SAT Scores... What's the reality here?

FutCandMom

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March SAT results are in... not what DS was expecting... His high scores between Jan and March are Reading 570 Math 610 Writing 570. He was enrolled in one of the top SAT Prep classes in our area... He doesn't know what happened.
DS has Plan B ROTC colleges, but is determined to keep on fighting for Service Academy appointment. GPA 3.75. Resume looks incredible in the EC and Leadership areas.... He was just counting on these SAT scores to go up. Advice? Take more of the SATs and forego the subject test opportunities? How many times becomes TOO much with a red flag going up?
 
March SAT results are in... not what DS was expecting... His high scores between Jan and March are Reading 570 Math 610 Writing 570. He was enrolled in one of the top SAT Prep classes in our area... He doesn't know what happened.
DS has Plan B ROTC colleges, but is determined to keep on fighting for Service Academy appointment. GPA 3.75. Resume looks incredible in the EC and Leadership areas.... He was just counting on these SAT scores to go up. Advice? Take more of the SATs and forego the subject test opportunities? How many times becomes TOO much with a red flag going up?
Not an expert in these matters, but I think those scores are not what the admissions boards are looking for. Certainly take the tests over again, kids generally do better the second time around. I would also consider taking the ACT, sometimes kids do better in that exam, the format is a bit different and it is more focused on curriculum, than "aptitude". Best to you and you DS.
 
March SAT results are in... not what DS was expecting... His high scores between Jan and March are Reading 570 Math 610 Writing 570. He was enrolled in one of the top SAT Prep classes in our area... He doesn't know what happened.
DS has Plan B ROTC colleges, but is determined to keep on fighting for Service Academy appointment. GPA 3.75. Resume looks incredible in the EC and Leadership areas.... He was just counting on these SAT scores to go up. Advice? Take more of the SATs and forego the subject test opportunities? How many times becomes TOO much with a red flag going up?
My son was advised that kids don't kow all they should know to do well on the SAT and ACT until after their Jr year. Have him take them (do both) in June, right after school ends so it's fresh. Also, my DS took ACT in December - the Academy accepts SAT/ACT score up to the end of January (good thing he did, his score went up 4 PTS!). Why would their be red flags - shows persistence, wouldn't it?
 
My son was advised that kids don't kow all they should know to do well on the SAT and ACT until after their Jr year. Have him take them (do both) in June, right after school ends so it's fresh. Also, my DS took ACT in December - the Academy accepts SAT/ACT score up to the end of January (good thing he did, his score went up 4 PTS!). Why would their be red flags - shows persistence, wouldn't it?
Yep. There are never red flags with persistence, it is often the differentiator.
 
Most individuals find the ACT to be somewhat easier. Try taking that.
 
Certainly take the tests over again, kids generally do better the second time around. I would also consider taking the ACT, sometimes kids do better in that exam, the format is a bit different and it is more focused on curriculum, than "aptitude".
I'd second this advice. Forget the subject tests and try to get the Math & CR portions of the SAT above 650 or ACTs at 30+. I think the scores are far more important then how many times your son re-takes the tests.
Good Luck! :thumb:
 
Concerned here as well...DS math score (680) is ok, but reading (580) and writing (570) are low. Will retake in May (will be returning from AFA Summer seminar for June SAT date). Strong GPA (3.98) and very strong EC, sports, and community service. He'll keep plugging away and get those reading/writing scores up. I believe the math scores should be in the mid 600's ...he should be OK with that one, right?
 
I just also saw my march scores! And I did terrible on the writing section(580/800) will this hurt me or does the academy not look at writing?

And for your question, sometimes people have bad test days. For example my calculator died when I was taking the ACT.

Best of luck
 
I did terrible on the writing section(580/800) will this hurt me or does the academy not look at writing?
I think the USAFA looks at ALL the scores. However, I believe they give more weight to the Math & CR scores. I would still retake the test and attempt to get your writing score above 600. As competitive as it is to get an appointment you might as well use every opportunity to improve any part of your application that you can while still applying as early in Fall as possible. Just my opinion.
 
Absolutely take ACT also. My son did very well on SAT (the lowest was on the writing also) but he blew away the ACT. It was a big surprise, so go for it!! It really helped my son, not only for USAFA but other college apps and scholarships.
 
Please check my DS number..

Hello everyone,

My DS wants to apply USAFA.
He was accepted SS and going Session C.
Below is his score so far.

SAT
CR: 590
Math: 670
Writing: 670

GPA unweighted: 3.85/4.0
GPA: weighted: 4.42/4.5
Class rank: 12/553

3 AP class: Calculus, Bio & US History
2 Honor class: English and Physics

NHS member
JROTC since 9th grade: honor guard captain.
2 varsity letter from JROTC drill team and Raider's challenge.

and other community service, etc.

My question is, Can he apply Academy with this score?
Retake the test and apply later or
apply first and retake the test and update?

Any comments are welcome.
Thanks,
 
In your DS's case, I would have suggested taking the ACT. I would have also suggested taking the SAT each month, but crash studying on one part of the test since they superscore.

I.E.

Sept: Study their arse off for Math. This will allow them to be the best prepared for that subject. Hopefully they will score high.

Oct: Study their arse off for Verbal. See above. Also, since they concentrated on Math last time this would give them a better chance of doing even better.

Now, because they did crash courses for one subject at a time instead of spreading the wealth, they have a stronger chance of higher scores.

AFA superscores.

Sept: 670 M and 530 V
Oct: 640 M and 620 V

His score for the AFA would be 670M and 620 V.

I also agree on taking both ACT and SAT.

Our DS took the SAT 2x, ACT 1x. They actually took his ACT.

Our DD (never applied SA or ROTC) did that too, and her SAT was better. Different kids, and different minds re:processing info.
 
My question is, Can he apply Academy with this score?
Yes
Retake the test and apply later or apply first and retake the test and update?
Retake the test in June and apply with whatever scores he has at that point. Then continue to retake until you are happy with the results and continue to update the USAFA with the (hopefully) improved scores. Also take the ACT and find out whether he does better on that test than the SAT.
 
My question is, Can he apply Academy with this score?
Retake the test and apply later or
apply first and retake the test and update?

Any comments are welcome.
Thanks,
Delta, IMHO - never self select! You can never be appointed unless you apply. Let the folks at the admissions boards make that decision, they are really good at that stuff. That is why the USAFA and all of the SA's for that matter are so successful - they spend more time than any other college looking deeply at the kids - I think they know what they want. That said, you have to remember that appointments are competitive and your DS/DD will need to do everything they can to out-compete the others on their slate for an appointment. Good luck and best wishes!
 
Thanks for comments.

Thank you very much, Pima, aglages, falconfamily.
I used to visit this forum once day, and I learned a lot from you all.
Thanks again for your comments.
 
As others have said, you have to apply. It does you no good if you don't apply. Keep taking the SAT over and over again. The academy will use the HIGHEST score you ever had in EACH category. Even if it means the highest in math last time and CR in a more recent test. It's called superscoring. Also; take the ACT.

ALSO: I don't see anything on there about sports. I know a varsity letter sounds good, but it doesn't count if it's in JrROTC, Band, etc... Those are all good activities to belong to, but if you don't have a SPORT, you're almost not competitive at all. FWIW: I've seen personally an applicant who was 4.0gpa unweighted; #1 in their class; average ACT in the 33-34; SAT in the 2300 area. They DID NOT receive an appointment to the academy because they didn't have ANY sports and very little leadership or EC activities. Not trying to bum anyone out, but this is the military. It's very physical and all about "Team-Work". That is the basic essential of team sports. It's Physical and it's about "Team-Work". It's the academy's only real way to see if you are a "Team Player" and are physically fit. DO SPORTS!!!

Hello everyone,

My DS wants to apply USAFA.
He was accepted SS and going Session C.
Below is his score so far.

SAT
CR: 590
Math: 670
Writing: 670

GPA unweighted: 3.85/4.0
GPA: weighted: 4.42/4.5
Class rank: 12/553

3 AP class: Calculus, Bio & US History
2 Honor class: English and Physics

NHS member
JROTC since 9th grade: honor guard captain.
2 varsity letter from JROTC drill team and Raider's challenge.

and other community service, etc.

My question is, Can he apply Academy with this score?
Retake the test and apply later or
apply first and retake the test and update?

Any comments are welcome.
Thanks,
 
I would actually re-take in May. If that means traveling an hr away do it!

The reason why is that taking it in May will still be on your HS transcript. Taking in June, may not make it into the transcript, and it can be lost in confusion. 4 weeks to report the scores, and if it is after graduation, you will be scurrying. In May it should still make it into their exit transcript. The AFA superscores SAT and ACTs.


They will convert ACT to SAT. Do both.

For future candidates, please look at the link under CC's name.

Somethings that are useful to judge your competitiveness are certain stats:

1. @10% are Valedictorian
2. 15% were Class President/VP
3. 51% were top 10% in class rank
4. 83% had Athletic letters
5. 65% were NHS

These should be blaring signs if you are weak in any of these categories.

SAT M Mean is 664. However remember mean and median are different.
SAT V Mean is 639.

JMPO, but to be truly competitive academically for the AFA you need to break the 1350+ marker. Mean is 1303.
 
I would actually re-take in May.
I could be (and probably am) wrong but I don't think the SAT is given in May. As I recall last year the last time you could take it before the end of Summer/Fall was in June. Also the scores go directly from College Board to the USAFA and I'm not sure whether they consider SAT scores on you transcript as "official"....even if a May SAT test managed to get reported to the high school in time to make the transcript.
 
Re-taking the SAT is good advice to take advantage of the academy's super scoring policy. However, keep in mind that AFROTC will not super score.
 
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