College Courses and SAT scores

[TomB]

Hello all,

I have a "quick" question regarding my college courses and SAT scores. I am a college freshman as well as a reapplicant and I have just recently finished finals. I've done the math for my scores and depending on one class I may have either a 3.93 GPA or a 4.0 GPA after taking Chem w/ lab, Literature, US History, and Pre- Calc (I did not qualify because my SAT and ACT scores were considered too low). I'll be honest, most of my Pre-calculus class was almost a review since I took it in high school and it was aggravating I couldn't take Calc. My SAT superscore is an 1180 (590M/590V) and my ACT composite is a 24. I am registered to take Chem II next semester with Calc. I understand that BOTH grades and SAT are important but I was wondering if because my SAT is too low that my chances are slim to none. I worked my tail off, needless to say, in my classes but I'm still unsure. The reasoning I am saying this is because in my congressional interview today one of the congressional staff members essentially told me to increase my score or set another goal, it didn't matter if I straight A's from Harvard which was a bit discouraging, to say the least. I improved on my CFA, my activities, my test scores, and worked my tail off in my classes but it almost seems like that didn't matter with his statement. Regardless, I told them that I would be back every year until I'm too old to apply because I am very determined to get in.

I guess what I am asking is what is your take on this? I worked my heart out but it was a bit of a bummer to hear that in the interview. The Senator interviewers said that I shouldn't worry about my SAT since my transcripts show I can handle plebe courses at hard academic school and were much more impressed by what I have done.

Any input is appreciated, good or bad.

Very Respectfully,
TomB

 

[kinnem]

It can't possibly hurt to improve your SAT scores. Can't say whether your current SAT scores might keep you out. Kind of late in the game to be addressing this. You knew what your scores were when you started the semester and should have addressed it this fall, then you wouldn't be wondering.

 

[CrewDad]

First my hats off to you and command you for your tenacity and strength in determination. Your grades demonstrate your maturity and your ability to do well in college.

If for whatever reason you don’t get an Appointment it must be due to your low SAT/ACT. So you can fix it by working on it now through summer. As Kinnem said you should have fixed it this summer/fall. Academies ran thorough reviews on academic success of Cadets/MIDNs while at the Academy. And it came back with Test Score as the strongest predictor of success academically. Of course there are other factors but ACT/SAT won in this prediction. I believe part of that being the case is the way Academies run their institutions. Everything is time managed like tests. MIDNs at USNA use blackboard to do their assignments and turn in homework which are monitored and time managed. Not all but many tests taken in Plebe year are in multiple choices. Essays are assessed. Which leads me to believe why WP read Writing tests. Good grammar skill is important to good writing skills. Good reading skill help writers to be better writers. But good grammar skill is what you need in college and professionally.

Bottom line, you may be avoiding taking SAT/ACT because you don’t perform well. Nevertheless, you must if you want to get an Appointment and want to succeed at the Academy. To give you motivation, other successful Cadets and MIDNs were some Prepsters who became Rhodes Scholars from USNA USMA. They went Prep because they were academically weak. Some with GPA some with ACT/SAT some both. But they came to Academies more determined hungrier and some better prepared. You don’t qualify to go Prep because you are in college.

Our recommendation to you is to retake ACT/SAT even now spring and summer to improve your confidence and to say that I can do it. Now with more prep in college writing and math you should do better in ACT/SAT. You should have taken Cal and not Precal in college. However, ACT covers upto intro Precal but not SAT. It’s upto Algebra 2 from my understanding.

Also Academy is not the only path. ROTC is also a great option to Commissioning. I hope you are in ROTC, if not you should be if you are indeed committed to service and not just committed to a signature degree from an Academy. This is not a rebuke but an encouragement to be multidimensional. Good luck.

 

[TomB]

It can't possibly hurt to improve your SAT scores. Can't say whether your current SAT scores might keep you out. Kind of late in the game to be addressing this. You knew what your scores were when you started the semester and should have addressed it this fall, then you wouldn't be wondering.

I did address them early because I knew it would be a problem but not to my satisfaction. I had a 1050 SAT and I gave the ACT a whirl. 1180 is my score after 4 SAT tests and hours of study. I apologize for not addressing this, I know it is late but I did the best I could. I took three up to the last one in December.

 

[MidCakePa]

@TomB, all you can do is your very best. And if you truly believe you gave the SAT your all, then sit back and let the chips fall where they may. Don’t discount the fact that you did very well in your first semester of college. (Calculus would have been nice, but what’s done is done.) The SAT is a good predictor of college success, but so is a solid semester of college. Work on a Plan B — ROTC — if you’re truly committed to being a commissioned officer and not just a USNA grad.

 

[TomB]

@TomB, all you can do is your very best. And if you truly believe you gave the SAT your all, then sit back and let the chips fall where they may. Don’t discount the fact that you did very well in your first semester of college. (Calculus would have been nice, but what’s done is done.) The SAT is a good predictor of college success, but so is a solid semester of college. Work on a Plan B — ROTC — if you’re truly committed to being a commissioned officer and not just a USNA grad.

I agree and I am. Even if this year doesn't work out I will be back next year until I'm too old and I'll be taking the SAT and ACT again. I appreciate the response!