<p>Ok so I have taken the SAT twice with the following results: </p>
<p>1st: 2080
CR: 620 Math: 740 Writing: 720 (perfect 12 on essay)
-only missed 2 math questions</p>
<p>2nd: 2170
CR: 690( big improvement)
Math: 740 again Writing: 740 (only 9 on this essay but perfect MC score)
-only missed one on math( which makes me question the 740) </p>
<p>My question is, such I retake this? Would I likely improve, or would it be detrimental? </p>
<p>Some of the schools I am looking at superstore and some don't, unfortunately, superscore doesn't help me right now (all best scores on one test). </p>
<p>I am applying to Duke, Stanford, Harvard(reach), Vandy, Northwestern, Emory, Pitt, UNC, & USC. This score is usually in the upper range of these schools, but is it good enough to be safe for admission or is a retake necessary?</p>
<p>Side note: I am 100% retaking the ACT, I had 33/32’s across the board except during the reading section I was randomly very nauseous and light headed and almost got sick resulting in incompletion of that section and a low reading score (definitely sub 30) and a composite of 31. This test I can easily improve on and have definite reasoning for a retake (hoping for a 33/34 ish). Without any unfortunate circumstances surrounding my SAT scores, I’m just not sure if it’s worth a retry. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Take it only if you expect to score above 2250. Adding a few points here and there does not work for top schools since they don’t have a specific threshold.</p>
<p>really, you got a 740 writing with a perfect multiple choice… my friend and I got 800 on writing. I got a 12 on my essay and perfect multiple choice, but my friend only got a 9 on her essay, with perfect multiple choice, and still got an 800. What day was it that you took it? And you can’t get a 740 only getting one wrong on math. The lowest curve ever was a 760 for one wrong, which has only happened twice… (and it just happened to happen on the day I took it!) </p>
<p>But as for retaking, only retake if you are scoring 2300+ on practice tests which would be 2250+ on a real test.</p>
<p>@satman: I apologize, I was throwing out numbers off the top of my head. I just checked for verification and I missed 2MC on both math and Writing and 8 on CR. Do you have any idea what kind of curve this might be and if this means I should lean towards retaking it or not?</p>
<p>Really? But when they give out the statistics for the middle 50% of their accepted freshman class I fall in the upper end of most of them, if not above the 50%.</p>
<p>I can give you some advice with Emory and Vandy, since I know a good amount of people who got accepted. Emory will be great with 2170, infact it will help you cause, they are a college that don’t emphasize test scores as much as your grades. If you have rig schedule and good GPA and extra curriculars, your SAT score wont matter that much. Example of my friends who got into Emory: 2060 SAT, 3.87 unweight, 1980 SAT, 4.0 unweight, 2100 4.0 unweight.</p>
<p>Now Vandy is the complete opposite! From what I’ve seen, they care alot about ur SAT score, they rejected people who I thought were brilliant, 2100-2200 SAT with great extras, good GPAs, very well rounded people. But they accepted 2 seniors from my school. What did they have in common, 2320 and 2340 SATs., and they were kinda losers IMO, they had few extra curriculars, played League of legends in class all day. But in the end its up to you. THat’s just from my school.</p>
<p>@dragooner: hmm, interesting about Vandy! I didn’t get an official tour/info session there so that’s good to know, thanks!</p>
<p>As for Emory I did have the tour/info session, and you are 100% correct. The last thing they look at is SAT/ACT, because they say they would rather toys on what you’ve done for 4 years and not just one morning of testing! </p>
<p>I agree with previous posts and retake it only if you think you can get 2250+. People that I know got flat out rejected from Harvard/Stanford with 2300+! But the admission process is really random so if you think you’re strong in other areas, then don’t bother to sit in for four boring hours of testing again!:)</p>
<p>Your scores are good, but I understand why you want to retake the SAT considering the schools you are applying to. I think you should weigh in your GPA - is it good? Like, stellar? Recs? Extra curriculars? You know, all that stuff. </p>
<p>Test-wise only, I think that you should decide whether you think it’s worth it to retake the SAT, or whether your test dates would be better spent taking SAT subject tests. I would retake one more time, and then take subject tests.</p>
<p>I am applying to Duke, Stanford, Harvard(reach), Vandy, Northwestern, Emory, Pitt, UNC, & USC. This score is usually in the upper range of these schools, but is it good enough to be safe for admission or is a retake necessary?</p>
<p>For Duke, Stanford, Harvard, Northwestern – a 2300 + is an absolute must, for the middle two, assuming you’re not a URM, 2350 is really where you need to be. Vandy is less stringent, a 2250 would put you in decent shape, but 2300 = safer bet. Emory you’re probably ok with 2170, but 2300+ puts you in the running for scholarships, same at Pitt and UNC</p>
<p>@vinceyyoung:
I really appreciate the feedback! But I find it hard to understand why this is the case when the median scores of their accepted freshman classes are right about where mine are at! Anyways thanks, I will be retaking it forsure :)</p>
<p>You definatly do not need to take the SAT again, however it won’t hurt, it can only enhance your application, the question is would you rather take the subject tests. Unfortunately, the whole process is a series of tradeoffs. So, I would recommend taking it again.</p>