My SAT Scores

[dg28daman]

My advice is to take the ACTs. I got a 1790 on the SATS, which isn't bad, but I got a 29 on the ACT which is much better.

[techboy]

The best advice I can give you is to talk to your counselor and/or career center specialist. That's what they're there for, you know. In Fairfax County, for instance, we (and actually, this includes me, because I'm part of a Pilot where they're rolling out access to this program for all teachers) have access to a program called Counselor's Office. This, among other things, shows a scatterplot of admissions and rejections (along with GPA and SAT) for each university. Your counselor and/or career center specialist should have access to something similar.

If you remind me on Tuesday, I can take a look at UNC and give you a rough idea of the range for SATs and GPAs vis a vis acceptance and rejection, but you're probably better off talking to the people who help students get into college for a living. They'll have a much better idea of the ins and outs, as well as tips and tricks that may not be apparent from the hard data (which in no way includes things like essay, extracurricular activities, and so on).

[Riggins77]

So, I finally got my SAT scores this morning. Here's how they break down

640-Reading (Top 15 percent in the nation)

590-Writing (Top 20 percent in the nation)

Now, here's the part that concerns me:

480-Math (Always been my weakness).

In total, I scored a 1710 out of 2400. That pretty much puts me in the middle of the road, I think. I'm a little concerned since the UNC (the school I want to go to) is very competitive. Anyway, I wanted to ask everyone here if they think I have a chance at getting into a good school, despite the fact that I had only okay scores, and my math numbers weren't too great.

Thank you for your time and comments!

It would help if you tell us what UNC school you want to go to? UNC, UNC-Charlotte, etc.

[dcnativenerd]

It would help if you tell us what UNC school you want to go to? UNC, UNC-Charlotte, etc.

Well, Chapel Hill is the school I'm shooting for; but the school I really want to go to is App. State out in Boone. It's cheap and it's a pretty good school, from what I understand; but my folks made it clear that there's no way I'm going out there since we're on the eastern part of the state and it's in the west (they don't want me going out too far from them...basically, I'm not allowed to go further west than Charlotte, which limits me A LOT).

[skinsfan07]

go to UNCC man. If you don't get into UNC. You'll like it.

[Brad89]

Back in 1999 i got into James Madison (JMU) with a 1230 (630 math, 600 verbal) and 3.178 GPA. Not sure if that will get you in there anymore these days. Also i remember taking a writing portion on my SAT, but it was the SAT board gauging how well a writing section would work on the SATs and it didnt count for anything.

There was an article in The Breeze sometime this year about a kid who had a 4.0 his senior year, but a 3.4 with all 4 years combined. He also had an insane SAT score(like 1900 or 2000), but he got rejected. I think he was from fairfax and quotas from different parts of the state may have come into play.

Basically, the article was about how the concept of a 'safety' school is really kind of outdated, and how competition to get into schools is extremely intense.

Good luck DCNN. You'll be fine.

[Riggins77]

If you are wanting to go to UNC at Chapel Hill, then that is competitive. There are a lot of options out there for you. Have you ever considered going to a community college for two years, getting an associates degree in whatever applies to your field, then transferring to a 4yr university?

Thats what I did and SAT scores didn't matter when you transferred in.

[Riggins77]

Well, Chapel Hill is the school I'm shooting for; but the school I really want to go to is App. State out in Boone. It's cheap and it's a pretty good school, from what I understand; but my folks made it clear that there's no way I'm going out there since we're on the eastern part of the state and it's in the west (they don't want me going out too far from them...basically, I'm not allowed to go further west than Charlotte, which limits me A LOT).

What are you going to school for? App is a great college. I graduated from UNCC, another great college in NC.

[Riggins77]

go to UNCC man. If you don't get into UNC. You'll like it.

Campus is great and since I have graduated (back in 1998) has blown up. If he does end up here, one piece of advice, do not live in the brown appartments across from the tennis courts (Chateu Villa)......There is a reason they call them Chateu Ghetto. Do not be fooled by the $525/mo rent :laugh:

[Kosher Ham]

I don't get why your parents wouldn't want you to go to App State if you could.

As Riggins has stated UNCC is a good school, and I hear that UNC -Greensboro is good as well.

[Forehead]

Is there a place where you can convert your old score to the current scoring system; I'd be interested in what mine translates to.

I got a 1290 (620M/670V) and had a 2.2 GPA. Definitely did not apply myself in high school. Interestingly enough, I was so worried about the SAT that I got drunk the night before, so I took the test the next morning hung over and without a calculator, which I had forgotten. I still don't know how I got the 620 in math.

Anyway, if there's some website where you can convert the old scores, I'd like to see it.

[dcnativenerd]

I don't get why your parents wouldn't want you to go to App State if you could.

As Riggins has stated UNCC is a good school, and I hear that UNC -Greensboro is good as well.

My mother, I think, has attatchment issues. She doesn't want me going too far away from the house just in case something happens. Also, Boone's way out there and the only way to get from here to there is by car. They've made it clear that I'm not getting a car.

[Kosher Ham]

You don't have a job now ? You can buy a throwaway car for about a grand.

But this is your life, your future, it should be your decision.

I just can't agree with not letting my child make his/her decision about where they want to go.

[kuraitengai]

It would help if you tell us what UNC school you want to go to? UNC, UNC-Charlotte, etc.

i would have figured that it was UNC-chapel hill by default. thats 'UNC' to the rest of the country

[kuraitengai]

Well, Chapel Hill is the school I'm shooting for; but the school I really want to go to is App. State out in Boone. It's cheap and it's a pretty good school, from what I understand; but my folks made it clear that there's no way I'm going out there since we're on the eastern part of the state and it's in the west (they don't want me going out too far from them...basically, I'm not allowed to go further west than Charlotte, which limits me A LOT).

are you serious? your parents are putting limitations on how far away college can be?

so if you got into harvard, they would say you cant go cuz its in another state and obviously farther away than charlotte...

[kuraitengai]

Is there a place where you can convert your old score to the current scoring system; I'd be interested in what mine translates to.

I got a 1290 (620M/670V) and had a 2.2 GPA. Definitely did not apply myself in high school. Interestingly enough, I was so worried about the SAT that I got drunk the night before, so I took the test the next morning hung over and without a calculator, which I had forgotten. I still don't know how I got the 620 in math.

Anyway, if there's some website where you can convert the old scores, I'd like to see it.

if theres a way to do that, id wanna see too.

but for some reason i doubt there is. since the change was they added a new section. so there would be nothing in our 1600 tests to switch over and compare. at least that the way i see it.

[PokerPacker]

Is there a place where you can convert your old score to the current scoring system; I'd be interested in what mine translates to.

I got a 1290 (620M/670V) and had a 2.2 GPA. Definitely did not apply myself in high school. Interestingly enough, I was so worried about the SAT that I got drunk the night before, so I took the test the next morning hung over and without a calculator, which I had forgotten. I still don't know how I got the 620 in math.

Anyway, if there's some website where you can convert the old scores, I'd like to see it.

i'd guess you'd have about a 1935 in the new system (just averaged your two scores and multiplied by three). there is no definitive way to tell what your score "would" be since basically all they did was add a writing section. and from what i've heard, most colleges don't even pay attention to the new writing section, so the new system doesn't even really matter.

[ljs]

My SAT scores were underwhelming. But it didn't really matter. I took care of most of my general studies in community college, saved some bucks before I transfered to a university and finished my degree.

Same here, Under the 1600 possible SAT (for us old folks) I scored right at 1000. I went to a division 1 school, but my heart wasn't in it. I went to a 2 year community college, then back to the 4 yr school. I think the education you get is what you put into it. I know many professors who choose to teach at a community college because most people there are serious about learning, not just there to party. So why pay 10 times the tution for the same or even better education?

[ljs]

are you serious? your parents are putting limitations on how far away college can be?

so if you got into harvard, they would say you cant go cuz its in another state and obviously farther away than charlotte...

On one hand I want to say, cut the embellical cord! But are they putting stipulations down if they pay for it? Happened to my best friend. She wanted to go to a school on the other side of the state. But her parents said they would only pay for school if she went to the local university. So she did. I guess if that's the only way you can pay for school...ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

[philal0102]

Well, I'm a member of this thing my local newspaper does where they employ high school students as reporters. I've been published quite a few times. I'm a member of my school's marching band and...well, I guess that's it. Those are the two things I'm really good at. Music and writing.

I'm going to starve, aren't I?

I'm not Sad thing is, if you don't know anybody in the business of both, you will go nowhere.

[heyholetsgogrant]

I would check out NC STATE, my neighbor went there and liked it. Also, Greensboro, Wilmington, and Charlotte are good choices as well. In high school I had around a 2.59 and crappy SAT score around a 1000. I went to community college did well (got a 3.5 and made the deans list) and got into Maryland. I personally would go to community college first and save money, plus when you transfer most schools will not ask for your SAT's. To be blunt as some others have said, I don't think a 1700/2400 will get you in (SAT's IMO have more weight then grades). However, its doesn't hurt to apply, just in the end of they deny you...I remember back in high school when one of the top students in our class got denied to DUKE, I swear she would not stop crying...Ok sorry for the side note.

-Grant

[dcnativenerd]

Yeah, it feels very limiting. They don't want me working or anything right now; which makes sense since I have to concentrate on my studies, but gives me little to no freedom when it comes to personal finances.

[PokerPacker]

Yeah, it feels very limiting. They don't want me working or anything right now; which makes sense since I have to concentrate on my studies, but gives me little to no freedom when it comes to personal finances.

work over the summer, you'd be surprised how much you can make over a summer. I made a couple grand in a month last summer.

[Ray Brown]

dude i hate to be blunt, but that score will not get you in to UNC. Chapel Hill attracts the smartest kids from all over the country. I can't even imagine how many applications they see. Most colleges still haven't even figured out how to use the writing score, a lot of them still just add the math and verbal with some consideration on the writing.

I had a 1310 coming out of high school with a grade average in the mid 80's (prob. 2.8-3.0, don't know how it equated. Thats just the math and verbal. I was in the class that first used the writing section and scored a 730 in that, but it didn't seem to help much. I ended up at Sewanee, but wanted to go to UVA or UNC. I was a long legacy at both, which hardly matters at all these days unfortunately.

All that said, college Admins is a crapshoot, and you never know what will happen. My brother just finished the process and its just so unpredictable. But take hard classes, work on math, and I would recommend applying to liberal arts schools. (not much math) Also UNC is like 90% in-state admission.

[WVUforREDSKINS]

I got a 970.

I also forgot a calculator.

Judging from my score that should be obvious:D