<p>Looking for advice on whether my son should retake SAT if he had a pretty good score on the ACT. He took the SAT for the first time and received a low 1900- not bad considering he didn't study and was using it to see how he placed before taking an SAT prep class. W/ his track schedule and his class load, he was really pressed for time this year. He was scheduled to take his 2nd SAT test after finishing his 6 week class in June. There was a conflict with the state track meet so he now will have to take his second test in Oct. He was able, however, to take the ACT test 2x and did well. His composite is 34 w/ a 35 English, 32 Math, 36- Reading, 34- Science. His superscore will also be a 34. I feel like he should take the SAT again in October as I think he will do better and I know there are no guarantees of admission these days as competitive and good as all these kids are. He doesn't want to take it again in October b/c it is on the same day as a Cross Country Invitational race so he will have to take the SAT in the am and then go to the meet. At this point, he would prefer to skip it and focus on his race that day. </p>
<p>So, in terms of W & M can he just list his ACT scores on his application and not the SAT if he forgoes retaking the SAT? He plans to do ED. BUT, he wants to run in school and I want him to have back ups and alternatives to W & M. I just don't want him to lose out on an opportunity if another school wants an SAT score that is higher than 1900 ish and he doesn't get in to W & M.</p>
<p>W&M uses score choice so your son can send either the SAT or the ACT, whichever he does best on. To take into consideration when deciding if he should test again in October would be the reporting requirements of any other schools your son might apply to if he is deferred to RD, or not accepted ED. I would make a list of any school you think might be a possibility and look up their reporting policy. As far as raising his SAT score, you have to determine the ROI in his time to prepare vs. any score you feel he might get that would be statistically better then the ACT 34. Yes, he took the prep class this spring but he will have to refresh more then a little prior to the October test.</p>
<p>Something you will have to check with W&M is if the October SAT scores will arrive in time for consideration (should you choose to use them over the ACT) if you wait until the third week of October to see the scores before you decide to send them. Even with rush reporting there is more of a lag then you realize with CB. Normally the only way to get an October SAT test score submitted to a university prior to a November 1 ED/EA deadline is to send it blindly. That is, to request the scores go to W&M prior to the test being taken. This however takes the ‘choice’ out of score choice as you have no idea if the score will be higher then the ACT.</p>
<p>That is good to know about the reporting issue as it pertains to the SAT in October. I think we would save those scores for RD for other schools in the event that the ED at W&M is not successful. The prep class is letting him retake the prep sessions, at no charge, since he was unable to take his June SAT due to the conflict with the state meet. But that means another 6 weeks of classes starting in August when team practices officially start for cross country and he is working a job. You are right about looking at the other schools and their reporting requirements. He has been so focused on W & M that he isn’t looking at too much what other schools require. He has taken the SAT II subject tests for Chem and Math II so at least that is out of the way. The issue is really the SAT. But thanks for your post as those are very good points to think about.</p>
<p>Keep in mind we do not superscore the ACT (you mentioned an ACT superscore in your original post). We simply take the best composite of whichever tests you send to us. If he has a 34 Composite on one of the exams, that’s a great score.</p>
<p>You are not required to submit both an ACT and SAT, whether your son does is up to him. You did mention however submitting SAT Subject tests (which W&M doesn’t require). Just ensure, that if he doesn’t want his SAT reported, it doesn’t get reported along with the subject tests if he reports those.</p>
<p>As for October scores, while an October SAT normally arrives in time to be considered for ED we cannot guarantee that it will.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification. His composite is 34 for his second test and 32 composite for his first test. It is a good point to know about reporting the SAT subject tests and not reporting his other SAT score. I hadn’t even thought of that. There is so much to know. He is my first. I will be a pro by the time this is over with 
Really appreciate all the feedback.</p>