<p>Question: My daughter is preparing for college by studying for the ACT. Do top schools like the Ivy League or Stanford prefer the SAT over the ACT? Even though the school might say either one is OK, in your opinion does one or the other have more advantage?</p>
<p>WHAT DID "THE DEAN" SAY?</p>
<p>See <a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/are-the-act-and-sat-viewed-equally.htm">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/are-the-act-and-sat-viewed-equally.htm</a> </p>
<p>All colleges that I know of “say” that they are both equal, but I visited Cal Poly SLO and was able to talk to someone involved in admissions and they said they prefer the ACT because it is more objective but they still accept SAT scores, but between two equivalent ACT and SAT scores they prefer the ACT. </p>
<p>I’m sure there are many cases like this at different colleges and possibly between different admissions officers. I personally believe that even though they say they don’t prefer one or the other there are definitely preferences.</p>
<p>I’m sure individual admissions committees have “preferences”, but I doubt that would sway the favor for a decision in either direction. They will judge them as equals despite their preference for either the ACT or SAT.</p>
<p>I think it’s more like the individual admissions officers who have their own preferences (or prejudices) rather than entire committees. Of course, admission officials are supposed to check all of their own likes and dislikes at the door when they evaluate a candidate, but that can be nearly impossible to do. </p>
<p>Many years ago, when I was writing Panicked Parents’ Guide to College Admissions, I asked some admission honchos about their own prejudices. Many inevitably gave me party-line answers, insisting their could put these entirely on the back burner while viewing candidates. I appreciated the fact that Lee Coffin (of Connecticut College then, now Dean at Tufts) was more forthcoming. He conceded that he had a soft spot for environmentalists and cellists and had a harder time warming up to equestrians. His views may have changed over the nearly two decades since I interviewed him, but I was grateful for his candor back then. Likewise, I’m sure that some admission staff members have their own take on the ACT vs. SAT, although I agree with Ctesiphon that their personal preferences in this area would definitely NOT be enough to sway an admissions verdict.</p>
<p>Either test is accepted without preference. There is this belief among high school students in the east that the SAT must be preferred. There is this belief among high school students in midwest states that the ACT is preferred. Those beliefs are formed mainly by tthe test usually taken and promoted in high schools in their state. Particularly for high ranked universities those beliefs have no basis in fact anymore including because they tend to misunderstand the role of test scores. Admission personnel don’t sit around discussing whether a 2400 SAT is better or worse than a 36 ACT. If you have high scores in either, it just means you possess one factor usually needed for admission with a more important factor being grades and course difficulty. </p>
<p>Mentioned above by Krieg01 is being told by Cal Poly SLO that the ACT is preferred. That is not a situation of someone at the school providing any information contrary to a stated position. Cal Poly PLO’s stated position in its admission matrerials provided publicly on its site is that the ACT is preferred pver the SAT (a preference that began about 7 years ago). It is the only college of any rank I am aware of that still states a preference.</p>
<p>Keep in mind when considering The Dean’s son’s approach to testing, that “ACT only” doesn’t work for National Merit Semifinalists, who need a confirming SAT score to advance to finalist. So, if you have a child who seems like an ACT kind of kid, but whose PSAT score is high enough that they might be a semifinalist, it makes sense to have them try both tests junior year. That will likely cover the “confirming SAT score” and gives them the opportunity to surprise you and do better on the SAT (though both of mine in this situation so far have confirmed my suspicion that ACT was their test). Our strategy was to take both tests in Dec/Jan of Junior year, with the plan of potentially re-taking whichever was the better test for them later that year or early in senior year if they weren’t happy with their higher score. In our case, neither son re-tested as they each had a very strong ACT first time out.</p>
<p>A few schools accept the ACT in lieu of SAT subject tests. I.e. their minimum test requirements are SAT reasoning + some SAT subjects, or ACT. (e.g. <a href=“Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions; )</p>
<p>It may be advantageous for a student to take both in junior year, since some students do better on one than the other. That also give a chance to retake the higher one after additional preparation in senior year if desired.</p>
<p>“It may be advantageous for a student to take both in junior year, since some students do better on one than the other. That also give a chance to retake the higher one after additional preparation in senior year if desired.”</p>
<p>While there is some east/west regional bias between the two tests, this is the optimal thing to do. Take both tests untutored spring of junior HS year. Figure out which test suits you better. Prep for just that one test over the summer and take it for real in Aug/Sept of senior HS year. The important thing is to post the best score (meaning highest percentile) possible Worked like a charm for all my kids.</p>
<p>@northwesty Taking it fall of senior year could be disadvantageous to those planning on applying EA or ED to a college. I’m planning on taking my ACT (for the first time) this winter and my SATs (both the new and old) during junior year, but that’s my preference.</p>
<p>On that note, does anyone know how the college committees will view scores for the new SAT? I’m sure I’ll do better on it than the current one, but there’ll be less comparison data (since the Class of 2017 will be the first ones to take the test). </p>
<p>I’ve noticed that, generally, the ACT is preferred in the Midwest and the SAT in the east coast. That could be entirely inaccurate. </p>
<p>The SAT is also preferred on the West Coast (or at least, that’s what the students believe, even though most West-Coast colleges state no preference).</p>
<p><a href=“Cal Poly Admissions”>Cal Poly Admissions; indicates that Cal Poly SLO prefers the ACT but accepts either. Note that it is in a state where students generally appear to prefer the SAT.</p>