I took SAT in October and got 1530 - the first or only attempt. I am thinking of retaking it in August 2018. My SAT Chemistry is 720. SAT 2 MATH LEVEL 2 is due in a few days.
Should I take SAT in August to improve upon 1530?
Congratulations on a great score! I believe additional information is necessary in order for anyone looking to assist you to do so thoroughly. Having an awareness of where you intend to apply, your GPA, the strength of your EC’s, anything else that would make you more compelling to a school. Are you an URM or will you be a first generation college student? Are you looking for the most significant merit awards at schools who provide them?
All of these particulars would matter when it comes to attempting to advise you properly. A 1530 is a fantastic score, whether it is recommended to take the exam again depends upon where you are with the types of things that I have mentioned.
With those things known there can be a determination of where your time may be best spent.
What are the SAT section scores ? Which colleges & universities are you targeting ? What is your intended major ?
I agree with @GreatKid. Whether you should take it again depends upon information that you haven’t told us. Right near the top of my questions would be:
How much preparation did you already do?
What schools do you intend to apply to?
1530 is a great score. It would be very helpful for the vast majority of universities. I would only take it again if you want to, if you did relatively little preparation and want to do more, and if you actually need it (such as to apply to a “top 20” school in the US).
Thank you for all your responses. Here is some more information.
My current GPA is 3.65 and I have taken as many Honors and AP courses I could. Maybe I shouldn’t have, I would have had more A’s with regular courses. I need to get as much financial support as I can get.
I am thinking about Computer Science/Math ( interest generated from years spent playing video games), Biomedical (I started Summer research with a university professor in Biomedical field - seems interesting ) and am not sure just what to focus on for college - leaning toward Comp.Sci./Math
I am trying to stay in or close to NJ. Rutgers/NJIT/Columbia/NYU and anything else close by.
My plan was to take the SAT, then the Subject tests in Chem and level 2 Math. I am hoping I will get about 750 in math - well, I will find out in a couple of days.
So lets see.
@special4996 1530 is a 99% score, congrats! I would not retake. Focus on studying for any STEM SAT subject tests that you have not yet taken or other components of your application, like essays.
Take it again. Go for scholarship money.
A 1530 composite is just at a 35 ACT according to the new concordance tables so well done! My son also took the SAT once and got the same score (he had been expecting to retake but is staying with this one).
What are your EBRW and Math subscores? We need more information from you in order to advise you properly. Guess you got a 760/770 or thereabouts?
My 1530 breakup - Math 780; English 750.
That’s a concorded 35 ACT on Math and a concorded 70 on ACT Reading and English. So 35 all around. Excellent score. No need for a retake.
Do you need scholarship money and are you planning to apply to a lot of them? Impressive numbers can help with scholarships. Your score is great for admissions to pretty much any college. I wouldn’t retake it if you are not chasing financial aid.
I definitely need to get aid. My SAT 2 Level 2 math results came in. I scored 800. So my question is, do the Subject test scores count toward any financial aid consideration? I scored 720 on SAT Chemistry.
Retake if you want, but it’s not going to make a difference. I’d focus on the rest of your app.
Very doubtful. Merit is usually based on GPA and SAT/ACT. Some specific awards may also take into account ECs or essays but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything related to subject tests. I might be able to see some connection to some awards for specific majors.
@special4996 where are you thinking of applying?
I am thinking of applying at Rutgers, NJIT, NYU and a Hail Mary - Columbia.
If $ is an issue, you ALSO need to apply to true SAFETY colleges where your SAT scores guarantees admission AS WELL as lots of merit aid.
Start doing research on these colleges-
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/2006094-2017-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p1.html
did you take the PSAT and was your score above Virginias cut off # which ensures you will be a NMSF?
if so, then look at these colleges too-
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
Just know that NYU is not very generous with aid, unless they really want you.
To up your chances at the Hail Mary, run the financial aid calculator and ED to Columbia if the aid numbers work for your family. But your GPA is not in your favor.
And to answer your question, no, do not retake.
Unless you are looking for scholarships, or unless you are trying to make up for a potential drawback in your application, a 1530 is definitely enough, even for the best colleges in the country. Just focus on your essays from this point forward.
Forget retaking the SAT. Those scores are fine.
For Columbia, the issue: for a stem major, the 720 chem. And you show no stem ECs except research, which isn’t enough.
But OP, we’re having to pull this info out if you. Can you answer all the questions?