Hello all. I have taken my SAT for the third and final time in October. In March, I scored a 1350. In August, a 1530. However, my essay subscores were 5,2,6. For this reason alone, my parents made me retake in October. I improved on the essay, but I scored a 1460 on the actual exam. How bad does this progression of scores look for colleges? I’m applying to the UCs and CSUs, which do not let me superscore (my superscore is also 1530), Stanford (superscore), USC (superscore), Creighton (superscore), and UW Seattle (superscore).
Does decreasing on the third attempt look bad on score sends? THANKS!
Don’t bump after 90 minutes.Give people time to answer. For the future, you need to wait several days after the last response before bumping.
Other that the UCs and CSUs, none will care about your essay score. All will only care about your highest score (either highest sitting or superscore) and none will care that you had a slight drop the 3rd time. Good luck.
Colleges assert they use the highest scores and do not hold lower scores against you. Thus, unless you believe they are lying, you can submit all scores and not worry about it. Moreover, unless the college requires or recommends the writing section, it likely will not be used at all to determine admission. If you are considering choosing not to submit all scores, you can consider the following for the colleges you list:
The UCs are the only ones in your list that require all SAT scores and the essay section (and claim to use only that test with the highest composite).
The CSU’s do not require that you submit all SATs, do not require or recommend the essay scores in determining admission, but do superscore.
Stanford does not require or recommend the writing section, and allows you to self-report scores for purpose of determining admission. If you took multiple tests, all you need to report in the common or coalition application is (a) the highest composite score, and (b) the highest section scores from the multiple tests. In essence, it is a college that truly means what it says when it claims not to use lower scores against you since it tells you can submit your highest section scores and not other section scores.
USC, Creighton and UW Seatle require offical scores from the testing aagencies but you can choose which to send, they do not require or recommend the essay section of the SAT, and they superscore.
@drusba thank you! I’ll be safe and just send all scores to the UCs. Is there any way I can omit sending the essay section? And can I send an essay from one exam but not another exam?
@Aneem00: No you cannot omit the essay scores nor can you withhold the essay score from one test. Essays scores are probably the least important aspect of your whole SAT score.