<p>SBDad,</p>
<p>Neither score is anything to be ashamed about ;) (even by CC standards), so I'd recommend reporting both. It will show the admissions committee that your son is versatile and can handle either test.</p>
<p>SBDad:</p>
<p>I agree with AzMom: send both. Sure, the 2300 maybe a few points 'lower' than a 35 converted (1530 vs 1580), but it still an AWESOME score, and the difference is statistically nil (~two bubbles). If nothing else, it shows consistent strength.</p>
<p>Thanks so much!!</p>
<p>SB Dad -- Congrats on those great scores. I agree with sending 'em all. Be aware that for some schools, the point may become moot: If a school requires SATIIs, CB will automatically send all SAT scores on file (I and II)</p>
<p>Thanks wjb, I was wondering about that.</p>
<p>marny1. Many congrats on graduation day! It looks like your school district made the right call on the weather based on my conversation with relatives on LI today. Of course that shouldn't "dampen" your enjoyment of the occasion one bit! You are lucky - our graduation is outside "rain or shine." And this year we had just that, although it held off for the most part.</p>
<p>Back to the topic, I agree with you that the SAT, especially the new one, is an incredibly long endurance contest for many kids. That could be part of the reason some kids are going to the ACT - it's a shorter and more straightforward test. </p>
<p>SBDad, I'd definitely send both!</p>
<p>does anyone have an ACT/SAT conversion chart to link to?</p>
<p>Here's one:
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/sat/cbsenior/html/stat00f.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/sat/cbsenior/html/stat00f.html</a></p>
<p>However, please review my post #54. </p>
<p>You need to keep in mind that there is a discrepency betwen these conversion figures and percentiles. </p>
<p>When US News uses SAT/ACT scores to calculate rankings, they convert to the percentiles - that is, rather than treating a 28 ACT as a 1260 SAT, they treat the 28 as a 93% - which equates to a 1360 SAT.</p>
<p>I have no clue where the discrepency lies. But it has dawned on me that there is a hidden ACT advantage if you use percentile conversion rather than the standard numerical conversions.</p>
<p>calmom:</p>
<p>please provide a reference site for your assertion that USNews uses the % score.</p>
<p>It's on the US News site where they describe their methodology. I'll try to find a link but it might be the premium section.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I just realized something. I'm not sure where the original source of the ACT/SAT conversion figures are. The College Board has assembled a lot of stats available from its web site -- but the College Board has a vested interest in devaluing the ACT.</p>
<p>
[quote]
SAT/ACT scores. Average test scores on the SAT or ACT of all enrolled first-time, first-year students entering in 2004. Before being used as a ranking indicator, the scores are converted to the percentile of the national distribution corresponding to that school's scores.
[/quote]
"Undergraduate ranking criteria and weights"
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/about/weight_brief.php#scores%5B/url%5D">http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/about/weight_brief.php#scores</a></p>
<p>SBDad (re post #51) -- I agree with the suggestion of reporting both scores. They are both excellent and, because they come from different tests, can be seen as confirmations of each other. My son reported both scores when he applied.</p>
<p>The conversion figures, as I understand it (from posts on CC), come from a study or studies of students who took both tests. I don't know of any updated study reflecting the new SAT.</p>
<p>Calmom, That's very interesting. Are we sure that USNews is reporting both ACT AND SAT scores for the enrolled students or is it one or the other, depending on which test is in the majority? I'm understanding you to be saying that the scores are converted and combined together, by converting to percentiles, but do we have any specific reference that makes that clear? The USNews language in this one sentence is pretty ambiguous unless it's mentioned elsewhere.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Average test scores on the SAT OR ACT
[/quote]
emphasis added on the word "or."</p>
<p>My understanding is that the colleges report data they have to US News, which would mean that if the college accepts both ACT and SAT, it would be both scores, though if there is overlap, it is probably only one score per student. </p>
<p>US News reports the scores numerically in terms of reporting score ranges for each schools, but I believe it converts them into percentiles for purposes of plugging it into the RANKING formula. </p>
<p>This really goes a long way to explain why you almost always see the median ACT range reported for highly selective colleges to include a lower numerical equivalent than the SAT range. Going with the 28ACT = 1260 SAT = 93% for ACT.... here are some ACT score ranges from some Ivies (mostly 2004 figures - I'm taking these from a chart I prepared when my d. was developing her college list):</p>
<p>Columbia ACT 27-32<br>
Brown ACT 27-32
Penn ACT 28-33
Cornell ACT 28-32 </p>
<p>Needless to say you are not going to find the score range for these Ivies dipping below mid-1300 level. </p>
<p>If you are looking at it from the college's perspective, it could be as simple as an admissions policy to avoid accepting students whose scores are below 90th percentile. By that rationale, a 1290 on the SAT might be too low, but a 27 on the ACT would be acceptable. If the college has both sets of scores, then it opts to report that student's ACTs rather than SATs to US News.</p>
<p>I always interpreted the discrepancy between SAT and ACT scores as the ACT scores being lower because SAT dominant schools are willing to take kids from out of the region with lower (ACT) scores in order to encourage geographic diversity. But if I'm understanding what you are saying, then it's the percentile that counts, not the SAT equivalence, and therefore, some schools could actually prefer the ACTs for ranking purposes. That would certainly be a twist!</p>
<p>Roshke, I don't know. It's only speculation. I just know that I'm the parent of a California kid (SAT territory) who got into Barnard, NYU, and Univ. of Chicago with a 28 ACT -- and 1210 SAT score which was not officially submitted to those colleges but was apparently known to them via the high school transcript. </p>
<p>Of course California adds a geographic diversity factor, but at almost any east coast college, California will have the largest representation for any out-of-area state -- in other words, these colleges already have plenty of students from California, especially from urban areas like LA or SF Bay.</p>
<p>I've read this entire thread and I still don't get how to "convert" SAT/ACT. I know there is a table, but some question its accuracy. </p>
<p>D would like to go to a UC, or possibly private LAC with merit aid if possible. 4.27 GPA, APs: took 4, scored 3- 4's and 1- 3. Subjects 650 Lit, 700 US Hist. EC's medium ( I have been seriously ill much of her high school years.) </p>
<p>Which should she use, her SAT or ACT? She may re-take ACT. She felt more comfortable with it and did 30+ on all but the Science. What is a good way to prep for Science? I bought her a prep book from ACT, but it doesn't seem very good. also has the on-line prep from ACT.</p>
<p>Any school suggestions also appreciated. Marine bio/ecology or environmental policy/science, maybe an art minor? prefers to be on or at least near a coast, probably not too far from home unless a great deal/dream school. Mom is Scripps College alum., but inland is a bit of a hard sell for my beachy Pisces girl.</p>
<p>yes, I'm anxious enough that I'm even resorting to astrology in the college selection process! exxxxxcellent....</p>
<p>The U Cal system has its own conversion chart. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bh4ka%5B/url%5D">http://tinyurl.com/bh4ka</a></p>
<p>For other schools, you can always ask them what conversion methodology they use. You might get some information from looking at the ACT and SAT ranges for each school -- but I would think that if a school has its own conversion chart, this would be available.</p>
<p>wecan:</p>
<p>what is the breakdown of the 1970? M+CR are more important to non-UC schools, than is the W score.</p>
<p>Incidentally, the new UC conversion chart is nearly the same as the old, i.e, a 29 ACT = 77 points = 1320 SAT (660x2). Under the old concordance table (link below), a 29 ACT = 1300 SAT.</p>
<p>If we take the UC table times 3, we end up with 1980 total converted score. Thus, your D's ACT-SAT scores are the same. If she felt more comfortable with ACT, then retake that one. Search for the xiggi method -- he has some tips for ACT science, which is really more logic, and reading and interpreting data tables that actual science per se.</p>
<p>Consider Univ of Pacific -- its College is (large) Lac-like, and her gpa should make her competitive for merit money. Occidental does Marine Biology.</p>