<p>Hi! Do colleges care more about one than the other? Over the summer i was gonna study for them but i feel i will do much better on ACT than SAT so i was going to just focus on ACT mainly... Unless they care more about SAT... SAT is more logic based and i dont completely have that :/ The college i want to go to requires a 1220 minimum in math and reading and i only have a 970 :( however ik i can improve on ACT once i study. </p>
<p>There doesn’t seem to be a preference (nor should there be). Submit whichever you do best at (assuming you take both).</p>
<p>Both are considered equally. Use the test with the highest score. Google SAT ACT Concordance.</p>
<p>For the first time last year more students took the ACT than the SAT so you should take the one you prefer as colleges have no preference.</p>
<p>So it wont look bad if i just end up submitting ACT and not SAT? I was thinking of just focusing only on ACT this summer and not SAT. This is because i think i can improve on ACT more cause it is knowledge based while sat is logic</p>
<p>The answer to your question is no, despite what endless numbers of high schoolers say, both look equally fine when applying to any college, as I am not aware of any college that has a preference for one over the other. Get prepping and good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much! Worst case scenario is that I study all summer for ACT and still do bad. Then i cant go and take the SAT cause i didnt study for it 0.0 so i’d be screwed</p>
<p>i heard that west coast colleges prefer the ACT and east coast colleges prefer the SAT? is that true. </p>
<p>@theanaconda nope!! that used to be the case, however the vast majority of schools no longer have a preference 
</p>
<p>@Tarahific I should have taken the ACT then (still waiting on my sat results), from what i’ve heard and seen, espcially for math/science students, its’ way easier. </p>
<p>The two tests are pretty different. Some students do better on one over the other. If possible take both in case your brain has a preference. :)</p>
<p>@theanaconda you could still study for it in the summer and take it in the fall if you want. I did find it much easier than the SAT. The questions are more straightforward IMO, and there’s no obnoxious vocab </p>
<p>Colleges cannot really have a preference, because the applicants don’t have equal access everywhere to both tests. If you live in a state where no one offers or takes the SAT and everyone takes the ACT, the only way they can compare your scores to an SAT applicant is to look at your percentile ranking.</p>
<p>So take whichever test is likely to result in a higher percentile ranking for you. You can determine this by taking some practice tests under timed conditions. Seriously, it’s that simple.</p>
<p>Yet students like anaconda’s friends still persist in spreading that myth. Colleges collectively spend millions on brochures, mailers and general PR – but will knee-jerk disadvantage half of their potential applicants because they’re too lazy to refer to a SAT/ACT score conversion chart? Really?</p>
<p>Set 'em straight, @theanacaconda!</p>
<p>There was a preference 30+ years ago. There hasn’t been one for quite some time - although there are still regional preferences among test takers, but this too is slowly fading.</p>
<p>Or, you could apply to Hampshire College, which just announced that it will take neither:</p>
<p><a href=“No to SATs/ACTs: Not Even Optional at Hampshire College | Hampshire College”>https://www.hampshire.edu/news/No-to-SATs-ACTs-Not-Even-Optional-at-Hampshire-College.htm</a></p>
<p>Some colleges were very slow to allow the ACT (I think Harvey Mudd was the last holdout, they only started accepting the ACT in 2007). I personally would take the SAT if I were applying to Mudd today. :)</p>
<p>I saw a study that said that in certain situations, SATs are preferable by some percentage. If you google the question you might find it. It’s on some site called “moodle”, I believe.</p>
<p>Im thinking of applying to Binghamton university, university of albany, etc. i hope they dont have preferences :p</p>
<p>They don’t, you will be fine. Some students take both to see which goes better for them.</p>