Questions about SAT scores and college?

Question

how hard is it to get a1250 SAT or 1900 or 28 ACT?

and what are the chances that ill be excepted into a good college if i did really bad my first two years of high school.

Answer 1

Well, difficulty is a matter of opinion, of course.  If you've had college-preparatory math, English, and--for the ACT--possibly science courses, then these scores are not unreasonable.  I had taken a strong college-preparatory curriculum in high school, and received a 29 the first time that I took the ACT. If you prepare well for the exam, the score is feasible.  Practice tests can often indicate how you may perform on the actual exam, as well as providing insight into areas where you can make the most improvement.

Similarly, what determines whether a college is a "good" college is also a matter of opinion.  With two years' of poor grades, an Ivy League such as Harvard probably won't be interested; most other schools, however, will be more forgiving.  If you really apply yourself to your education, and strive for honor roll or close to it the last two years of high school, as well as reasonable test scores and extracurricular involvement, then a state university will probably be happy to overlook the youthful lapse of judgment.  However, if you continue with low grades, then a smaller, local college may be your most reasonable option.  

Best of luck to you with your studies.

Answer 2

I have not taken the ACT yet, so I do not know much about that test. However, I do know that it is more based on high school curriculums than the SAT is. The SAT is a reasoning test, while the ACT is more like an academic test that you have taken at school. Take a practice ACT and SAT and see if your scores are in the range you are aiming for.

As for your question about grades, colleges like to see a trajectory when it comes to high school grades and GPA. If you showed great improvement during junior year and senior year, colleges will likely be forgiving and look upon your growth and improvement as a good thing. Also, junior year grades are the most important, and senior year grades are important as well. If you took or are taking higher-level classes such as AP, IB or honors, that will look really good on your transcript because it shows that you are challenging yourself and are ready for college academics.

And remember that SAT/ACT scores and high school grades are important but just parts of the whole picture. You can show that you are well-rounded by participating in extracurriculars and volunteering. In addition, make sure you spend time on your college admissions essay, because this is a chance for you to show who you are as a person behind your test scores and grades.

Good luck with college apps!