Daughter says she is satisfied with a 540 math SAT score

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take her to some schools this summer, then when she starts the wants. wants. wants. have her retake the tests.

Getting her into a college is one thing, getting her to work hard after she gets accepted is another. It sounds like the tail is wagging the dog. I have a bright child that will manipulate me just like your daughter...

Honestly if she is unable to bring the scores up, then a smaller school may be what is best for her.

She prefers a smaller learning environment because it's easier to contribute to discussions and she's intimidated by large crowds.

A desire for smaller schools has nothing to do with test scores. Plenty of NMF students prefer small schools for the same reason the OP's DD does. And certainly there are plenty of mediocre students who prefer a large college environment.

Please read "colleges that change lives." Also, get the the Fiske guide to colleges. There are plenty of good options for her. Have her find some that sound appealing with a middle SAT range she fits easily into. Visit and see what she thinks. If she decides she wants to aim higher, she can retake the SATs.

Also consider whether her SAT scores are relatively in line with her grades or comparatively low. If her record looks stronger without the SATs, she should look closely at test optional schools.

[Anonymous]

School of exotic dancing, they don't require sats or gpas

[Anonymous]

56% percentile isn't THAT bad. You can't force someone to want to improve.

[Anonymous]

She sounds liek she is happy, let her do what she wants and stop trying to have her do what you want. Stop comparing her to others, who cares if her friends scored 600 etc, just relax and enjoy your time with her before she leaves because with you all over her, once she leaves she isn't coming back.

[Anonymous]

True.

[Anonymous]

Sure, the higher score the better, but the score you are talking about will not keep the child from being accepted to some great schools! My DS had a 540 math and was accepted to all of the mid-size and large state universities he applied to. He now attends UMD.

OP, I have no suggestions on schools for you, but your DS certainly would have a shot at state schools, whether you live in MD or VA. Take her to visit some of the campuses, and she may change her mind about them.

And I have to say...who cares what scores her peers have received? Don't make a habit of comparing her to anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She sounds liek she is happy, let her do what she wants and stop trying to have her do what you want. Stop comparing her to others, who cares if her friends scored 600 etc, just relax and enjoy your time with her before she leaves because with you all over her, once she leaves she isn't coming back.

yes and be prepared to keep paying her bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, the higher score the better, but the score you are talking about will not keep the child from being accepted to some great schools! My DS had a 540 math and was accepted to all of the mid-size and large state universities he applied to. He now attends UMD.

OP, I have no suggestions on schools for you, but your DS certainly would have a shot at state schools, whether you live in MD or VA. Take her to visit some of the campuses, and she may change her mind about them.

And I have to say...who cares what scores her peers have received? Don't make a habit of comparing her to anyone else.

That's WAY below the 25th% for accepted students for UMD, so either your child had something that really stood out, had some hook or absolutely killed it on the verbal. Most kids with scores like that won't get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, the higher score the better, but the score you are talking about will not keep the child from being accepted to some great schools! My DS had a 540 math and was accepted to all of the mid-size and large state universities he applied to. He now attends UMD.

OP, I have no suggestions on schools for you, but your DS certainly would have a shot at state schools, whether you live in MD or VA. Take her to visit some of the campuses, and she may change her mind about them.

And I have to say...who cares what scores her peers have received? Don't make a habit of comparing her to anyone else.

That's WAY below the 25th% for accepted students for UMD, so either your child had something that really stood out, had some hook or absolutely killed it on the verbal. Most kids with scores like that won't get in.

Nope, no hook, not a leader at his school -- nothing that made him stand out in the least, and verbal scores at about the same rate of math score. He's just an everyday kid who had great grades (weighted GPA above 4.0) and quite a few AP classes. He didn't go to one of the 'W' schools, but was in the top 5% of his graduating class. Quite a few of his classmates with stats lower than his were admitted to UMD, also.

Kids with great GPA's and so-so SAT scores still have a great shot at state universities; schools look at the whole picture, not just standardized scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, the higher score the better, but the score you are talking about will not keep the child from being accepted to some great schools! My DS had a 540 math and was accepted to all of the mid-size and large state universities he applied to. He now attends UMD.

OP, I have no suggestions on schools for you, but your DS certainly would have a shot at state schools, whether you live in MD or VA. Take her to visit some of the campuses, and she may change her mind about them.

And I have to say...who cares what scores her peers have received? Don't make a habit of comparing her to anyone else.

That's WAY below the 25th% for accepted students for UMD, so either your child had something that really stood out, had some hook or absolutely killed it on the verbal. Most kids with scores like that won't get in.

Nope, no hook, not a leader at his school -- nothing that made him stand out in the least, and verbal scores at about the same rate of math score. He's just an everyday kid who had great grades (weighted GPA above 4.0) and quite a few AP classes. He didn't go to one of the 'W' schools, but was in the top 5% of his graduating class. Quite a few of his classmates with stats lower than his were admitted to UMD, also.

Kids with great GPA's and so-so SAT scores still have a great shot at state universities; schools look at the whole picture, not just standardized scores.

Interesting and not what the sat scores posted for UMD would have led me to believe. You're being too modest though; I don't think great grades and a lot of AP's make him an "everyday" kid, but you point of average SAT scores not being the end-of-the-world is well taken.