Would I have any shot even if my SAT score was higher?

Eiffel · November 30, 2009, 3:23pm

I’m trying to decide whether or not to spend the money, hire a private SAT math tutor, et cetera, and retake the SAT in January one last time. But if I’d have very very little shot even with a higher math score, I might not bother. If I’d have a substantially better shot, I’ll probably go ahead and do it. Any advice would be much appreciated.

So, here is my profile. Imagine that the math SAT is at least 700. What would be my chance then?

Weighted GPA: 4.625

Unweighted GPA: 3.86

Ranked number 8 in a class of 507

I’ve taken all honors (except classes like Spanish where you can’t take honors at my school) and by the time I graduate, I will have taken 5 AP classes (including taken AP Senior English [or AP English Literature] in my sophomore year.) I will also have taken Statistics, Life Management Skills, and Pre-Cal at a community college.

AP Scores:

AP English Literature - 5
AP English Language and Composition - 5
AP U.S. History - 5

SAT I score was 800 Writing, 740 Critical Reading, and 600 Math (overall, 2140). (Imagine that the math score is higher please. :P)

SAT II - U.S. History (710); Literature (730)

Extracurriculars:

1.) Screenwriting. My primary passion. For the past 6 years, I have worked on the scripts for my TV series 15 hours every week. I have completed 15 full-length teleplays for my series (about 80 pages each, about 1200 pages total.) I have also written 2 short films, started 2 more in-progress feature-length film scripts, and also have a large collection of original ideas for films and television series that I plan to write.

2.) Creative writing. While I have been writing stories, poems, and other works almost all my life, my accomplishments during the 4 years of high school: I have written an in-progress novel, two novellas, five novelettes, four short stories, two plays, a large portfolio of poetry, and a portfolio of song lyrics.

3.) Affinity Entertainment Independent Film Company. (freshman - senior year)
-Acting (starred in one full-length independent film and a played a small role in another)
-Cinematography (two full-length independent films)
-Creative consulting (three full-length independent films)

4.) Animation Appreciation Club (freshman - senior year)
I was the Discussion Leader in this club, which was centered on discussing, debating, and analyzing the merits, faults, and meanings of various animated works. Animation is a passion of mine and a field in which I highly desire to work in the future.

5.) Newspaper Club (freshman year)
Staff writer for the paper. Only freshman admitted to write for the paper during my year.

Community Service:

1.) I created and spearheaded a special writing workshop for interested middle school students to learn the skills and art of different forms of writing (screenwriting, fiction writing, poetry, and journalism), and I was their teacher.

2.) Drama-coaching middle school students for play productions for two summers

3.) Participated in two episodes of a local television program called “Today’s Family” as a guest speaker

4.) Junior Honor Guard [top 10 students, assisting with graduation ceremony and senior banquet]

Awards:

1.) I won 3rd place in the San Diego competition Voice of Democracy, which comprises an essay and an audio recording of the essay on a specific topic concerning America. I was the first person from El Cajon to make it to the finals.

2.) I have won 1st place two times in the Rancho San Diego Library Poetry Contest and was published in their poetry anthology for both of these times.

3.) AP Scholar.

Thanks for your time! :)

co2010 · November 30, 2009, 3:43pm

About your screenwriting and creative writing–has anything been filmed/performed/aired/published/etc.?

Eiffel · November 30, 2009, 3:48pm

Unfortunately, my works haven’t been published or won any awards. I never even submitted them to any contests because I never really thought I’d be applying to these ultra-competitive schools, so I never gave much thought to winning awards. I just did it because I loved to do it and am passionate about it; hopefully that’ll be conveyed in my essays, but how much do you think it’ll hurt me that I haven’t actually proven (through awards or being published) my abilities? Does the absence of awards/etc severely negate any advantage I may have due to my long-term passion and dedication for what may be unique EC’s amidst a lot of “Math Team, Debate Team” applicants? (No offense at all to those EC’s; they just seem to be a lot more common than screenwriting/film/many works in creative writing.)

Hunt · November 30, 2009, 4:26pm

I think it will be something of a problem that you’ve written all this material without trying to get it published or entering it into contests. It may be your passion, but are you really good at it? A good essay may help with this. You’re right that your math SAT is a problem. Your unweighted GPA is also not at the top, although your rank is good.
I think the question of whether to retake SAT also depends on what your overall list of schools is. Where else are you applying?

Eiffel · November 30, 2009, 5:56pm

“A good essay may help with this.”

You mean, a well-written essay might prove my writing abilities? Or did you mean something else?

Also, do you think submitting a supplement of maybe a 5 page short film I wrote might help?

“I think the question of whether to retake SAT also depends on what your overall list of schools is. Where else are you applying?”

I already applied to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis (already accepted there), and USC. I think I have a good shot at all of those; people have said they are all matches for me [except Davis, which is obviously my safety school]. I’m applying to NYU’s Dramatic Writing program, but I’m not worried about my SAT for that. And then the rest of the schools are my reaches: Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, Washington U. in St. Louis, Stanford.

So, I’m not sure…I guess my biggest conflict is: If I already have a good shot at UC Berkeley and UCLA, is the experience at Yale/other similar schools so vastly different as to warrant SAT tutoring, SAT retake, et cetera? I mean, if I might have a good shot at them, then it might be. But if I really don’t have a shot with or without a higher score, I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Thanks for any advice.

canadiankid9 · November 30, 2009, 7:00pm

Have you considered sending in some of your work as supplementary materials? Have them take a look and evaluate it.

Also I think it’s worthwhile to get your math score up…600 is under par for these schools

Just my two cents

Good luck =)

Hunt · November 30, 2009, 7:22pm

I think it probably makes sense to take the SAT again, given your list. The current math score could be an issue at all of your reach schools, I think.
A well-written essay might help persuade the school that you’re a good writer–do you have a teacher who can give you a recommendation that says you’re a good writer? Have you at least submitted some of your work to your school’s literary magazine (if there is one)?

Eiffel · November 30, 2009, 7:33pm

“Have you considered sending in some of your work as supplementary materials? Have them take a look and evaluate it.”

I am considering that…but my best work is from my TV series and from my book (each TV script is about 80 pages, and my book so far is 250). I could pick an excerpt from one of those, but I fear that one scene alone might not do it justice. :-/ I have also written 2 short films (both 5 pages) that I think are good, but again, I’m not sure if they are as good as my TV series or book material. Suggestions?

“A well-written essay might help persuade the school that you’re a good writer–do you have a teacher who can give you a recommendation that says you’re a good writer?”

Both my teachers let me see their rec’s, and yes, they certainly praised my writing abilities (among other things). One of them said I was the best writer she’s had in her 7 years of teaching so far. Will that help, you think?

“A well-written essay might help persuade the school that you’re a good writer–do you have a teacher who can give you a recommendation that says you’re a good writer?”

Unfortunately, we don’t have a literary magazine at school, but I mentioned in my OP that I wrote for the Newspaper staff during freshman year and was the only freshman deemed advanced enough to skip Beginning Journalism class and move straight to writing for the paper. Also, some other things that might help: during my freshman English class (which was already honors and the highest one can do as a freshman at my school), my teacher deemed me advanced enough to partake in a more challenging curriculum; we worked together to create an independent study for me.

I was also the only sophomore in my class deemed advanced enough to take AP English Literature sophomore year instead of senior year (there have been only 4 other students who have taken AP English Lit before senior year at my school, and out of those 4, I was the only one to get above a 3 on the exam [I got a 5].)

Would any of this be relevant or helpful to my case at these schools? Should I ask my counselor to include this information in his recommendation?

Thanks again, guys. :)

portugueseninja · December 1, 2009, 8:42am

The only way you have NO CHANCE is if you DON’T APPLY. Your other scores are great. And your passion for your writing definitely shows through. If you think that you can get the math score up, then go for it. If you honestly don’t think you can, then rest assured that 2140 is a solid score.

There’s nothing you can really do at this point to significantly impact your chances. Your chances are as good (and simultaneously bad) as everyone else’s.

Just do your best. Write the very best essays you can muster. Then submit the application and keep your fingers crossed.

Ultimately, you’re going to a college and you’ll have a great time wherever that might be.

Eiffel · December 2, 2009, 8:35pm

Thanks, portugueseninja! I decided to get a math tutor after all and retake the SAT in January. I’ll let you guys know how it goes. :D

But could someone tell me if my above post (about things I might want my counselor to put in his rec) should be put in there and if any of it would be helpful to my chances/prove my writing abilities?

Would I have any shot even if my SAT score was higher?

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