Hey guys! So most colleges say that they’ll accept the highest test score out of multiple, but do you think that’s actually true? For example, if you sent two SAT scores, and one was 1600 and the other was 1500, do they really only take the 1600 into account? Or will the 1500 hold you back (assuming the school is suuuuuper selective)?
Similarly, some schools recommend subject tests and say they can only help boost your application if you send them in. But couldn’t they be harmful too? For example, if the average subject test score for a certain school is 700, would it be better to send in a 600 or to send in nothing at all?
(The scores in both of these situations are totally random and aren’t my scores haha)
What do you think?
If I’m a college, and you send me an SAT 1600 perfect score as well as a 1100 SAT score, I’ll be more than happy to take your 1600 because it will raise my statistics.
Accepting a score and looking at all your scores are two entirely different things. Like all things at super selective colleges, the rules are different for different students. If you take the SAT multiple times, are white or Asian and have college educated parents, your lower scores will definitely count against you or at least will be pointed out and be discussed in Committee. Don’t kid yourself. If on the other hand you are a poor URM and have only taken the SAT once and have scored a respectable but not superlative score in line with something the college finds acceptable, you will be treated differently.
Once you are admitted though, they will use your highest scores to their advantage in reporting.
If colleges were only interested in your highest score they would allow you to use score choice. When super selective universities force you to report all your scores, that low score is definitely looked at in context of your background. Better believe it.
I think about this a lot.
i believe it’s like a courtroom…where a judge says to ignore testimony that’s been disallowed…there’s no way that knowing all of the scores doesn’t have an impact.
@SouthernHope Wow what an interesting way to think about it haha
They definitely look at all your scores because they also take into account how many tries it took you to get to that score. From purely a score standpoint, they would like someone who got a 2350 in one try better than someone who got a 2360 superscored after 5 tries. So yes, they take your highest score for college stats purposes, but they also look at your other scores
Say you took two SATs and got the following scores:
SAT 1: 700 Reading, 770 Math (1470)
SAT 2: 770 Reading, 750 Math (1520)
SuperScore: 770 Reading, 770 Math (1540)
Colleges use the super score to evaluate you amongst the other applicants. On an individual basis, they might look at each exam individually to see where you made progress etc. The 1470 will not hold you back because, at your current state, you are ‘worth’ a 1540. Colleges care about how good their applicants are NOW. They are admitting/rejecting you based on yourself as you are at the current time (which is why they can rescind admission if you don’t uphold the qualities that got you admitted at the time you were accepted during senior year).
@DaedricSaiyan I’ll be applying to mostly UCs and they don’t superscore, and they still require all scores. Would it still be the same concept of “you’re worth your highest score”?
UC’s will take your highest score from a single sitting. Yes, “you’re worth your highest scores”.
I think for some score choice / superscore schools, the packet that the adcom reads will only have your highest score for each section. I might guess that bigger schools that get lots of applications (e.g. RIT) might do this - but who knows. I wonder if you could find out if you asked them?
DD got 760M/710V on her first SAT sitting, and then 680M (!) / 740V on her second sitting… So I’m particularly interested if they will only see 760M/740V…
Some schools have a separate system that the adcoms use. The higher scores are uploaded into the system and the adcom would need to log into the other system to see “all scores”. Many don’t bother looking if they have all they need.