<p>S took SAT I one time (in March of jr. year). Got very good scores: 730 CR/790 M/800 W. He is applying to several top schools and has very good ECs, GPA, etc. His SAT II's are not as good (in the 700 range) and he is re-taking them next week. His guidance counselor feels that he should also re-take the SAT I in Nov. to try and bring up his CR score. Both S and I feel that he should concentrate his time on essays, his schoolwork and other ECs (he has a very challenging schedule this year) and just keep his current scores. I feel that they are good enough and that raising them a little won't make a difference one way or another. I think he's also a little afraid that his scores may go down (I know that they supposedly only look at the best scores, but still....)
Does the GC have a point? Or should he just be satisfied with what he has? (I'm not asking for chances at schools - just want feedback on this particular aspect of the application)
Many thanks!</p>
<p>I think his SAT score is great. Isn’t the total in the 99+th percentile?</p>
<p>At this point, what can you really improve upon?</p>
<p>ECs - Not much time to improve those. You could join some other things just to add to the list, but that’s pretty superficial and transparent.</p>
<p>Schoolwork - Yeah, keep that up.</p>
<p>Essays - Absolutely. But even so, I have to assume that with an 800 in writing he can put together quality essays without a whole lot of effort.</p>
<p>SAT II - I assume that “in the 700 range” mean 670-730. I agree with the retake. I’m retaking 1 of mine and taking one for the first time.</p>
<p>SAT I - He has a 2320. The only score he can really improve is CR.</p>
<p>Applications - You didn’t include this, but I will. These are taking a lot of time - more than I expected.</p>
<p>I might say don’t worry about the SAT I. Schoolwork + Essays + Applications makes for a pretty busy schedule.</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe that, given a holistic view of your son, that any college would deny him with a 2320 but would accept him with a 2360. That just doesn’t sound reasonable.</p>
<p>Green lantern - you and I are apparently on the same page! 
You are so right about the applications. Though I encouraged him to do more over the summer, he didn’t and now is paying the price (esp. since one is EA). And I don’t remember his exact SAT II scores, but again, you’re correct - they were high 600’s/low 700’s.
And (again, not that 10 pts. matters that much) I had a typo on the scores - he had a 740 in CR, for a total score of 2330.<br>
Thanks to both you and eg1 for responses…</p>
<p>I agree with the other responses. His SAT is great, and I think his fears about doing worse are legitimate. He also probably hasn’t been doing any prep for the general test recently, and he’d have to get himself back up to speed to take the test again on relatively short notice. That’s just not going to be worth his time, especially with everything else going on…not to mention giving him a little time to enjoy his senior year!</p>
<p>Your GC is on crack. For the most competitive schools, test scores are a confirming part of the picture, but it’s the overall package which tips the scales one way or another. Those scores are EASILY sufficient to give him the “yup, sharp kid” checkmark. For lower-ranked schools where test scores have more of an impact, he’s already in the “wow!” category. Retaking the SATs looks overly obsessive to me, and that’s not the picture he wants to paint.</p>
<p>At the same time, I agree that retaking the SAT II’s could be a bit helpful, as they don’t seem to be confirming the other academic factors. However, if the new scores are again in the same range (I hesitate to call them low, as in most instances, they’re great scores), it would lessen the possible interpretation of previously just having a bad day. For anxious students worried about every potential tip point, his current SAT II’s are more likely than his current SATs to derail his application, but again, they’re just one small factor in the application. The likelihood of his current SAT II’s making a difference is pretty small, IMHO.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for your insights. I’m happy to give him one less thing to deal with during this very busy semester. Better to focus on more important matters…like getting those essays done!!! :-)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That made me lol!</p>
<p>He definitely should re-take it again if it doesn’t too place too heavy of a burden on him. If he’s unhooked (not URM, recruited athlete, etc), then that CR score is a glaring weakness at HYPS. The 75th percentile is around 780-790 per section. Since most top schools super-score anyway, he doesn’t have to worry about getting a lower score in another section, so I think it’s worth it for him to try again – it’s likely he’ll score much higher judging by his other credentials.</p>
<p>I don’t think your son should retake his SAT. </p>
<p>And…I don’t think it’s true that most schools “super score”. Some do, but some don’t. I don’t think “most” do it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Where on earth did you get this? Source, please; thanks!</p>
<p>For perusal: <a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools;
<p>I think the OP’s son’s SAT score is splendid and does not warrant a retake.</p>
<p>A 730 CR is in the 97th percentile. <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_percentile_ranks_2008.pdf[/url]”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board;
<p>He meant that it’s at the 75th percentile of admitted students at HYPS, not 75th percentile overall. Anyway, your GC is crazy. There is no way a school would change its decision from a deny with a 2320 SAT to an accept with a 2370 or so SAT.</p>
<p>Your son’s score is great. I think there is something impressive about taking it once and getting 2330…</p>
<p>“The likelihood of his current SAT II’s making a difference is pretty small, IMHO.” Agree with Knowitsome on this. At a top LAC info session the adcom said their SAT II’s for admitted students are generally between 650 and 750 - granted, that’s a 100 point spread, but your ds is pretty much in the middle.</p>
<p>Unless his subject tests are in a foreign language or another subject he’s continued to study and advance in (since his first sitting) he might consider taking different subjects. Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>ETA I won’t speak to your gc’s illegal habits 
but I do agree your ds’s SAT 1 score is great!</p>
<p>Those SAT scores are absolutely phenomenal. Yeah sure there’s a room for improvement, but as you said, unless he aims for a 2400, 2320 won’t look much different from 2350.</p>
<p>Seriously, anything above 2200+ is okay for competitive college, and 2300+ looks very nice. 2320 definitely has a shot.</p>
<p>I’d keep up with essays. Ivy Leagues demand superb over-the-top personal essays, so instead of spending time to raise a few pts on the SAT, go all-out on the essays.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@ owl
</p>
<p>This is exactly what I meant.</p>
<p>As scores get higher, chances get higher. Period.</p>
<p>I’m not saying re-take it at the expense of making an outstanding application, but don’t just blow it off because you think your score is fine. Judging by your other scores, you can definitely do better, and it will always help.</p>
<p>Husband, S and I all sat down over the w/e and discussed this. We all agreed it was better for him to spend the time dealing with his essays, applications, EC’s and maintaining his grades (plus taking SAT IIs next week), and the majority of the comments confirmed our feelings. We all did “crack” up at the “Your GC is on crack” line…thanks for the chuckle! :-)</p>
<p>Just FYI, here are percentiles for Yale matriculants (see page 2 for most recent, re-centered years):</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W032_Fresh_SATs.pdf[/url]”>http://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W032_Fresh_SATs.pdf</a></p>
<p>That said, I agree that the best place to invest your time is in other areas besides retaking this test. It is almost certain the admission committee is much more likely to be swayed by gains to made through additional attention to essays and improved Subject test scores than by an increased score (even an 800) on one more section of the SAT reasoning test that is already near-ceiling.</p>
<p>One of the problems with looking at the 75th percentile of scores for admitted students at the HYPMS caliber schools is that it only looks at one of the three scores. Most students do not have 75%+ in all three scores at those schools. Look at the scores for 2008:</p>
<p>[2008</a> SAT Scores](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_percentile_ranks_2008_composite_cr_m_w.pdf]2008”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_percentile_ranks_2008_composite_cr_m_w.pdf)</p>
<p>Notice that a total of 3,117 students scored a cumulative 2330 or higher (the score of your son). Now look at a thread from a couple years back:</p>
<p>[thread=413821]SAT Score Frequencies and Freshman Class Sizes[/thread]</p>
<p>This analysis shows that for the so-called top six schools, less than half their class would be filled if they only took kids with 2330 or higher, and that assumes that ALL the top scorers went to those schools. Ya think they might lose a few to some other top schools (or heaven forbid, someone like DS at Bradley - a MUCH lower ranked school - with a 2350)?</p>
<p>I’ll stick with my assertion that your son’s SAT scores are the LAST thing he needs to worry about, and I’m glad to hear he’ll be concentrating his efforts elsewhere.</p>
<p>Oh, and you’re welcome!;)</p>