I got deferred from ED and decided I’d try the SAT for the first time to see how I would do on that. I did a bit of prep and I quite liked the format of the test; I much preferred it over the ACT. I got a 31 on the ACT both times (retook it last weekend also). Well today the scores came back and I got a CR590, M640, W660. I was/still am really, really shocked because I felt very confident after the test. I had extra time to check over my answers in almost every section and caught a few tricky questions and changed my answers accordingly. My scores are below the 25th quartile for them so they’re obviously not close to good enough for NU. I would’ve waited until after I received my scores to send them but NU wouldn’t have received them in time so it wouldn’t matter anyway. I ordered the QAS service to see what exactly I did wrong, I almost feel like having them hand-scored because I’m really puzzled but the odds are that I really did that bad.
How much do you think this will affect my decision? I had all A’s my first semester (AP English, SOC 101, Econ, Publications II) except for a B in the first half of AP English. My overall weighted GPA raised. Currently taking AP Psych, AP Calc, Spanish 4, and Publications II. Both of my recommenders sent follow-up letters giving their highest recommendations, my guidance counselor too, and I was asked to do design work for a new children’s book series (my guidance counselor mentioned that in the mid-year report). Half of that stuff is probably fluff but I don’t know if that could outweigh my SAT. I am praying that I raised my ACT to at least a 32 but I don’t feel very good about that test…
I’m not going to lie, seeing your lower scores could create some bias against you even though they know most kids take standardized tests multiple times and only send their highest. However they’re really only supposed to consider your highest scores I would think, since that’s what they know they have for everyone. Good grades are usually the most important thing so I bet your decision basically depends on the quality of the RD pool. NU doesn’t make test scores everything, since they do reject a lot of Ivy League rejects with 2400s and 36s, so your not for sure out of the running. Since your deferred it means you’re qualified as long as your stats haven’t gone down, your just more towards the lower half so your fate mostly depends on how many of the RD applicants they consider good enough to accept. I don’t know if they even consider it for deferred, but you did apply ED so you think they would take your higher interest in the school too in your decision which should help. Good luck, it’s really out of your hands now so I wouldn’t spend too much time analyzing it, but you still have decent shot overall!
You have given it all…just wait it out and hope for the best. Here is wishing you good luck.
You did the best you could and a 31 ACT certainly would not hurt you in the admission process. Instead of retaking the ACT or SAT, I would suggest that you add on extra curricular activities, show interest, and do well on your GPA- these things matter much more than a standardized test score. Keep the admission office informed if you did very well in school or if you added on more activities. Keep in mind that NU’s average ACT is a 32, so half of the people they accept will have ACT lower than 32 and I doubt that 31 will hurt. Good luck.
No telling if it will hurt. It might. Depends on whether the decision is made just looking at the highest scores, and I don’t know the internal workings of their admissions dept. At some schools, the decision makers don’t even look at the actual test scores. They get a rating for that, using the highest mark, like a 5 if you are in their highest category and a 1 if you are in their lowest. So a perfect 36 on the ACT, or a perfect 2400 on the SAT1 or a perfect 4000 on the SATs will get the same 5 rating as a lower scores that starts the 5 threshold.
As NorthwesternDad said, you have done all you can at this point. I too wish you well.
Thanks for all the responses, guys. I have a little more ease of mind, all I can do is hope that they look past it and that my ACT improves… they must understand somewhat that some people do better at one test than the other?
Do you think it’s worth writing/calling them about it, or just leave it be? And should I retake it? I know that the March test won’t affect my decision, but I could end up waitlisted and also I just don’t know how I feel about having such a weak score on my record.
@Jamesesesess I would just let it be- you don’t want to call their attention to a weak area. Chances are, the 31 ACT may not be the reason why they deferred you. On the other hand, if you added on extracurriculurs or have an awesome last quarter, I would let definitely them know. You are pretty late in the admission cycle, retaking the tests may not be the best options in my opinion.
One thing I think may be helpful is if you write a letter of intent that shows your interest AND highlights your desire to attend if you are admitted. Every college likes students who are persistent in their interests and it can only help you. I hope you have applied to some other schools and that NU is not your only option at this time.
Good luck, and I hope to see you on campus come fall.
@MasterThinker You make some great points 
it’s nice having people here to be rational with me, lol. I actually already sent them a letter of continued interest in December, but the only extracurricular I had to add at that point was being recruited by my school district to design our new emblem and some website design. My guidance counselor put in my mid-year that I’m doing design for the children’s book series. I haven’t really taken on any other extracurriculars besides those… I don’t have much free time with my new semester, and track starts in less than a month. Sending another letter of continued interest would be overkill, right?
NU isn’t my only option; I was also deferred by UChicago, and applied RD to UMich, Columbia (total shot in the dark but I wanted to try anyway), and UW-Madison (safety).