Should i retake the SAT and ACT?

EchoRF26983

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Jun 3, 2015
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Hi there!
I just finished my Freshmen year of college with a GPA of 3.85. I am also a Army ROTC Cadet with what i believe is an extensive Extracurricular profile.

I did poorly in high school with a 82.67 GPA out of 100 and SAT score of 1510 and never took the ACT. However as a 19 year old I am Cisco Certified IT Technician (People graduate college to get these), I was an Officer for SkillsUSA, Committee Chair of Model UN where i won two awards for best paper including one being at a UN hosted conference, I played Varsity Volleyball, I did an Internship as a IT technician at Bank of America for an entire summer my junior year of high school, 8 months of internship experience at a non profit where i did some admin work as well. I have some voluntary political campaigning experience. Oh and i was part of the National Technical Honor Society and did IT troubleshooting for my high school and my Principle speaks highly of me. I still go back my high school to do advising and mentoring for our Model UN program. Did i mention i met the Russian Delegation?
I am hoping that admissions will look at who i am now with excellent grades and extracurricular rather than my past high school grades. Other than ROTC, everything else i mentioned i did in high school. I hope this proves that i am ambitions and mentally strong. What are my chances? anyone please and thank you!
 
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It's really hard for us to give you a 100% answer wether you should retake the ACT/SAT since we are not admissions people. However, what I can tell you is that I got a 27 combined SAT score in HS and received an appointment for class of 2019. Your extracurricular activities are great but I do believe in my candidate book it told us college students that to be fair for all applicants,all extracurricular activities post high school are only what they look at. Not sure if this is the case but that's what they told me. Post high school I only did football at the college level and a little volunteer work, and still received an appointment. Hope this helps!
 
It's really hard for us to give you a 100% answer wether you should retake the ACT/SAT since we are not admissions people. However, what I can tell you is that I got a 27 combined SAT score in HS and received an appointment for class of 2019. Your extracurricular activities are great but I do believe in my candidate book it told us college students that to be fair for all applicants,all extracurricular activities post high school are only what they look at. Not sure if this is the case but that's what they told me. Post high school I only did football at the college level and a little volunteer work, and still received an appointment. Hope this helps!
Post High School:
Army ROTC
Executive Board Member of RHA (Resident Hall Association)
 
If you have a 1510/2400, you're definitely going to want to retake the SAT. What are your math and critical reading scores? If they're low enough, you won't be qualified for admission anyway. I'd suggest retaking the SAT, taking the ACT, and getting a tutor for standardized tests if you're serious about USAFA.
 
Don't take my opinion as fact, as I am not an admissions officer. I would definitely retake the SAT if I was in your position. It never hurts to have a higher score. Also, some people do better with the ACT, so maybe give that a shot.
 
If you have a 1510/2400, you're definitely going to want to retake the SAT. What are your math and critical reading scores? If they're low enough, you won't be qualified for admission anyway. I'd suggest retaking the SAT, taking the ACT, and getting a tutor for standardized tests if you're serious about USAFA.
math is 580 and reading 460? What do you believe the math and reading should be for me to even qualify?
 
Hi Sieam,


From the Air Force Academy website:

"Students who score below 580 verbal and 560 math on the SAT Reasoning and below 24 English/reading and 25 math/science reasoning on the ACT normally will not be competitive for an appointment."

To be honest, though, mid-600s to low-700s is the range you want to be in. Higher is always better! ;)

As others have said, you will definitely want to take the SAT again. BlahuKahuna made a good suggestion--try the ACT as well. You only need to submit either ACT or SAT scores, and if you do better on the ACT, it could really benefit your chances.

Oh, and one last idea--just post in one forum. :) It's generally frowned on to ask the same question in 3 different forums.


Good luck! :thumb:
 
As far as standardized test scores go, this is a direct quote from the Academy admissions website: "Students who score below 580 verbal and 560 math on the SAT and below 24 English/reading and 25 math/science reasoning on the ACT normally will not be competitive for an appointment." You can see this and more information on academic performance for USAFA at the link below.

http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/academic-performance/
 
Welcome to the forum.
I HIGHLY recommend not using your actual name for internet forums or openly public searchable websites. (ISIS actually put out a hit list of 100 service member's names, photos, and addresses, likely gained from various internet postings and non-privacy protected social media.)

Definitely retake the SAT and take the ACT. Your current scores are not competitive.
Remember, USAFA looks at academics, leadership, and athletics. Anything you can do to boost those will help your odds.
 
I would recommend retaking it anyway. It can't hurt to try to get a higher score.
 
Not sure why this question comes up so many times.

1. You take the SAT and ACT as many times as you can. The academies "Superscore" your tests; therefor, your scores can NEVER go DOWN. They can only GO UP.
CAVEAT: If the academy(ies) are not your #1 school you are applying to, and you have pretty decent scores already on your ACT/SAT, you might need to think about it. Schools have different rules. Your scores could actually go down and it could affect your application. But NOT for the academies. Your score can NEVER GO DOWN. Retake the tests as many times as you can.

2. As for what you're trying for, that too is a question that should never be asked. There's only 1 score you TRY FOR. That's a 800 on each SAT test and/or a 36 on each ACT test. If that's not the scores you are aiming for, then you aren't giving it your best and aren't really trying.

If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them..... "Billy McMahon"
 
Until your ALO says "Stop, your scores are fine, focus elsewhere, you should keep taking the tests if you an afford them. You can't hurt yourself and you just might have that magical moment like I did on ACT #12 in 1978...where I went from a 28 composite to a 33 composite!

FYI...in 21 years as an ALO, I have told exactly 4 students to stop taking tests...

SAT 800M, 760V
ACT 36 Composite
ACT 35 Composite
ACT 36M, 31V, 35's on the other two

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Until your ALO says "Stop, your scores are fine, focus elsewhere, you should keep taking the tests if you an afford them. You can't hurt yourself and you just might have that magical moment like I did on ACT #12 in 1978...where I went from a 28 composite to a 33 composite!

FYI...in 21 years as an ALO, I have told exactly 4 students to stop taking tests...

SAT 800M, 760V
ACT 36 Composite
ACT 35 Composite
ACT 36M, 31V, 35's on the other two

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
I'm assuming by ACT V you mean ACT English not ACT Reading. Do you know if the Air Force Academy even looks at ACT Science and/or ACT Reading? Navy doesn't even ask for one's ACT Science and Reading scores on the summer seminar application.

Also, do you remember how many of those kids that you told to stop taking tbe test got in?
 
I applied the USAFA my senior year of high school with all of the extra curriculars and a 31 ACT and did not get in. Took it many more times for a grand total of 9 times and got in this year. Retake it as many times as you can!
 
I'm assuming by ACT V you mean ACT English not ACT Reading. Do you know if the Air Force Academy even looks at ACT Science and/or ACT Reading? Navy doesn't even ask for one's ACT Science and Reading scores on the summer seminar application.
The Summer Seminar application is significantly different than an admissions application.
 
I'm assuming by ACT V you mean ACT English not ACT Reading. Do you know if the Air Force Academy even looks at ACT Science and/or ACT Reading? Navy doesn't even ask for one's ACT Science and Reading scores on the summer seminar application.
The Summer Seminar application is significantly different than an admissions application.
My apologies, I was attempting to say that I don't think Navy looks at ACT Science and Reading scores. I'm not 100% sure if this is true, but I think in the actual application for the Naval Academy they only look at math and English as well. I went to an admissions meeting the other day and they gave us papers that stated the average midshipman's ACT scores, and it only listed English and Math.

Additionally, on this site

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/annapolis.htm

they don't list the average ACT Science and Reading scores.

This thought didn't occur to me earlier, but I realized that if the Air Force Academy was posting the ACT Science and Reading scores online, they were probably also factoring them into the admissions process. And they do post ACT scores for science and reading online, so I'm guessing they do matter.
 
I guess a lot depends on whether you are only applying to a military academy(ies) or if you're applying to a number of traditional colleges/universities also. Hopefully you're applying to a number of schools. (At least 5). When you go to take your tests, it doesn't matter which part of it the air force or military uses. Chances are, one of the schools you are applying to does use the scores from that test.

There tends to be a mindset with many applicants, probably since the beginning of the academies and the first application, that there's some sort of checklist. Even if it's only in their mindset, it appears many envision that if they get certain test scores or higher; certain gpa's or higher; certain CFA scores or higher; play a competitive sport; hold leadership positions in clubs and sports; etc. that they are filling in the blanks needed to attend the academies. This is human nature. "To know the rules, or what it takes".

The truth is, the only thing you can go on in the application process for a military academy, is that you have to "DO YOUR BEST". That means in ALL AREAS. And even that, won't guarantee an appointment. You best however has to be something that you can live with. And only you know if you've done your best. Because there are so many facets to the appointment process, there are no set numbers. Some people who receive an appointment WILL HAVE LOWER SCORES ALL AROUND than another person who DIDN'T RECEIVE an appointment. There are 4.0gpa students who don't receive appointments. There are 34-36 ACT and 2250+/2400 SAT scores that don't receive appointments. Just like there are 27ACT and 580-600SAT scores that DO receive appointments.

If you're applying to one or more of the academies, and you're applying to a number of traditional universities, then all you can do is your best. Don't worry what other's scores are. Don't worry what the average is. Don't worry which tests they use or put more emphasis on. Your goal should always be "Self Perfection". Doesn't mean you'll always achieve it. Simply saying that should be your goal. In all things in life. Your goal should be for a 4.0gpa every semester. A 36 on each ACT test and an 800 in each SAT test.

Now, if you aren't applying to any other university, and only to a military academy, then I don't know what to say. The academy acceptance rate is between 9-11% normally. If you're not applying to at least 5 schools, then you aren't being realistic. The same ACT/SAT tests, as well as your GPA, EC, clubs, sports, etc. are going to be used for all of your applications. All you can do is "YOUR BEST". If you do your best, and you know you have, and you don't receive an appointment or accepted to a particular school; then you should be able to sleep easy at night knowing you gave it your all. If you didn't really give it your all, which you'll know deep down inside, then that's what you'll have to live with. Sometimes you get accepted, hired, promoted, etc. Sometimes you don't. Just do your best in all things, all the time.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Thomas A. Edison
 
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