<p>Okay, I want a final answer to this. I realize there have been many threads about this but there are a lot of mixed answers. What I would like to know is, do colleges truly treat the ACT and the SAT equally or is the SAT more respected and considered more prestigious in the college admissions process? For example if my ACT and SAT scores are in the exact same percentile and I could only send one (I know I could send two...I am making up a theoretical situation), which one would you send and does it really matter?</p>
<p>it does not matter.</p>
<p>It didn't used to be this way, but then colleges realized that the SAT is just racist and discriminates against poor people, as well as the fact that is one of the worst indicators of academic success in college that exists, they decided to give the ACT a chace.</p>
<p>Someone here doesn't like the SAT...</p>
<p>usually the ACT can replace both SAT and SAT 2s. so it is more of a worthwhile test. if your ACT score is stronger, dont even send the SAT</p>
<p>Some kids NEVER even heard of the SAT because the ACT is the only test they take to get into college. Check some of the midwest states, nobody ever does an SAT.</p>
<p>yeah, in michigan nobody takes the SAT except the super smart Ivy League prospects. So, my 700 CR was only an 87 percentile in my state.</p>
<p>Okay but I plan on applying to Ivy League schools, how do they view he ACT?</p>
<p>XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD you're killing me.</p>
<p>IT DOESN'T MATTER.THEY CAN'T BE BIASED ANYWAYS.</p>
<p>In Ohio, the LAC's often don't even report SAT scores because such a small percentage of their students take them. Therefore, the ACT is more respected in the Midwest. A lot of the scholarship descriptions will say something like "32 ACT or equivalent SAT", since they don't have much experience with the latter. And I think even Stanford doesn't require the SAT, nor does UChicago or many other top schools. And the UCs are one of the main reasons the SAT was changed in 2005, when they said the SAT was a poor indicator of academic achievement.</p>
<p>If the Ivy school requires an SAT or any SAT II's, then obviously they weigh that more than the ACT, but many schools let you send only the ACT if you take the writing section with it. If your ACTs are good, then they'll help you, just like anywhere else. This is another one of those hated subjective things that's different with every college in every little corner of the country.</p>
<p>If you go to a community college or a fourth-tier public in-state school, they won't care what your scores are anyway. :p</p>
<p>FRom Yale:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.yale.edu/admit/news/sat.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.yale.edu/admit/news/sat.html</a></p>
<p>You don't have to submit ANY subject II's if you do the ACT!!!!!</p>
<p>New SAT Subject Test Requirement
For the coming admissions cycle, Yale will require only two SAT II Subject Tests in addition to the SAT I. Please note that this is a change from the previously required three Subject Tests. If you have chosen to take the ACT with the optional writing section, you are not required to submit any SAT scores. You can find more information about our testing requirements here.</p>
<p>ACT makes the gender bias less biased than the SAT. Males perform better on ACT Math and Science while females perform better on the English and Reading. So the composite score evens out. On the other hand, on the SAT, there is Math vs Critical Reading + Writing. Remember around the time of the introduction of the new SAT there was some controversy about the female-bias?</p>
<p>This question is always controversial because people (like my parents) like to jump to conclusions after seeing that all the big name colleges (in the northeast and in California) have a supermajority (80%+) of their applicants submitting the SAT.</p>
<p>abank: they view ACTs the same way as SATs. people get into ivys with both, or even just with their ACT score all the time. dont worry</p>
<p>Chronicidal, so you are telling me, since the SAT is more female-biased, and I AM a female, that I would be better off expecting a higher score on the SAT than the ACT? the reason I ask is because all summer I have been working my butt off to prepare and master the ACT. I am shooting ivy (obviously) and I'm thinking now:::: "Should I instead focus on mastering the SAT????" O and on this subject of ACT over SAT, here is Harvard's response:</p>
<p>"Harvard requires applicants to submit the results of either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT with writing component. As candidates in the fall of 2008 (the Class of 2012), students may submit either the "old" SAT I or ACT taken before February 2005, or the new SAT or ACT (which must include the writing section). All applicants, however, must also submit the results of three SAT Subject Tests. The Admissions Committee continues to consider test results in light of students' educational opportunities."
<a href="http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/utilities/faq/admissions/tests/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/utilities/faq/admissions/tests/index.html</a></p>
<p>I've never taken the SAT (although I have taken PSAT, and did pretty well -I am an upcoming junior) nor the subject test... what are they like? Similar at all to AP tests??? How are they scored???? Help!</p>
<p>"and I'm thinking now:::: "Should I instead focus on mastering the SAT????" "</p>
<p>Just because there may be a female-bias on the sat, it doesn't guarantee you'll do better... it all depends on your strengths. For me I did equally well on the cr and math sat sections (bombed the writing...), but on the act my math and science sections were far better than reading and english...
To add to that, my act composite was much, much better than my whole sat score.</p>
<p>So, just go with what you've been prepping for- I'm going to guess you're best prepared for the act's time limits (they're vastly different from the sat's).
Take some sat II's if the school's you're applying to require them, but make sure you prep for those in advance.</p>
<p>Right. Thank you. I did very well on the English and Writing sections of the ACT (36 and 35) but my Math was a lil lower (33) and my Science... well the Science was a pretty awful I thought, compared to my other scores (30). So if my strengths are w/ the first two, would you predict my SAT scores to be higher on the whole??</p>
<p>With your practice scores (and a 34 comp with them), I'd just take the ACT.</p>
<p>I personally can't see you doing ridiculously better (enough to make an impact) on the SAT (not saying you couldn't of course) since how high your ACT is.</p>
<p>If you really feel the need to take the sat, make sure you practice it before hand to see how you compare... but in all honesty you can't do much better than you have been on the ACT (if going by a 34 being the same as a 35 or 36 percentile wise).</p>
<p>Ummm take them both... but really the ACT is better if you have a limited vocabulary and excel at math etc. this is cuz ACT tests how well you do in school as opposed to the SAT which tests more on how your reasoning skills are and vocabulary... (I got 34 ACT comp and 1420 SAT with 760 math and 660 CR) got the student answer service thing back and i missed 3/4 of the questions on CR of SAT b/c of vocab. (35 Reading ACT)
But back to the topic, neither as far as admissions is concerned is viewed more favorably. However, here (Florida), many people have never heard of the ACT, nor do many others know the scale. So when I say I got a 34 ACT they're like is that good? What would it be on the SAT? I find it kinda annoying TBH, cuz i despise the SAT. I also know many in the NE don't view ACT highly. But, it really doesn't seem admissions folks view either better. However, if a school says it wants Subject Tests with the SAT or ACT, I still recommend doing subject tests so long as you are good at a few subjects. You don't want to seem like you are hiding something by not taking them and proving your competency ;)</p>
<p>Good advice, both of you! I think I will give the SAT a shot, and we'll see how it goes, but I do not expect the same results as the ACT. Any advice on raising Science section scores?? Silly, I know, but this is the area I struggle with. THANKS!</p>
<p>As to the science...
what everyone says on here I definitely agree with.</p>
<p>Go straight to the questions, and don't read the passages. If necessary to answer a question, SKIM the passage.</p>