What to Do when You Have Low SAT Scores
So, you’ve taken SAT I and SAT II, but the scores say that it won’t be easy for you to get into any of your dream colleges. You might be thinking of how to fix it so top-notch schools will consider your application. Fortunately, not all schools focus on standardized test scores alone. They also give credit to the applicant’s interests, passion, and character, which can be best shown through the application essay.
Writing your admission essay
According to an article posted at College Confidential:
If your test scores are well below the typical admitted-student range at the colleges that interest you the most, then your admission odds won’t be good, unless you have special traits that these schools are seeking.
If your test scores are below the average range, then your chances for admission are not as bright as you hope it would be since most top-notch schools are expected to be highly selective. What you can do is give your application a boost and focus on making a well-crafted admission essay that will appeal to your readers. Tell them what what makes you an ideal candidate or a promising college student. Is it your family’s struggles that push you to pursue college education? Or perhaps, you have one particular experience that best describes how responsible you are or made you realize what you really want out of life.
…perhaps there IS something that is exceptional about you that admission officials will want to know about. For example, do you have a unique hobby? Have you published a novel (it’s not too late to start writing ? it’s just early July! ? but write FAST
) or spent hours on a particular unique project or passion? Don’t only focus on school activities, organizations, or clubs. Think, too, about your personal interests ? things you do in your free time that may be uncommon.
Think of good topics for your essay. If questions are already given, then come up with the best answers you can think of while making sure that you adopt a sincere tone that your readers can easily relate to. A student who has good writing skills shows a lot of promise, so make sure that you take advantage of this.
Consider other options.
Even with lower SAT results, you can always pursue an application to your dream colleges. You never really know what goes on during the selection process so you might as well give it a shot, especially if you think that university is the best match to your skills, goals, and dreams.
College Confidential says that:
….you can certainly take a shot at your dream colleges anyway but, at the same time, you should be searching for other schools where your test results will fall more squarely in the middle range.
Even if you have above-average test results or you’re a consistent A-student during your highschool days, you can’t absolutely guarantee admission to your first choice. You need a backup plan and look for other colleges that also meet your preference and have requirements or expectations that you can meet. This way, you have good alternatives waiting for you in case you fail to make it to the cut. These colleges may turn out to be the best place for you.
When choosing a college or university, NPR.org suggests that you should take time to assess yourself, your goals, and needs.
You need to examine yourself and your reasons for going to college before you start your search. Why, really, are you going? What are your abilities and strengths? What are your weaknesses? What do you want out of life– something tangible or intangible?
You need to know yourself better to choose the best college that fits your requirements, one that can give you a well-rounded college life and offer quality education.