<p>MY highest score on the SAT 1 is 2090 (720cr,650m,720w) and I have just taken the SAT1 agian and received a 1920 (570cr, 650m, 700w). My first test was right after test prep and I was well prepared. The second time was jsut a retake to see if I could get a little better, but the curve and my lack of preparation really hurt me. The critical reading score is just ridiculous when you look at the first one. </p>
<p>How does this look to colleges? I know they take your best score, but I am so depressed about the low score. Will it matter at all in admissions? I also have low SAT's because I am simply not a great test taker. 630 is APUSH and 610 in lit and a 600 in math2c are my best. Do I have hope. I am applying to Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, USC, Illinois Urbana, Syracuse, UCONN, Penn State, Indiana Bloomington, NYU, Boston U, Emory, UCI, UCLA, UCR</p>
<p>I have trouble believing anyone with a couple of 720s is a “bad test taker”. The one bad test shouldn’t affect your entrance chances (up or down). Schools will just figure you had a bad day or mis-bubbled some answers.</p>
<p>The retake won’t hurt you. Colleges only care about your highest scores. I think that, based on your first test, your SAT is competitive for all of the schools you are applying to. The scores may not help you, but they certainly won’t hurt. Just concentrate on the other parts of your application. If you really want to retake SAT1, put all your efforts into math. Good luck.</p>
<p>Try to keep it in perspective. Your scores are average only by cc standards - the national average is something like 1500 - and colleges look at many things, not just test scores. If you haven’t already, check the mid-50% range of the schools you’re interested in and see how you stand.</p>
<p>You could also try the ACT. As a worst case scenario, you’ll wind up using your SAT, but some do much better on the ACT, so maybe it’s worth a shot.</p>