Can you submit the Common App before taking the SAT?

<p>Hi -
I'm helping my son with his Common App and were wondering about the SAT scores. He's taken them twice already, so we'll put those dates and the best scores from those dates, but he's also taking the SAT for the last time on October 6th. If he improves his scores on that date, the Common App won't reflect this. (As all the schools he's applying to are rolling admissions or Early Action we want to submit the applications soon -- before the scores come out in early November.) Since the schools will be getting official SAT scores from the College Board, I'm thinking this is not a problem, but would appreciate hearing confirmation from anyone who knows for sure. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Yes, you can send off his common app with the SAT scores listed he currently has. Schools only look at “official” scores sent from the collegeboard. The ones you are listing just give them an idea but they need confirmation. </p>

<p>The decision you have to make, depending on which schools are rolling and which are EA, is to decide whether to send his current official scores now or wait and send his best scores after the next set comes out in Oct so you are only paying the collegeboard once. </p>

<p>It all depends on what the cut off dates are from each school of when they want SAT scores by.</p>

<p>For most schools, only the official scores from CB count. You can actually not even bother to self report in Common App and use score choice to report your son’s best SAT scores. You should have the scores in plenty of time for all early dates from the Oct. 6 test.</p>

<p>There are some schools that DO want self reported scores though - the UC schools for instance. Check that part VERY carefully.</p>

<p>Thanks, cloudy15 and Lakemom – you make some really good points. I hadn’t thought about the fact that I’d potentially need to pay collegeboard twice. Oh well, I guess I need to weigh the odds of my son improving against the advantages of applying early (scholarship money is what I’m thinking of). Thanks very much to you both.</p>

<p>Is this also true for SAT Subject Test? I plan on taking them in November but I really want to apply ED to NYU as I have a huge interest in the school.</p>

<p>You have to check with NYU. Some schools want everything by a set date, others will let you submit SAT scores later.</p>