<p>I was just wondering what you thought:</p>
<p>Is it better to have balanced SAT scores; perhaps 700+ in all sections</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>Have very specialized SAT scores; say a 600 in one section, and an 800 in another?</p>
<p>Just curious if anyone had any thoughts about which the top schools would prefer, specifically from transfer students.</p>
<p>I don't think SATs will really make or break an applicant (ESPECIALLY a transfer applicant). Obviously they'd prefer to see you do well, but if you don't fit perfectly in their middle 50% range I don't think that's so problematic. I'd say good essays are infinitely more important than SATs. That's just my two cents though. I'm sure others have different ideas.</p>
<p>Depends on what you mean by your second categorization</p>
<p>1: 800 800 600 looks pretty good</p>
<p>2: 800 700 600 looks a bit worse</p>
<p>3: 800 600 600 looks bizarrely disproportionate</p>
<p>I'd say that 700+,700+,700+ can compare to both category 1 and 2, depends on whats after the "7"</p>
<p>What it comes down to is balance. I think this, in part, depends on where you're applying. Top schools will prefer the balanced score - I think - but I think there is a large element of specificity to this.</p>
<p>In terms of transfer students though, do you think schools give more weight to the SAT section that corresponds to what you're applying to study? Perhaps more so than they do for freshman admissions? For example, my SAT math score is abysmal, however my verbal score is very good. I'm applying as a junior transfer to study things completely unrelated to math. Do you think they'll still consider my math SAT score?
Just when I thought math was out of my life forever... :-)</p>
<p>If you're applying as a junior then SAT scores hardly count at all. I mean, you took them a bunch of years ago. They're much more concerned with your college performance and essays as you've spent a good deal of time in college already. A mediocre score in math is really nothing to fret over. They're not going to be like "WHOA This kid is an idiot!" As you said, you're not even interested in continuing to study math.. so it really should not matter. at all.</p>
<p>That makes me incredibly happy. </p>
<p>I feel as though a weight equivalent to a very large Calculus II book has been lifted off of my shoulders :-P</p>