<p>I got a 2210 SAT (2240 Superscore) in March on my second try, and I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to take it a third time in either May or June. </p>
<p>I am taking the ACT in one week, and I am expecting a 33-35 (been getting 34's and 35's on practice tests). </p>
<p>For a highly selective school, is a higher score truly necessary?</p>
<p>It is not a lotto that more attempt will give you more chance. The point is can you get a higher score. Did you do something trying to improve your score? Otherwise, don’t waste your time or money. Currently, your SAT score is equivalent to ACT 33. You are still at the level that a higher score may help your admission at very top schools. In addition, higher score may get you some merit aids at many schools.</p>
<p>Merit aids will be large factor at different schools for me depending on the degree of aid. I have not yet looked into merit aid, but I right now, I am just trying to get the highest scores possible to keep options open. I feel like I have the potential to get a 2300-2350 if I REALLY try before the June test, just wondering if its reasonable and worth the time investment (when I have tons of EC’s, AP Tests, and a friends and family to pursue). I’ve been [obviously] doing my own research on this, and from what I’ve seen, I’ve at least made it to roughly average to slightly below average at an elite school in terms of just test scores.</p>
<p>It appears its not truly necessary to continue going for this tests, but when I browse the (UPenn, Stanford, Caltech, Duke…etc.) results threads, I see so many applicants that have these excellent scores. Albeit, I see ones with scores lower than me who get accepted. </p>
<p>If I can improve the score, should I go for it or channel resources towards other areas?</p>
<p>One more question: is there really any efficient way to go about studying, or does it [mostly] boil down to a blunt force of practicing? My opinion is that it differs from person to person, and for me, its a blunt force thing.</p>
<p>What you should do is to go through more full practice test to see whether you can get a higher score. If you have already reached your plateau, there is no point to keep trying. If you are too busy now, you may do some practice over the summer to see whether it is worth to retake it in early fall. Nevertheless, it seems you are more confident with ACT. If you get 34-35 in ACT, that is the same as 2280-2340 in SAT. Then don’t bother for another retake of SAT as you would have reached your goal already.
For my D, the practice is the key. She does section by section during the week and full timed test in weekend. She improved from 31 to 35 after 20 or so practice. Of course, some people can get higher score even without practice. So you would have to work out your pace and plateau score.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Depends on the individual subscores. If you have a <700, then yes, a higher score is necessary.</p>
<p>Caltech’s bottom quartile is 2210. It’s 75th % is 2390!</p>
<p>Students don’t improve that much when they write the SAT for the 3rd or more times. For that reason, just submit the ACT score, if you end up getting 35. </p>
<p>I guess it will depend largely on my ACT score then! With my SAT, I have never gotten below a 700 subscore. (Superscore is 760 CR, 750 M, 730 W). </p>
<p>Based on my practice tests with the SAT, I’ve kinda reached a plateau. I only make lame mistakes, and to iron those out, at least 10 more full length practice tests would be needed (likely more than 15 for me, I’d say). My improvement with the ACT has been MUCH faster than my improvement with the SAT (started at 32, after only 4 practice tests, I’ve consistently been at 34/35)</p>
<p>Hopefully I can pull a 35 next weekend! Thanks for the advice everyone.</p>