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i cant believe im doing this because at first i didnt want to after reading all the perfect scores on here. well im going to take a stab in the dark...here i go

gpa:3.71
sat1:920
act:20
sat2:
math1c:460
lit:470
writing:480
i'm a very bad standardized test taker. its cause i get so nervous and do stupid mistakes when i know i can do better.

ec's:
yearbook:all four years holding many editorial positions
journalism: 2 years staff writer
key club:3 years been treasurer and vp
multicultural club: 3 years treasurer
asb:2 years
tennis:3 years

awards:
ryla
anti-def. league
whos's who
gse-spanish
other stuff that arent important

race:hispanic
first generation college student and american
location:cali

By Becca (Becca) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:20 am: Edit

you know.. you seem to think your qualifications are very bad, but they really aren't Maybe compared to some of the geniuses on this board, but I'm sure like.. 90% of the colleges in the U.S. would be glad to have ya!

By Dontknow (Dontknow) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:29 am: Edit

"underachiever"--what's your question?
What kind of schools are you possibly considering--Cal-states? UCs? a private university? give me some info

By Nealyac (Nealyac) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:29 am: Edit

thank you becca but i know your just being nice and im okay with that but seriously look at my scores. what is a kid like me to do?

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:31 am: Edit

im considering any school in california. id really like to go to a nice uc school.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:32 am: Edit

nealyac what are you talking about? i like what becca had to say! you are mean!

By Ryanmilligan (Ryanmilligan) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:34 am: Edit

Underachiever, three things:

1) Many of the people here are dishonest about their scores and say what they say only to discourage everyone else.

2) Despite what many people think, you DON'T have to go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. in order to be a success in life.

3) That user name better not be a reflection of your attitude. If it is, that's when you can start feeling bad.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:34 am: Edit

and that really hurt my feelings nealyac, but its okay i shouldnt let a jerk like you upset me.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:36 am: Edit

i dont want to go to any ivy league because i really dont care about those schools. i just want to get into a nice school in cali

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:43 am: Edit

any suggestions? any advice/help really needed

By Zero (Zero) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:48 am: Edit

You should try for Cal State Chico, Fresno State, Sonoma State, etc., etc. Go to csumentor.edu to see a list of the schools in the Cal State system...of course you probably already knows this.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:51 am: Edit

would i have a chance at sdsu? any uc's...

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:58 am: Edit

bump

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:06 am: Edit

SOMEONE PLEASE

By Jason817 (Jason817) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:10 am: Edit

For UC's, seriously take the next two test dates to improve on SAT I and SAT II's. Try getting a 1200+ on SAT I (1350+ preferred) and a 600+ on SAT II's (700+ preferred). Work more on SAT II's because they are WAY more important. You just have to study like hell over the summer. Don't overwork on the SAT I though because it's really not that important.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:11 am: Edit

I think you're good for many Cal-States. Your combo of Hispanic & first generation might get you in at some of the non-elite UC's, particularly Riverside, Irvine, Santa Cruz. Davis and Santa Barbara might be a bridge too far but I don't have a good feel for how this would play out.

What's your approximate class rank or percentile?

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:25 am: Edit

thank you thedad and jason. i believe im in the 25th percentile or something like that.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:27 am: Edit

do you think kids like me get into the uc's?

By Thedad (Thedad) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:30 am: Edit

The 25th percentile is a major break point...bust your butt to be on the upper side of the line.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:38 am: Edit

like what percent do you think i should be in? i really dont know the percentile i am in i just guessed. i think im in the 20th if that even makes a difference.

By Apguy (Apguy) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:52 am: Edit

Don't tell any college you're a "bad test taker" because just about everyone who has low scores says that and unless you have some medical problem there shouldn't be any real reason you score so low. Every student who takes the SAT is nervous so that doesn't single you out for poor scores. Who WOULDN'T be nervous that they are taking one of the few biggest tests of their life?

And don't be so mean to Nealyac, he's right. Although Becca WAS trying to comfort you, that information is incorrect and misleading. (You can't possibly believe that 90% of schools will take a student who is scoring in the 7th percentile of SAT IIs...no offense, just exercising some common sense here) I'm not trying to be mean, just don't overestimate your chances. Even third tier schools you never heard of have SAT scores above 1000, so it's not just the Harvard who would have problems with those scores.

The only thing I can imagine you doing is trying to overcome your test anxiety. You know your stuff supposedly, and your problem is only freezing up on the test so I don't know why you would bother studying vocabulary or anything like that if you have that all in your head already. Just take a lot of practice tests under timed conditions.

Being Hispanic will help you but not at the UCs because they aren't allowed to have quotas (after a Supreme Court case).

And "Who's Who" is a scam (they just want students to buy their book). Colleges know this and it will look like application padding. Keeping that fact in mind-it would probably do you more harm than good to put it on your application.

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thank you becca but i know your just being nice and im okay with that but seriously look at my scores. what is a kid like me to do?

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By Becca (Becca) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:59 am: Edit

oh guys.. colleges are overrated seriously.. if you make the best out of a state university education, it'll be better than wasting ur time failing classes at harvard. I know this's coming from a girl who loves pton, but seriously, maybe my estimate of 90% was a bit high, but i'd say like.. over half the universities in the U.S. would accept "underachiever." S/he has very qualified extra-curriculars, and the test scores i'd say fall around the average, more or less, but certainly the SAT 2 scores aren't 7th percentile!

By Jason817 (Jason817) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:02 am: Edit

All his SAT scores are 10-15%ile.

By Becca (Becca) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:06 am: Edit

i think s/he's got a good shot at UC san diego. Besideds,tons of colleges don't even look at the SAT 2s

By Apguy (Apguy) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:09 am: Edit

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seriously.. if you make the best out of a state university education, it'll be better than wasting ur time failing classes at harvard.

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the test scores i'd say fall around the averag

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but certainly the SAT 2 scores aren't 7th percentile!

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Besideds,tons of colleges don't even look at the SAT 2s

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By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:17 am: Edit

thank you for all your comments guys. except you nealyac you confused me...

By Becca (Becca) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:18 am: Edit

lol whatever. numbers aren't everything. Our star football player got in2 cornell with terrible test scores and a GPA, and i know a kid who was getting Fs in his classes go2 u of M just cuz he could write well in his essays and had strong xtra-curriculars. And if u look at underachiever's ecs, i'd say they show some dedication to things.

By Apguy (Apguy) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:24 am: Edit

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numbers aren't everything.

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By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:27 am: Edit

becca-i've heard of uc-san diego, actually i have a cousin who goes there...actually maybe he already graduated. do you think i have a chance?

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:45 am: Edit

alright apguy, you made your point! i have HORRIBLE test scores. really i appreciate all you have to say, so thank you. trust me i already plan on taking all those tests over, although i think im not going to take the sat1 again, instead i'll take the act again.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:17 pm: Edit

bump

By Danielln (Danielln) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:41 pm: Edit

are SAT2's like required to get into any of the uc schools. were i live no one except the people applying to ivys take them. maybe im wrong but are they really necissary?
if not don't take them just try again on your test

By Sirmoreau (Sirmoreau) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:32 pm: Edit

"(You can't possibly believe that 90% of schools will take a student who is scoring in the 7th percentile of SAT IIs...no offense, just exercising some common sense here)" APguy that is the most idiotic thing i've ever heard in my life, you know why? Because the only schools that actually look at SAT 2 scores are in the top 3-4 percentile. Hell schools in the 2nd tier don't even look at SAT II scores, like the university of Arizona. Odds are he has a chance at like 90 percent of the schools...or within that vicinity in the U.S. - CSU's are at the top of that 90 percent. CSU's don't take a look at SAT II's either, APGUY.

..Becca that 90 percent figure was not high.

By Mike (Mike) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:41 pm: Edit

Don't panic underachiever. My cousin got into a 2nd tier University with a SAT of 990 and a GPA of 3.9. She graduated in less then 4 years with a 3.8. Plenty of good schools out there that will take you and if you put the effort in they will provide you with a good education. You are not going to an Ivy just like most of the countries HS seniors including me

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 04:27 pm: Edit

thanks mike and sirmoreau.
keep it coming guys!
mike-what school did she graduate from?

By Zerg_Vvins (Zerg_Vvins) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 07:06 pm: Edit

First of all what grade are you in? If you are going to be a junior, don't worry u still got plenty of time. If you will be a senior.....


If you want to go to UC schools, raise your GPA to at least a 3.8 + unweighted. Sat to about 1200+ and sat iiS TO ABOUT 600+

Now when i first took the Sat, I didn't do that well either, only 1230 (I expected at least 1400 lol) but over my junior year and junior summer, I did a lot of practice tests, at least 30+ mock tests and memorized a lot of SAT words and raised my SAT up to 1450.

Now I am sure you don't put all your effort into studying right now. And I will bet that you are fairly intelligent. I came to the U.S. when I was 10 and if I can get 1450 on the SAT, then I am sure that you can do the same!

By Baykin (Baykin) on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 03:17 pm: Edit

"thank you becca but i know your just being nice and im okay with that but seriously look at my scores. what is a kid like me to do?"

Underachiever, don't let yourself put you down. LOL.

The part where you refer to your scores in first person hints at the fact Nealyac

By Encomium (Encomium) on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 - 03:27 pm: Edit

underachiever...you're 25th percentile with a 3.7? did you mean to say top25% not 25th percentile?

By Apguy (Apguy) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 12:40 am: Edit

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APguy that is the most idiotic thing i've ever heard in my life, you know why? Because the only schools that actually look at SAT 2 scores are in the top 3-4 percentile.

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By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 02:40 am: Edit

thank you apguy, but im a female! its ok tho...you didnt know hehe. well, your right my sat 2 scores are lame but i found someone to tutor me for all the sat's and right now in my practice tests im scoring in the 600 range even 500 sometimes. so basically, all i needed to do was freaking prepare before i took the actual test. it was dumb of me to think i really have enough knowledge that i can score ok w/out any prep. i learned my lesson the hard way.

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 02:45 am: Edit

and the UC's do accept students with the same score range as i did on my first try, but im sur its a very small percentile and those students must be absolutely fabulous that the sat 2 scores didnt matter...anyways your probably going to refute what i just said...lol

By Steffie1212002 (Steffie1212002) on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 11:27 pm: Edit

Hi!
I'm responding because it looks like I'm from the same area as you (SoCal, at least I'm guessing, from your SDSU inquries). RePrEsEnT!

Anyways, even as a self-proclaimed underachiever, there are lots of options for you, especially en el estado del oro.

I would NOT recommend going to SDSU. Many friends have assured me it is not a great college experience, unless you're a hard-core partyer. It also sucks if you commute. Still, you could get in, but I think generally they accept kids with 3.9s and above (weighted). Maybe you should check that, on second thought. SAT IIs are really important to them tho.

A really great school, that I think you'd like is Point Loma Nazarene. I stayed there for two weeks this summer (journalism camp), and it was fabulous. Right on the beach, lots of nice ppl, great facilities, etc. Their avg scores are 1000s, 1100s, but they are always looking to recruit minorities (i.e. YOU) They offer full scholarships to Hispanics and Blacks. I'd look into it.

As a previous poster mentioned, you could always consdier going to UC Riverside or a CalState. San Marcos, Fullerton, etc aren't that choosy.

A good UC (like UCLA, UCB, even UCI) might be out of reach for you as your stats stand now. However, I strongly urge you to look into the University Link program. Basically, if you join the program and spend two years in a community college, you are guaranteed admission to UCSD (well, that's what it is in my area; it might apply to other UCs as well). Many of my peers with stats like yours (or higher!) taking advantage of this program. It also helps save LOTS OF MONEY.


Hope this long post helped,
Steff

By Underachiever (Underachiever) on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 02:41 am: Edit

thanks steffie! no your thread wasnt long it was just fine. ya im from so.cal but not san diego. i too am intrested in journalism. camp must have been nice...tho ive never heard of point loma nazarene univ. since you were there for two weeks can you tel me something about it? oh ya, i didnt think the csu school's required sat 2's...who knew i just took em for the uc's.

By Calimari (Calimari) on Friday, August 01, 2003 - 01:09 pm: Edit

here's the thing that SO many kids in high school have not figured out- SAT's (despite what the college board, your parents, or anyone else has said) are NOT the biggest thing in the world. In fact, researchers are finding more and more that SAT's not only fail to measure intelligence (because intelligence is multi-faceted and complex) but they also might represent a student to be something that he/she is or is not.

You are obviously a very involved, passionate person who enjoys and cares about your activities (or why else would you stress yourself out in journalism and yearbook?). Your grades are good and you are an active student, so do not worry too much about SAT's. People like you, who can show more for themselves than impressive numbers and pecentages, do wonderfully at small (but prestigious) private schools. Do yourself a favor and look into Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, Middlebury, and all other small, liberal-arts colleges. Both Bowdoin and Bates (and possibly Colby, I can't remember) have the submission of SAT's, ACT's, etc. as optional but are extremely well-known, reputable schools. Liberal-arts schools are being recognized more and more for their superior,well-rounded education of undergrads, so they are a smart choice. I hope this helps!

Seriously guys, take a breather. I'm going to Bates next year and I'm glad I wasn't a stress case like most of my friends (many of whom are at school as good as or even not as good as my own). In the end, you'll find your niche at Harvard, Iowa State or anywhere else. Good luck and have a fun high school year!

By Algonquin_Knigh (Algonquin_Knigh) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 07:38 pm: Edit

If you can, get ahold of a practice SAT book (10 Real SATs is a big red book put out by the same people who put out the SAT you take). It not only includes SAT tests, but it tells you how to score them, and it gives you test-taking strategies. Your scores may be low, but your GPA looks good, which will help.

By Thatgrlcanrip (Thatgrlcanrip) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 07:03 pm: Edit

wow Underacheiver, your profile sounds very much alike to my very own profile, it's unbelievable. The only thing that's different is probably that I'm in the 13 in a class of 400, but thats probably cuz my school is home to a bunch of idiots.