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hayden
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Posted: Thu Jan 4th, 2007 11:18 pm |
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My niece is a college junior, and just got her first SAT scores. She decided to take them earlier than normal, but even that doesn't explain her scores adequately. She got about 500's on each section. This was not a fluke - apparently she always scores low on timed tests. We really have no reason to expect more than a moderate increase in her SAT scores.
She will be taking the ACT's and we'll keep our fingers crossed that she does better there.
But talk about a splitter !! She happens to be #4 in a class of almost 500 students, so you know she is academically capable, and more capable than her SAT's would indicate.
I tried to find a list of schools which either do not consider SAT's, or which may give them lesser weight.
Her intended majors are math and English, and she prefers schools in the 2,000 - 7,000 size range, preferably in the NE (Baltimore and north).
Any ideas and insights would be very appreciated.
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KatsMom
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 12:35 am |
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Go to http://www.fairtest.org and you will find a listing of SAT Optional schools. The good news for your niece, and a lot of other folks, is that the number of schools on the list continues to grow!
KatsMom
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Northeastmom
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 01:20 am |
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| Does one still need to submit SAT scores to receive merit aid based on academics, and if not, then how is one evaluated to get a merit aid award at these schools? We all know that an A at one school may be a B at another school.
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Chedva
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 01:55 am |
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| At some schools (such as Muhlenberg), the answer is yes, even though it's SAT optional, you still need to submit for merit scholarships. I also wonder how schools that don't require tests award merit.
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CalifCarolyn
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 04:33 am |
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my D also has difficulty with standardized multiple choice timed tests and although her grades aren't as high as your neice she is a very strong student. fairtest.org was a wonderful resource for us and she is experiencing success in admissions. There are several schools that although they still will consider the SAT scores the students have the option of submitting a portfolio instead. Dickenson is one that the students have the option of SAT or Portfolio. Students who go SAT optional then write an essay wxplaining their choice. Merit aid differs at each of the SAT optional schools that Julia applied to, some have requested another essay and merit is based on other accomplishments.
Carolyn has wonderful suggestions and helped my girl 
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Northeastmom
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 12:30 pm |
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| califcarolyn, Well I know that one school that my son applied to was SAT optional. My son did submit his SAT scores since the scores were well above the 75% for that school. He interestingly was not awarded an academic scholarship, but one based on community service. I would guess that many of the SAT optional schools have merit awards based on community service, but I still cannot see how merit awards are given out based on academic excellence. I think that this would put the student from a competitive hs at a big disadvantage, b/c a 3.3 there might easily be a 3.8 at another hs.
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Pye
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 01:09 pm |
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Mount Holyoke College--if she would consider a women's college-- is an excellent SAT optional school.
Drew Univeristy in Madison, NJ might also be a good choice and easier to get into than MHC. and Muhlenberg, of course.
Also consider Goucher College in the Baltimore area--a small liberal arts school (not SAT optional) that would consider the whole student --not just test scores-- in the application.
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KatsMom
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 01:57 pm |
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Another engineering idea:
Gettysburg College is also, now, SAT Optional. They have dual degree engineering programs with Columbia (NYC), RPI (Troy, NY) and Wash. U in St. Louis. The student spends three years at Gettysburg and 2 years at the other institution, emerging with a bachelor's degree from Gettysburg and a bachelor in Engineering from the partner institution.
They also have a brand, new Music Conservatory, thanks to Dr. Sunderman, who left the college quite a large gift to be used for the establishment of the music school.
KatsMom
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CalifCarolyn
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 03:50 pm |
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Gettysburg is a great idea-My D and I toured Gettysburg this summer and although she eliminated it from her list the new Engineering Joint Venture program looks wonderful.
re:SAT optional schools and merit $ I don't know how that works either my D has been writing optional essays for scholarships on her NONacademic accomplishments. International Thespian Awards, Girl Scout Gold, Congressional Gold and community service. Her Charter HS is very rigorous so her 3.3 GPA is very different from a 3.3 at our local HS.
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Northeastmom
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 05:59 pm |
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| califcarolyn, I have a feeling that the Gold Award and other community service will help in landing some merit awards. I see that you can understand the problem in comparing gpas from different high schools, but some universities do not distinguish (all high school gpas are treated equally) when awarding merit aid.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 07:13 pm |
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Hayden,
First, I wouldn't immediately assume her scores can't go up with another try or two. If she works with a tutor to dilligently prep for the test, she may be pleasantly surprised. I would, therefore, not immediately opt out of another try after one disappointing result. Even just another six months of math and reading in school could by themselves help her scores go up. I had a client this year who gave me the same "I am terrible with standardized tests" sob story as a reason for not retaking the SATs (she had test scores in the 500's on reading/writing, below 500 on math) . After I convinced her mother that she had absolutely nothing to lose by retaking, and perhaps something to gain, she retook the test (grudgingly) this fall as a senior and singificantly improved her scores without any prep. By the way, she ended up doing better on the SAT with a second retake than she did on the ACT.
Second, please remind your neice and her parents that the National average SAT scores are in the LOW 500's for each section, so her scores are not horrible.
Third, if she is 4th in her class, there are lots of options for her beyond SAT optional schools. Many schools would be happy to take a star-student with somewhat lower SAT scores (and again, hers are NOT horrible), and her test scores actually are fine for the vast majority of US colleges and universities. So, I wouldn't just assume that her only options will be SAT optional schools!
Carolyn
Last edited on Fri Jan 5th, 2007 07:16 pm by CarolynLawrence
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hayden
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Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 10:43 pm |
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Thanks so much, everyone. Each and every one of you offered really useful advice, and we appreciate it so much!
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