[Stellabella826]

Hey guys! (If there is a thread something like this, please feel free to delete)

I just received my ACT scores a couple of weeks ago and was very disappointed..
I got a 26 which isn't too bad but for me, I consider that to be pretty low.
I received a 9 on my writing, however.

Ever since freshman year, I've been in Honor classes, and started taking AP classes
my sophomore year and have pulled out pretty decent grades.
I work hard and always turn my assignments in and get pretty good test grades in classes.
I have a pretty decent GPA, 3.9998 or something like that weighted.
I am crazy involved with my school and volunteer when I can.
I am a pretty well rounded student except for the fact of my ACT scores..

I talked to a couple of girls who had the same problem as me.
They couldn't standardize test, which is the problem I have.
They have amazing stats but a low ACT score..

Then I have friends who I know for a fact that I have a better grade in the classes I have with them
but they pull out 30's or 29's. They have way lower GPA's than I do and are known
for not trying in school. I find that really unfair.

Anyways! I was just wondering if you have the same problem as me.
And if you got accepted into some pretty good schools..
I'm not so sure of what colleges to apply to yet, but I want to see
if I have somewhat of a chance...

[DaAzNkIgGa627]

A 3 hour 45 minute test does not undo 4 years of hard work.

Think about that =P

[ylk7a]

Actually, I have the same problem with standardized tests. Except my stats are not amazing -.-

What DaAzNkIgGa627 said is true, a 4-hour test on a Saturday morning is incomparable to 4 years of hard work. As long as you show your dedication through extracurricular activities and effort through your grades, I think the admissions officers should make good judgments (at least I hope they will ). However, SAT scores are often used as a tie-breaker in many situations. So it's better to have a high score.

I understand your pain, I don't think it's fair for hard working people like us to get low standardized test scores as well. But I guess we just have to practice and get better at it. Practice doesn't make perfect but it should help Good luck!!

[Voltage]

i think it's naive to say that your ACT/SAT score isn't a deal breaker. If you are shooting for top10 schools, it will certainly play a strong role in your admissions process. The same sort of dedication for extracurricular activities,etc. can be applied to standardized testing. I have yet to meet someone who was considered intelligent that couldn't beat a standardized test. Add some more effort and kill it the next time

[alicimoo]

I'm kind of like that too. :[ I'm hoping I'll be able to raise my score after doing practice tests.

There are people in my school who have really low GPAs and score really high on SAT/ACT. They're really smart but they just don't try in school. There this girl in my grade who gets like C's and D's, but got 99% percentile for the PSAT. Then there's this senior in my school who has like high 1.xx GPA or low 2.xx and got a 2390 on the SAT.

The thing is, I think the scores play a huge part in college decisions because colleges can use them to compare all the students from different parts. But if you have great e.cs and a good GPA, they'll be able to see that you're pretty well rounded and work hard in school, but maybe just aren't good at standardized tests.

[MANGOx3]

Same thing with me. I do good at school and get A's because I try hard, and I'm well rounded in extra curricular activities...but for some reason I just can't test well under time limit. For example,I just bombed my 2 AP tests... -___- It shooting down my hopes of getting into UC LA, lol.

[kiki]

same here... I have excellent grades in school, but when it comes to standardized tests, I just don't do well on them.
I'm starting to realize that now. uhh...

[ordinarydaysx]

study study study.
if u can ace school, you can ace tests

[heartdrops]

Err I'm in the exact same position.
I do SOOO bad on the SATs but I do well in school. Hopefully I'll still get accepted to a good school.

[xm1chelle]

same problem here...i'm really bad at SATs but then i have an okay gpa....it's so frustrating sometimes but i can't really improve

[minyi]

I won't worry too much about your ACT score. It's really not a break it or make it deal. I got a 26 on my ACT and I got accepted to the top Ivy League school. :x I'm not trying to brag, but it's just to point out your scores don't define who you are. Colleges really look for the all-around student or a student who has something very special about himself/herself. One of my classmates got approximately a 1500 on the SAT and got accepted into Dartmouth. Then there are stories of students who get 2380 on the SAT (out of a possible 2400) and didn't get into the private colleges that he liked.

If your scores are just average, or just not as outstanding as you want them to be, just make sure you really work on the other aspects of yourself as a student and community member. A powerful personal statement is the break it or make it point for many private colleges, since colleges are really interested about their students' background, interests, goals, etc. If you can write an outstanding essay, you outshine the student who got high scores but writes a less meaningful essay.

But if you really worry about your scores, because trying harder and getting better scores won't hurt, there are many opportunities for you to retake the standardized test. I actually took the SAT 5 times....I know...I'm crazy....and I didn't even improve by that much. But my college interviewer said that what really struck him about my application was the difficulties that I went through in life and how I am now as a person and student after overcoming them.

So all in all, don't stress about your scores. You'll do great nonetheless if you're really determined.

[Stellabella826]

I won't worry too much about your ACT score. It's really not a break it or make it deal. I got a 26 on my ACT and I got accepted to the top Ivy League school. :x I'm not trying to brag, but it's just to point out your scores don't define who you are. Colleges really look for the all-around student or a student who has something very special about himself/herself. One of my classmates got approximately a 1500 on the SAT and got accepted into Dartmouth. Then there are stories of students who get 2380 on the SAT (out of a possible 2400) and didn't get into the private colleges that he liked.

If your scores are just average, or just not as outstanding as you want them to be, just make sure you really work on the other aspects of yourself as a student and community member. A powerful personal statement is the break it or make it point for many private colleges, since colleges are really interested about their students' background, interests, goals, etc. If you can write an outstanding essay, you outshine the student who got high scores but writes a less meaningful essay.

But if you really worry about your scores, because trying harder and getting better scores won't hurt, there are many opportunities for you to retake the standardized test. I actually took the SAT 5 times....I know...I'm crazy....and I didn't even improve by that much. But my college interviewer said that what really struck him about my application was the difficulties that I went through in life and how I am now as a person and student after overcoming them.

So all in all, don't stress about your scores. You'll do great nonetheless if you're really determined.

Omg, you are the best! This is what I was hoping for and you actually confirmed it.
Thank you SO much!!

Thanks everyone else who contributed.
*sigh* Hopefully our next test scores will improve!
Good luck guys!! ^^

[Little Miss Snackwrap]

ugh yea i did ok on the SATs but i just could not get about 700 on any SAT 2s to save my life no joke...and i took like 5 too -___-

my weighted gpa is even lower than yours and i got a couple of C's sophomore year (my unweighted is like a 3.4) but i have a lot of extracurricular activities too.

but yeah definitely play up all the other aspects of your application and you as a person, and make sure you have a really strong essay. think carefully about which teachers could write the best recommendations for you.

i didn't make ivy league status but i'm going to NYU next year so i don't think i did too badly...and a girl i know who scored around 1700 on her first SAT got into UC Berkeley

[HUAY]

Same thing with me. I do good at school and get A's because I try hard, and I'm well rounded in extra curricular activities...but for some reason I just can't test well under time limit. For example,I just bombed my 2 AP tests... -___- It shooting down my hopes of getting into UC LA, lol.

O_O. I did/do (ughuasghuasgh like 18 more days of school left) in school... I graduated (errr. AM GRADUATING**) 10th in my class of 393.. My weighted average (i dont know what it is out of 4.0 GPA) is a 100.03 (XD The way my school weights things is quite interesting) and I was in a bunch of clubs.. No sports... My SATs sucked. I didnt break 2000 >_>''' (which I took 2 times) and 28 on my ACTs (only took them 1)... :|.. Oh. And I t ook 3 APs and got 3s on all of them (AKA I SUCK AT STANDARDIZED TESTS +___+) (+ I took 2 this year but chh. Theres no way Im sending those scores in @__@)

And yeah o_o. I got into UCLA (out of state.. which I heard was hard to do ish?) (and Im going there too =O) (@__@ Its so far away ;__;.) (I live in upstate NY), Johns Hopkins (and they gave me like 49K/52K @___@) (and I rejected it @__@) (but I still think that my sister going to JHU helped me get in a lot, I dont know +_+), NYU, UCSD, Boston University, and Rutgers..

Rawr O_O Who cares about APs, you'll do fineee.

(Although D: Itd be nice to get placement I think. The only section I did well in on SATs was writing, which I used to think didnt count for anything. But you can get placement @ UCLA if you get a 680+ higher on the writing section.. and then you need a 3 on AP Calc to get placement for that.. LOL BUT UHH >_> I Dont think thats happening +_+)..
/sigh.

D: Best of luck~

[imuhhater]

I do HORRIBLE on standarized testings, yet I still managed to get into UW.
Just do well in school, and you're set. Don't worry about the tests. I think that's what got to me.