ACT vs. Sat

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>First, I would like to apologize for anyone who has seen this thread in a different section. I am (as you can see), new to the site, and as such just found this today. That said, I'm adding a few additional questions to it in that I've had, and more details, with the hopes that you good folks could fill my puny brain with new information.</p>

<p>The biggest question I have is the submission of my scores on the ACT vs. the SAT. I have taken both once, and plan to take each one more time, this time studying beforehand. </p>

<p>My scores currently are as follows:
SAT 2140: Math 790 CR 730 Writing 620 (4 on essay)
ACT 33: English 33 Math 32 Reading 35 Science 9/12 essay and making 31 combined english/writing.</p>

<p>I have yet to take SAT IIs, but I will be taking Math 1 and Physics (my middle school put me sufficiently behind in maths to where I have not yet learned enough to be comfortable on Math level 2.</p>

<p>My question is, given that 33 is 99th percentile and 2140 is not, should I even submit my SAT scores? Apparently Yale superscores SATs making me think that with my math score already 790 (I plan to study electrical engineering and theatre, by the way, so math is important), based on my practice tests, I can improve my superscore by a good 80 or 90 points. Would that be far enough to justify submitting these scores? If I can improve my ACT score at all, how much of an increase should I aim for? Does superscore work the same way for ACTs at Yale, if at all?</p>

<p>Second question: my Commonapp essay is very, very good but I have yet to come up with a topic for the Yale supplement essay that I like. Does Yale even look at the Commonapp essay? </p>

<p>If anybody here can provide the answers to these questions, I will personally deliver them a cupcake if I am ever within a regional proximity where this becomes reasonable.</p>

2

<p>The subforums with years are for matriculating students to discuss fr issues, please post general questions in the main college forum.</p>

<p>Moving.</p>

3

<p>My apologies. I thought I was just in the generic Yale forum. God, y’all must hate newbies around here.</p>

4

<p>^Sorry, didn’t mean to come off mean, just informative. </p>

<p>Welcome!</p>

5

<p>You didn’t come across as mean. I’m just saying, with the amount of traffic this site gets, it must be very cluttered.</p>

<p>Regardless, being in the correct place increases my chances of getting a good answer, so I appreciate it.</p>

6

<p>Although you have great Math and CR scores, your 620 on writing is low for all selective colleges, and your 4 on the essay is so low it begs the question “What happened there?” </p>

<p>Irrespective of super-scoring, you do not want any college to see that 4! You obviously are a student who does better on the ACT, so just submit the ACT. </p>

<p>If you are senior, I would not even bother taking the tests again, as your scores are within Yale’s range. Have you seen Jeffrey Brenzel, Dean of Yale Admissions, comments on test scores: <a href=“https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-most-important-part-of-the-application[/url]”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-most-important-part-of-the-application&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And yes, Yale reads the supplemental essay! In fact, your essay and your teacher recommendations are far MORE IMPORTANT than taking the SAT/ACT tests over again. Once again, please see Dean Brenzel’s comments about essays: <a href=“https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-for-writing-an-effective-application-essay-college-admissions[/url]”>https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays/tips-for-writing-an-effective-application-essay-college-admissions&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>For essays, also see: <a href=“Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions;

7

<p>I do agree with what you’re saying, and probably plan on submitting my ACT score rather than SAT. I am retaking both because, especially on the ACT, I had sections I could have scored higher on if I had paced myself more effectively.</p>

<p>As for a 4 on the essay, I meant a four from each grader, for a total of 8. I promise I’m not totally awful with the English language…</p>

<p>Thank you very much for the Collegeboard links. I have never seen those before.</p>

8

<p>I apologize for bumping my self, which was not the intention, but I have new scores which I wanted to leave here, as I’ll eventually give my admissions decision here:
SAT 2200
CR:710 Maths:740 Writing 750 11/12 essay
ACT (retaking this was possibly a poor decision, but turned out alright)
Composite: 34 Reading: 35 Maths: 33 Reading:35 Science: 32 Essay: 11/12</p>

<p>Hope to apply and know soon…</p>

9

<p>^^ Great all around improvement on both tests. Good luck to you!</p>

10

<p>No, apparently I cannot seem to let this thread die. My SAT Subject Tests came back, and I was pleasantly surprised with an 800 in physics and a 790 in maths level 1. I assume that the best decision is still to submit my ACT scores only, but I just wanted to check just in case.</p>

<p>Thank you guys for all you’ve done. You have no idea how much stress this site has alleviated for me.</p>

11

<p>You always reserve the right to send EVERYTHING to Yale, although this is just one part of your application. As it has been preached on this forum, your transcript and teacher recommendations are far more important.</p>

12

<p>

Well, this does make it a closer call. But I guess I’d still send only ACT, so they don’t see the old SAT score.</p>