Any benefit to sending SAT scores before official college application?

<p>Is there any benefit to sending all SAT scores before applying to Wake Forest? WFU is test-optional, but will "consider" SAT subject tests. DS sent WFU his Jan SAT scores for free from College Board (before learning they were test optional), but did not send March SAT test scores and June Subject Tests scores. He did better on his March SAT than on the one in Jan., which were sent directly to WFU from College Board.
SAT subect test scores are 720 Math II and 760 US History. SAT superscore is 2180.</p>

<p>Kiddo went ahead and sent her “free” scores when she took the test her junior year, because it was cost-effective to do so. She ended up applying to 2 of the schools she’d sent it to, figured the other was not a big deal – if the school had an electronic score, but no file to attach it to, they would eventually discard. She did get the general mail solicitations from those 2 schools, but she got a ton of unsolicited college mail, too, so I don’t think one caused the other. She ended up needing to send scores to other schools later in the app process. Since there is a higher score than the one the school already has, sounds like it can’t hurt to send it. Also, dependant on schools (sorry, know nothing about WFU) that “consideration” can include automatic merit scholarships…so that could be a plus for some families.</p>

<p>Benefit? Other than checking one more thing off the application list, and potentially linking to merit awards, don’t know if it would impact admissions decisions or way or another.</p>

<p>you save a little money. I would still email or call the admissions office when you are submitting your app to make sure they have your scores though. This is something that I am worried about, I took the SAT IIs in December and I will be applying to schools between September and the end of this coming December, better safe than sorry right?</p>

<p>mommafrog: Checking one more thing off the list is exactly what I was thinking - couldn’t hurt, I guess.</p>

<p>IsaacM: I wondered the same thing about the scores sent junior year and if the schools received them and will link them to S’s ap. Emory sent a letter stating they received scores, but the other colleges didn’t.</p>

<p>I never send the scores. I think it’s better to see the scores before sending. What if they bombed the test or a section and now the bad score is sent.</p>

<p>What if they do better on subsequent test - then you have to send those too.</p>

<p>I’ll wait till my DS is done testing and send his best scores (if score choice is an option) to the colleges he will be applying to. That way the college will see his best scores for admission and merit scholarships.</p>

<p>There’s no benefit, but it never hurts. The college will just put the score report in a file and set it on a shelf to review when your application arrives.</p>

<p>There is a benefit - at some schools. Just by receiving your scores, some schools begin to send you mailings and information. You have demonstrated interest, which might help in your admission outcome at some schools. Also, if your scores are high with regard to their typical standards, you might be sent letters about merit awards or the Honors college. You might be offered a merit award before sending an application at some schools.</p>

<p>It does cut both ways; you might not want to release a score until you know how well you did.</p>

<p>Trying to be frugal and hopelessly optimistic, I have sent DS’s scores to 4 schools - both times he took the SAT and the one time he took Subject Tests -using the college board’s freebie reporting. DS only has one score he wished he didn’t share - but it is a subject test and the other 2 were okay.</p>

<p>nyquist: I agree there is a benefit for some. Emory is big on demonstrated interest and suggested that scores been sent to them each time. Duke also recommended sending all of the scores, but noted that they offer score choice and will superscore the SAT either way.</p>

<p>So far, two of my children have applied to a total of 16 different schools, and sent every score from every test to every school, including every SAT I, every SAT II, the ACT, and every AP. They sent everything as soon as possible, even if it wasn’t required. We figured the more info the colleges had, the better. Every school managed to match every test with my child, as far as I know. We were never notified that there were any missing test scores. </p>

<p>Wake Forest takes into account your level of interest. Unless your scores are low I’d send them all. Each “send” is another indication of your interest. (One child applied and was accepted at Wake, but will be attending a different college this fall.)</p>

<p>eastcoascrazy - That’s great to hear! I think we’ll go ahead and send the scores. It will be nice to cross that off my list.</p>

<p>Is it necessary and/or helpful to send AP scores for college apps? I don’t think DS sent scores when he took the tests. Will College Board send all of the AP scores at once or do you have to request each one? DS took 1 AP sophomore year and 3 this past junior year.</p>

<p>My son is a very happy junior at Wake Forest - I say send the scores! Since Wake is test optional - I would not send them if they were low - but scores over 700 - send them!</p>

<p>AP scores are generally not part of the college admissions process - although you can self-report them on most applications. When you go through College Board to send the AP scores - it goes to the Academic Dean or Registrar’s attention - not to admissions. So - typically you wait until after student graduates from hs and you know what college they will be attending in the fall - and then have CB send the score report to that one institution.</p>

<p>Oops, Rockvillemom is right about the AP tests. </p>

<p>Wake Forest is a great school, congrats to your son, RVMom!</p>

<p>We used the free reporting for my D1 before we had an idea where her scores fell and going forward for D2 and S we will wait to see the scores. D1’s weren’t bad but they weren’t going to excite an adcom, we discovered later the ACT was her test though she did improve the SAT too.</p>

<p>That being said she ended up at a school that saw every score she took so it ended up not hurting her that we could see.</p>

<p>As soon as the scores arrive at the colleges, they open a file inthe applicants name. I don’t know if that counts for “showing love,” but it is nice to get a box checked.</p>

<p>There’s really no harm in sending them early. I sent mine to UChicago my junior year and they sent me a t-shirt.</p>

<p>My D sent scores early to some smaller schools that consider demonstrated interest as a factor in admission. </p>

<p>If you sent your SAT score in junior year, the school at least knows that you didn’t just add them to the list at the last minute.</p>

<p>Thanks for the feedback. I think we’ll try to get all of the scores sent this summer to schools where he’s applying. DS might take the SAT again - third time, not including SATII tests - but not sure.</p>

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