<p>I wanted to get an adult perspective on retaking the SAT. I've already taken the exam twice, and I only got a 1930 (680 M, 620 W, 630 CR) the first time and 2030 (680 M, 670 W, 680 CR) the second time. I really want a 2100 (700+ all three sections) but my parents don't think that there's a significant difference between a 2030 and 2100. I agree with them but the problem is that my school doesn't rank. To provide context for GPAs our guidance department states what SAT scores will put someone in the top 10% of your class--and that's a 2200. An admissions officer who would be looking at my transcript would reason that I'm in the top 15-20% even though in actuality I'm in the top 5% (and should have test scores in the mid 700s).
This situation is further complicated by my financial situation. My parents' combined income is over $100,000 so we won't get any financial aid unless I'm lucky enough to get into a selective institution with a comprehensive financial aid program. The fact of the matter is that if I don't get any merit aid (or get into a school like HYP) I'll probably go to either SUNY Binghamton or City College.</p>
<p>Here are my stats:
Top 5% in decent public school in NY
African American male
710 Lit SAT II, 700 US History
Journalism/Humanities department awards
Spent the last two summers working at a magazine and as a Cognressional page in DC
Besides the typical activities (President of French Club, Editor of Newspaper, etc), I was able to start a writing center spanning across my geographic area, teaching low-income children proper writing styles and grammar. This program reaches approximately 500 kids in total</p>
<p>Good for you, for wanting to strive for a 2100. I agree, it would make you a more attractive applicant. If you can get the all those SATs in the 700s you will, I believe, be in great shape with your URM status, and ECs. Good luck.</p>
<p>I would say it depends on whether you feel confident you can raise those scores to above 700 after doing practice tests. Personally, I think there is a downside to taking the test 3 or more times for schools that don´t allow score choice. But in your case, I think it would be worth it if you can definitely raise the scores. If you don´t have time to prep, and practice tests don´t show an improved score, don´t bother.</p>
<p>I would take the SAT one more time, doing a little xiggi test prep. After that, let it rest. You never know if getting your math and critical reading scores up will make a difference when it comes to getting a scholarship.</p>
<p>One time only. At the level you are now, the additional points come much harder. If you are going to study then it is very opossible. My son increased his writing score 90 points to get to 2200 but it was a lot of hard work</p>
<p>I do not think there is any difference between a 2030 and 2100. By the way all the Ivies and top LACs offer attractive financial aid packages. I think you should spend all your free time working on your writing center.</p>
<p>I took the SAT/ACT standardized tests 7 times during my MS/HS years a long time ago. My family couldn’t afford to pay for college so a full ride was the only option for me.</p>
<p>Don’t remember the actual numbers, but I do recall the one test where the earth, moon and sun aligned and I got the score that helped me get a full ride. </p>
<p>I didn’t do practice tests, didn’t have a coach, but in the end I was so thoroughly relaxed and comfortable in the environment, that the test felt routine. No big deal, just another test.</p>
<p>My son took the SAT 3 times and got a good pop on last try. It bumped him up to merit scholarship status.</p>
<p>You should be proud of your test scores. You’ll do fine. But if you do try again, try and take an attitude that it really doesn’t matter what score you get. Let it go. Maybe you’ll be surprised!</p>
<p>I think your current scores are good enough to get into many fine schools, but I don’t think you’ll be penalized at all by taking them a third time, so I think if I were you I’d give it one more try. But your scores are fine, you are retaking to increase your chances of merit scholarships.</p>
<p>I think one way around the whole “too many SAT tests” is to take take the SAT a couple of times (or 3), and take the ACT a couple of times (or 3), then send which ever set looks best.</p>
<p>Syndicate, I think you have your answer to the SAT testing question but I would like to know where you are applying other than SUNY-B and City College. Because assuming an appropriate course load (Honors/ APs), you are a very attractive applicant to many schools and there are many schools between Harvard and SUNY (no offense to anyone at SUNY). I would suggest that you include liberal arts colleges that give merit money since I think they would be especially keen to get an AA male with those stats.</p>
<p>I should add to my above post. Mix it up a bit…take an SAT, then an ACT. See where you’re weak and study. Then do them both again. Repeat/study once more if necessary. You should have one score from either ACT or SAT that will “stand out” above the rest. :)</p>
<p>I think there is a psychological break point at the 700 mark in all the tests. Scores beginning with a “7” are regarded differently than scores beginning with “6”. I have no proof of this…its my opinion that it is so. You are very close to getting there on all three sections.</p>
<p>Xiggi once posted what I believe to be gospel on this…although it may not be completely applicable to your situation. It was something to the effect that “perhaps there might be some slight discounting of your best scores if you took the test five or six times. Nobody can be sure. However, you can be absolutely sure that no admissions officer will add anything to your score simply because you only took the test once…”. Apologies for any misquote there, but you get the idea.</p>
<p>I imagine quite a few of the kids headed to the type selective schools have taken the SATs three times. I think the decision is yours. Our school actually ranks based on a formula that takes into consideration standardized test scores using the highest single sitting so i can understand your “pain” of having the GPA but not the national scores you want for your school to give you the “nod” to the top 10%. If you were my son/daughter and you really wanted to try it again, I would say to do so. But do understand that it is not a given that a student will improve each and everytime, as someone said, there is a point of diminishing return.</p>
<p>I think if the tests are taken over a period of time…say soph year thru senior year, the ADCOMS arent’ going to really care if your soph scores are a bit low - those should be low. </p>
<p>However, if you take most of every offered test between winter of junior year and fall of senior year, that would look weird.</p>
<p>I think what your school is doing is kind of wacky. Can’t you get your counselor to give a true indication of where your grades place you in the class? Who cares where your scores place you? That is implying a one-to-one correlation between test scores and classroom achievement, which I don’t think anyone believes to be the case.</p>
<p>My HS counselor always told us that there had been some study done that showed you’d statistically get your best SAT score within three sittings, and there wasn’t much point in retaking it beyond then. (I don’t have the study to back that up, but I’d guess that that’s probably true).</p>
<p>ivyalum, it might be unusual but as I mentioned our school does “rank” the seniors based on a formula that incorporates class + class rigor + standardized test scores in mid-winter. Typically the cream does rise to the top with only an outlier or two (the lower GPA kid who took APs and does very well on standardized tests who rises in the ranks or the high GPA kid who took an easier schedule and does OK on standardized tests sinks in the rankings.)</p>