes to the grades that count for college admission.</p>
<p>Celebrian:
Try to relax. When you are nervous, you can make careless mistakes. There is a lot of memorization in biology, so try to memorize a bit at a time. Maybe others have tips on how to practice for math. Let me try to address your college concerns.</p>
<p>By chance, last week, I talked to a young man who’d majored in history in college. He was hired by Ford, as was another history major in his school; he worked three years there before deciding to return to grad school. Just to let you know that even if you major in something that is not “practical” you can get a good job. </p>
<p>It’s far too early to think about a college major and a career. The most popular major of college applicant is “undecided.” In freshman year, students are expected to take a variety of courses to figure out what they like best and then decide, some time in their sophomore year, what they want to major in. So you have plenty of time to make up and change your mind. </p>
<p>Don’t start making a list before you’ve gotten your junior grades and your SAT scores back (and you can also consider taking ACT if you think you might do better). Concentrate instead on the type of college you would prefer, location, size, etc… Whatever happens, you will need some safeties (both in terms of academic and finances). This is long-winded way to tell you to concentrate on studying one day at a time, smell the roses (when they finally appear!) and put off decisions until this summer.</p>
<p>Oh yes! I am taking the ACT (april 9th). I feel very well prepared for it however, I much prefer it to the SAT. I’ll be taking the SAT on may 7th. My fear originates more from a fear that I won’t find what I want to do in college than fear of being undecided. I’ve never been truly gifted at anything, which worries me a lot. Thanks for the advice</p>
<p>Barons is good to study with but their practice tests are not particularly representative of actual tests.</p>
<p>When I was using them for SAT II Writing, I was scoring around 650 on the practice tests. I scored 780 on the real thing.</p>
<p>The barrons book for IIC is SO awful. It’s completely beyond what you need to know. Try the Kaplan one, i thought it was pretty good (got a 790)</p>
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<p>Yeah. Take a deep breath!</p>
<p>Here’s a little secret. The vast majority of high school juniors/seniors and college freshmen have absolutely no idea what they want to do!</p>
<p>Here’s a second little secret. The ones who do think they know usuallly end up changing their minds!</p>
<p>Here’s a third little secret. The whole idea of college is to find out what you might want to do. You take courses in different things and, one day, you wake up and find out that you really, really enjoy something you are learning about. I think my number one peeve about College Confidential kids is the over-importance they place on specific majors, specific departments, admission rates into specific types of grad schools. As if they have their whole lives mapped out at age 17. Yeah, right. Unless you have interests that are off-the-beaten-track academically, that stuff is so unimportant in the big picture. Like what college doesn’t have a good poli sci deparment, ya know what I mean?</p>
<p>Here’s a fourth little secret. The better colleges are lousy places for “vocational training”. If it were just about learning a skill, you could go to auto mechanics school. A really good college is all about teaching you how to think. How do digest new information. Sort out the wheat from the chaff. Draw conclusions. Communicate your ideas. It doesn’t much matter what you study. You can learn those skills in the Bio department. You can learn them in the Sociology department. And, people who have those skills are going to have the opportunity to prosper in the work place – especially a work place where one set of specific vocational skills has a shelf life of maybe five years. </p>
<p>Here’s a fifth little secret. As Northstarmom points out, if you post SAT II scores anywhere in the same zip code of 700, colleges will be beating down your doors.</p>
<p>Hi, Celebrian, I’ve been following your posts with interest over the last half year, and I think right now you just have a case of the CC psych-out. I have heard in several places that the Barron’s Math IIC book is a good bit tougher than the actual test, so be confident going into the test that you’ll turn in a good score. Everyone else who has replied already has made the good point that you have plenty of future ahead of you, and you don’t have to have your mind made up yet. Indeed, it was about at your current age that I made a radical change of direction in my career goals. There are plenty of people who are still making up career goals after they graduate from college, so you are doing the right thing now just to try to get a good education. </p>
<p>Good luck. Relax, and don’t let the tests grind you down.</p>
<p>As long as you get out of college with enough knowledge to get an entry level job and live with a roommate in a cheap apartment - you are fine. You have at least 5 years then to try jobs or go to grad school. Everyone has given you great advice. And I bet you do much better than you are expecting.</p>