Difficult ACT/ SAT/ SAT Subject Test Admission Question!

<p>I've been wondering the following series of questions for a long time.
First, a brief background so you understand my situation:
This is my situation- I'm a rising senior who, like many of us here, is looking at highly selective universities, such as the Ivies and Stanford. I have a 4.0, play varsity baseball, do extracirricular activities, etc. Focusing on test scores, here is a quick breakdown:
ACT (taken once) Composite Score = 36
Math = 36
Writing = 35
Science = 36
Reading = 35
Combined Writing/ Essay = 31 (received an 8 on the essay, it sucks, I know...)</p>

<p>SAT (taken once, likely again in the fall) = 2140
Math = 720 (Messed up some easy questions...)
Writing = 760 (Once again, an 8 on the essay, only one missed multiple choice)
Reading = 660 :(</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests
Chemistry = 800
Math Lvl. 2 = 800
Spanish = 580 (What was I thinking taking that!?)</p>

<p>As you can see, these are some interestingly skewed test scores, and I don't think I've ever seen someone with as large of an ACT and SAT disparity as mine. My ideal colleges would allow me to submit only the ACT and the Math and Chemistry Subject Tests, because those are all perfect scores. However, I understand some top universities do not allow score choice, but I am confused if that applies to the SAT Subject Tests. If there is no score choice, does that mean that I have to give all SAT Subject Tests and the SAT I (which would clearly look like crap because of the 580 and 2140). </p>

<p>Finally, here are my questions:
1. Who knows what the real deal is behind score choice?
2. Should I retake my SAT I in the fall?
3. Does the 8 essay score on my ACT look horrible?
4. For colleges who require ALL scores to be submitted from either the college board or ACT, should I only submit the ACT or submit both the ACT and all SAT components and hope that the two subject scores "cover up" the 580 Spanish and 2140 SAT I (unless I retake it)?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your help!!!</p>

<p>I can tell this is tough; lots of views yet no responses… :(</p>

<p>okay, I’ll take a stab at it. :)</p>

<p>I can’t speak for all colleges (and some schools definitely do not follow this), but some admissions offices simply take the scores that put you in the best light (e.g. if they require 2 subject tests, they’ll only consider your 2 best scores and ignore your Spanish one). This depends on the school though. Sorry if that is incredibly vague! Perhaps poke around on the individual websites for schools you’re applying to? They may have some information there.</p>

<p>I’ll try as well.</p>

<p>1) While the SAT implements score choice, some colleges refuse to acknowledge it. Some colleges still require you to submit all of your SAT/ACT scores.
2) Probably. Just to make yourself more competitive, even though a 2100+ is a respectable score.
3) It doesn’t look horrible, but it doesn’t look great either.
4) I have no idea haha.</p>

<p>As said on your other topic, the “send all scores” requirement does NOT include subject test scores. This will be made very clear when you actually try the “score choice” feature. </p>

<p>If a college recommends you send all SAT scores or just your best score, the Score Choice feature will indicate this by highlighting the scores you should/need to send. If a college requires you to sent all SAT scores, the Score Choice feature will automatically check each SAT score to be sent, and if you uncheck, you get a popup about breaking </p>

<p>The SAT Subject score choice section is listed below your SAT scores, with no requirements or recommendations, regardless of the policies on SAT scores. There are rare exceptions- make sure you Google each school’s requirements for admission.</p>

<p>Speaking from personal experience here.</p>

<p>Thank you so much Pancaked, that was a great answer. I think I’ll be sending the scores today to my prospective schools!</p>

<p>Wow, beast i have a very similar problem.<br>
36 on acts
2100 on sat 1
800 and 790 on sat 2s
My question is: Can I submit only the act score and my sat 2s WITHOUT submitting my sat 1 score to a school that does not accept score choice (i.e. Yale)? Or, will I be forced to send my SAT 1 when I send my SAT 2 scores?</p>

<p>Very interested in the answer to this question. Thanks for the thread beast!</p>

<p>Yale’s score choice works as follow: (a)if you send any one SAT or SAT II, you must send all SATs and SAT IIs; (b) you can choose to send just the ACT with no SAT and SAT IIs. Yale accepts ACT in lieu of both SAT and SAT IIs. Moreover, if you were to submit only the ACT plus SAT IIs, the only test that will be considered for admission is the ACT because it uses SAT IIs for admission only with the SAT. </p>

<p>OP, the actual rules followed by “all scores” colleges vary and you will need to check each school’s rules before deciding to withhold anything. Some “all scores” colleges require all SATs, SATs and ACTs, others require either all SATs and SAT IIs or all ACTs, others require all SATs or all ACTs and then you can send whatever SAT IIs you want to send, and still others require only all SATs and you can send whatever ACTs and SAT IIs you want to send.</p>

<p>A question you also have to answer is what does your high school put on your official transcript? Many put all your scores on the transcript sent to colleges so trying to hide scores by not ordering some sent by College Board or ACT may be a futile act.</p>

<p>

False, no school requires both SAT and ACT scores.</p>