Did I shoot myself in the foot?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>Hey all, I'm applying ED and I've got a question about Standardized Testing-</p>

<p>I took the SAT I for the second time earlier this month, hoping to improve on my scores from this past May. </p>

<p>May scores: (680/690/720)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, for some reason, things didn't go as I had planned:</p>

<p>October scores: (600/680/670)</p>

<p>I know that colleges say that they superscore, but to see such a drop-off the second time around is perplexing and I'm worried that it'll hurt my chances. Duke already has my scores.</p>

<p>The only good things to come out of the SAT were my SAT II scores:</p>

<p>Math IIC: 800
U.S. History: 780</p>

<p>On a separate note, I took the ACT in June and got a composite of 31, and I took it yesterday. I'm sending both scores.</p>

<p>Am I screwed for standardized testing?</p>

2

<p>No. When they say they only consider the highest scores, they mean it.</p>

3

<p>I'm sending both ACT and SAT+SAT II. If my ACT is higher than my SAT, are they only going to look at my ACT score?</p>

4

<p>Someone once told me that colleges believe in the notion of a false negative (bad score), but not in the notion of a false positive( good score). I think that explains it pretty well.</p>

5

<p>the lady at duke even said that students scores drrop a lot of times the third testing, they completely u nderstand.</p>

6

<p>That's a relief. </p>

<p>Let's say I get a 32+ composite on the ACT, and I wound up with a 1370/2090 SAT, with 800 and 780 scores for SAT II. </p>

<p>What are they going to look at?</p>

7

<p>Just send the ACT and be done with it (a 32 is about a 1420/2130 according to most conversion charts). You don't need to send SAT II scores if you send the ACT.</p>

8

<p>Since I'm applying ED, I had to send out both scores b/c I wasn't sure how I was going to due on the second SAT.</p>

9

<p>Its cool. You can't really hurt your application by sending too many scores. The SAT and ACT are actually rather nice tests in this regard. (unlike professional and graduate school tests like the MCAT)</p>

10

<p>Duke considers either the SAT I/SAT II combination, OR the ACT. From what we were told, they won't look at the SAT IIs if the ACT is used. I think they scale the ACT and will take the higher of the ACT or the SAT I, so I don't think it hurts to submit both. It is my understanding that they will take the scores that help you the most (either the SATs or the ACT).</p>

11

<p>That's a relief. Thanks everyone.</p>

<p>Is an ACT score of 31 good enough? I know Duke's 25/75 is 29-34, but I'm really not sure with the great number of applicants on this forum reporting scores of 33+</p>

<p>I've got a 4.2 w GPA, pretty original essays (my common app is made up of vignettes written in the second person), great recs (I assume), extra curriculars which show leadership, and I'm applying ED.</p>

<p>All opinions are welcome. Thanks guys.</p>