Have I just committed academic suicide on the SAT Literature test?!

Have I just committed academic suicide on the SAT Literature test?

I am so depressed. I got a 520 out of 800! The average score is 583! Wtf?!? I am top in my class of 737. Even worse, I want to major in english in college. What should I do? This is not good....

It's easy to feel down on youself in this kind of situation. I don't think you've committed "academic suicide" though...here's why...some people do not test well. First of all, some people get anxiety before taking tests and that affects their ability to do well on them. It has no reflection on the person's intelligence. Second, the SAT is hyped up to be so huge that it makes it seem like academic life is over if you don't do as well as you would like. The SAT is only a small part of what colleges look at when deciding to admit someone. Your application, overall grades in high school, extracurricular activities, etc, all play a part in deciding who is admitted as well. This does NOT mean that you won't go to college, nor does it mean you shouldn't major in English. Maybe you weren't having the best day when you took the test, maybe you were hungry or tired, and that affected your performance on the test, maybe you were distracted by something else...You can retake the SAT and chances are, you will do better the next time, because you have a better idea of what to expect. If it would help you feel more confident, get an SAT prep book or take a prep course for the SAT...check out your local public library to see if they offer one or ask your guidance counselor at school about where you can find help in preparing more for the test. Good luck!