Advice needed: Should I cancel my score report to a college.

<p>I took my sat in oct and got 690 v and 760 m then in nov and got 660 v and 800 m. i didnt rush my score but i just send my score to princeton anyway since they ask that i dont rush report it... i called to ask to see if the drop will hurt, and the officers said they only take the highest scores... so its okay if my verbal dropped...</p>

<p>but this is what michele, the past admission officer of dartmouth and the author of A is for Admissions, said in an email:</p>

<p>"If you just don't have it rushed, it probably won't reach Princeton in time
anyway. Early is very compressed. But if they do see the scores, they
won't be thrilled that they've gone down.</p>

<p>As for the 690, it is about 40 points below their average so it really
depends on the rest of your application. I can't say without seeing the
whole package. They are up 10% for early this year so it may be tough."</p>

<p>Apparently, she thinks that the 30 point drop will be seen negatively while the princeton admissions officers told me they do not see trends in scores like they do in grades..... what do you think of this? </p>

<p>I can try to cancel the score report to Princeton on Monday, would that be a feasible way of dealing with the present situation?</p>

<p>i hope it won't affect it by much, to give a better picture of my english grades: i did get a B in eng 10/11 hon accelerated in grade 10, but an A in eng in 11th grade.. so eng is my weak point.. writing score is 740.. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Because a university such as Princeton is very liberal "artsy" I suspect that the drop in your verbal score will hinder the review of your application. Perhaps fatally. I would not bother to send it in. However I have never been on an adacom so my opinion may be wrong. I am just thinking how I would react to the drop in verbal considering the amount of reading and writing that the typical Princetonian is asked to do.</p>

<p>Given that the total of the 2 exams is the same 1460/1450...isn't it really a wash. I mean if you cancel the report, you also cancel the better math score... and your best combined total which would be 1490.. My sense is that the admissions officers are so busy they truly only care about whatever someone has written on your folder as the top scores. This is what you hear over and over again and I would assume it is the truth!! I would definitely submit the new score, by whatever method they have told you to use...</p>

<p>I definitely think you should send the new scores! For one thing, you are focusing on a 30 point drop in verbal but you have a 40 point upward trend in math! Combined first total was 1450 and now it is 1460. The totals are similar. If you don't report the second sitting, you will be missing showing them the 800 in math. As well, colleges take your highest math and your highest verbal and in your case that is a 800 and a 690 and that is what is recorded! Total that is 1490 and EXCELLENT and surely in the right ballpark for these selective colleges. Further, a 30 point difference in a subtest from one sitting to another is statistically not that relevant because even the Collegeboard explains that each test score can vary about 30 points in either direction per sitting of the test, so your difference in the two sittings on the verbal was quite normal this way. The fact that you have a 740 writing score also shows your skill in verbal areas. Believe me, your scores bode well for Princeton and Dartmouth. You even have an A in English last year. </p>

<p>I don't know your total profile but as far as testing, you are in good shape reasonably for these schools. Remember they take the highest verbal and highest math and so you need BOTH your sittings to be sent because you have an 800 in math on one sitting and a fine score of 690 in verbal on another sitting. Let me say that I know kids with such scores as you have who have gotten into a few Ivy league schools. Stay the course. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>In response to what Michele told you :"But if they do see the scores, they
won't be thrilled that <em>they've</em> gone down."</p>

<p>"THEY" have not gone down. Your verbal went down, yes. But, your math went up.
Oct - 690v / 760m = 1450
Nov - 660v / 800m = 1460
Composite = 1490</p>

<p>Surely, your concern isn't about the composite. After all, your overall score for the Nov test was higher and now your composite is 40 points higher than it would be if you cancelled the Nov score. If your concern is the drop if verbal to a range that you feel will be unacceptable to Princeton (660 vs. 690) you should weigh in your Writing score (740)....your grades in English grades (do you have 1Q gades yet??) and the strength of your essay. </p>

<p>What's your intended major? </p>

<p>I agree with Robyrm.....I tend to think that they summarize your file to the point that they list highest V and highest M....and total the two for a composite. Inconsistencies in other parts of your file might lead them to dig around to look at your other SAT scores. But, I doubt if they'll do that if your work is consistent with your 1490. </p>

<p>If I was reading your app and saw an inconsistency between two verbal SATI scores I would seek out your SATII writing for support. This is why it's sometimes good for students to take this SATI a third time if there are inconsistencies between the first two scores. Of course, the third time has to be consistent with the higher score for there to be any benefit. But, two consistent scores should lessen or negate the potential impact of a third inconsistent score. </p>

<p>I wouldn't cancel.</p>

<p>*Susan, I agree. We must have been typing at the same time. Just saw your post.</p>

<p>I think you should stop stresssing about your scores because it is only part of the equation. While higher scores willadd an added dimennsion to an overall strong application, it will do nothing for an application which the adcoms find to be weak</p>

<p>Princetonwannabe, you're scores are a perfect example of what the ETS tells everyone but surprisingly few people believe. When you retake the exams, your new scores are highly likely to be very similar to your old scores, and they are about as likely to go down a few points as they are to go up a few points.</p>

<p>You showed that both your math and your verbal scores the first time were pretty good reflections of your capability on this exam, and the combined score -- no change (1 more question right or wrong out of how many?).</p>

<p>thanks a lot for those advice!</p>

<p>soozievt,
My english teacher did one of my recommendations. And in her class(English Litature 12 honours), i ranked 1st out of 58 students and scored the highest on the government based (BC Provincial) exam. </p>

<p>momsdream,
We do not have the first term mark out yet. But i am currently taking AP English Lit. And my intended major was listed as Engineering or Physics. Science related.</p>

<hr>

<p>I understand that scores are only one part of my application.. and I'm trying to not stress about my SAT 1s, and hoping that my sat 2s ?(740 780 800 800) will help me. It was only till last night, I got a newsletter from Michele regarding ED and EA applicant SAT scores that i became a little bit concerned... I'm not hoping to get aby kind of a boost from my SAT 1 scores, i just hope they won't hurt my chances.</p>

<p>"I just hope they won't hurt my chances."</p>

<p>Don't worry, they won't. Your numbers look fine. Obviously way more is involved in acceptance than test scores and it is all quite unpredictable at Princeton but your test scores are not going to be what keeps you out.
PS..your SAT2 scores are fabulous as well. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>thanks for your advice! :D</p>