<p>My daughter got her SAT scores this morning: 800V, 640M, 690W. She has a 4.0 unweighted GPA, not sure what her weighted is (won't get that til her final transcript, but it's pretty high - she's been in almost all Honors and AP courses over the years). Strong ECs as well. Academically rigorous northeastern public high school. </p>
<p>She is not going into the math/science field - will likely major in Psychology or Poli Sci. </p>
<p>Would she need to retake for the following schools she is looking at: William and Mary, UVA, NYU, Northwestern, Michigan?</p>
<p>I don’t know about the schools, but my experience with the kids retaking the SAT is that the scores won’t improve by all that much. I’ve had two do it and their scores went both up and down, arriving within say 10-20 points of the total.</p>
<p>I think the answer depends on what your daughter feels. When my D got home from taking the SAT, her first words were “I could have done better.” She had a strong initial score (over 2000 combined), and her score went up 150 points when she retook it in October. Her gut instinct was right. If yours feels she did her best, it may not be worth it. But if she was nervous or tired, or feels she can do better…why not try?</p>
<p>I know you can check the average/median SAT score for each of the schools you listed. But at 2130 comb, she’s in there -</p>
<p>D had exactly those scores first time around. She had some SAT prep following PSATs to bring up her Math, but no CR or W prep. 2nd time around- after even more math prep- she went up to a whopping…650- and 720 on W. She was not remotely interested in math or science major, and is doing extremely well. My rec would be to practice the essay and W part over the summer and retake for that reason.</p>
<p>Is she a Virginia resident? The reason why I ask is that William & Mary and UVA give big-time preference to its kids. About 33 percent of the students are out of state. That does not mean she cannot gain admission there, but it will be tougher because of the numbers. That said, she should apply early action to Michigan, since it has a rolling admissions system. Also, how are her ECs? Schools will look for those.</p>
<p>Your daughter has scores and GPA similar to my daughter, who applied to and was waitlisted at W&M. She wasn’t interested in the other schools so I have no anecdotal comparisons there. I would see no reason not to retake in the fall, paying particular attention to beefing up her math skills. A 30 or 40 point improvement will make the scores a little less lopsided and may give her a better shot at both admission and, if it matters, financial aid. Has she taken, or does she plan to take, the ACT?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I truly appreciate the input. </p>
<p>She is taking the ACT next month. </p>
<p>We are not VA residents (don’t I wish!) We live in CT. </p>
<p>Her ECs are good, but not incredible - 4 year member and officer in both Key Club and Debate team; 4 years backstage at school musical, culminating in prop master this year and stage manager next year; won regional state contest in history; Girl Scout gold award; a lot of other volunteer work; National Honor Society; book award.</p>
<p>Just to make sure, have you checked the cost for out of state students at those schools? You’ll be paying quite a bit. Make sure you have an affordable school on your D’s list (whatever is affordable for you).</p>
<p>If she’s OOS, then definitely retake for UVa. There were a LOT of 2100+ kids who were flat out rejected RD. Plus, the Math section is the easiest for which to prep.</p>
<p>I’ve consistently read here that Gruber’s has an extremely good review of the math section. My son used it for just that section, and was pleased with it.</p>