<p>The application tracking sites of some colleges don't specify whether students' SAT or ACT scores have been received--instead they say something like, "Official SAT or ACT scores received." If students have sent both, how can they find out whether both have actually been received? For SAT scores, in certain cases it might be obvious, such as when a student sends SAT I and SAT II scores at the same time and the tracking site specifies that required subject tests have been received, but this wouldn't be the case if the student requested SAT I and SAT II scores at different times (or if there were no required subject tests), and there doesn't seem to be any way to determine whether colleges that don't specify have received ACT scores. Should students just write to these colleges and ask?</p>
<p>Alternatively, once the “Official SAT or ACT scores received” message is posted, the student could just overcome his understandable temptation to trouble the VERY busy admissions office(s), by understanding the probability the system worked properly and the score(s) have been received is quite high. I truly understand how this sort of confirmation seems crucial to the student – and likely to his parents – but have you considered this matter from the university perspective? For the next six months, admissions offices will be tremendously busy and responding to unnecessary e-mails/telephone calls/letters may be precisely what they don’t want – or need – to do. Given the competitiveness of some undergraduate schools, I’d be reluctant to be even slightly “pesky.” Furthermore, if any required information is missing from the applicant’s files, institutions will frequently contact the student requesting its (re)submission. </p>
<p>I definitely understand that, but how would colleges even know that something is missing if it’s optional? For instance, what if a student can send either the SAT I or the ACT and didn’t self-report one of the scores on the Common App because because he or she forgot or because doing so is optional but did actually send both sets of scores? Then the school might have no way of knowing that those optional scores were missing, and if the school doesn’t distinguish between them on the tracking system, there’s no way for the student to know that both sets got there. (I’m assuming that when official SAT or ACT scores come in, they get added to the student’s file and considered, even if the student didn’t self-report them on the Common App, correct?)</p>
<p>@Planner: Obviously, they wouldn’t know; do your SAT and ACT scores differ so substantially that it’s likely to create a consequential selection difference at the college(s) to which you’re applying? </p>
<p>Possibly, yes–one is in a higher percentile than the other. Unfortunately, the higher one is the one that’s not on the Common App–just an oversight. So being sure the schools received it would be useful. Again, I’m assuming that if they receive it, they’ll take it into consideration, and it won’t matter that it wasn’t self-reported–is that correct?</p>
<p>@Planner : Yes, I believe it is. However, here’s a potential idea. Your guidance counselor may well have a personal relationship with the regional admissions officer from the university with which you’re concerned (many do). Perhaps, if you explained the reasons for your unease in detail, he/she would be willing to call the AO and ask for verification that your scores have been received. That would accomplish several valuable things:
a. You’d be assured that your file contained all your standardized testing results, especially the more favorable scores.
b. Your GC – not you – would make the request; therefore, you’re not a pest and he/she is simply doing his/her job.
c. The university might obtain the “feeling” that the GC is willing to extend him/herself for you, which indicates support for your candidacy (I realize that’s a “slim reed,” but that’s better than none at all).</p>
<p>@TopTier: Thanks–that’s a good suggestion, though the guidance counselors at my school may be even busier than college admissions staffs! Maybe the best course of action would just be to ask, closer to the deadlines. Asking once shouldn’t be too pesky, especially if a school that does actually specify all the tests received doesn’t list one that was sent a couple of months ago (though maybe it takes a while for colleges to match students’ files with scores that come in before the applications?). </p>