Do I submit my ACT (35) or SAT (2200) to competitive colleges?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I'm applying to competitive schools, mostly on the east coast (hint hint-->yeah like ivies)) plus like uc berkeley, u chicago, university of notre dame, and wustl. </p>

<p>Here's my dilemma: Science is undoubtedly my best subject in school, especially biology and chemistry. It just comes really naturally to me, and I've already taken AP Bio, AP Chem, APES, and AP Physics B (A's in the classes and all 5's on the tests). Plus I got a 790 on my SAT 2 for Chem and a 780 on Bio-M.</p>

<p>But I just got my September ACT scores and here's the breakdown:</p>

<p>English: 36
Reading: 36
Math: 35
Science: 31
Essay: (don't know yet but got a 12/12 in June)
Composite: 35</p>

<p>Obviously I didn't do so hot on science. A 31 isn't horrible, but it just looks odd in comparison. Will sending this score report to colleges reflect negatively on me because it shows I'm somewhat inconsistent?</p>

<p>My alternative would be to just stick with sending my SAT scores:</p>

<p>CR: 760
Writing: 710 (10 essay)
Math: 740
Total: 2200</p>

<p>But I didn't do as well on math or writing on the SAT which raises another issue of inconsistency (got an 800 on Math 2c and a 5 on AP Calc AB). Plus I think a 35 is better overall than a 2200 according to conversion charts, yes?</p>

<p>So my question is should I send my ACT or my SAT to colleges and why?</p>

<p>Or should I split it up and send the ACT to some and the SAT to others?</p>

<p>Thank in advance for your help!!=)</p>

<p>(Oh yeah, I've already sent free ACT score reports to WUSTL and Notre Dame)</p>

<p>P.S. haha just realized someone asked a similar question on another thread and everyone's been telling them to send both scores. but sending both scores will cost me twice as much:(</p>

2

<p>35 seems much more impressive to me than a 2200.</p>

<p>If you've already shown that you like and excel in science, one test score should not change that.</p>

3

<p>Why not submit both? They're both very impressive.</p>

4

<p>where are you applying, just out of curiosity</p>

5

<p>35 looks way better imo. Your MV is a 1450, which is great, but not as good as a 35 composite.</p>

6

<p>Duper, isn't CR and M 1500? I would definitely send both because not everyone gets those SAT scores. If you think about it, your CR and M counterparts on the ACT are like a 1590/1600. Colleges always ask you to send all your scores, but think about this: colleges know that most students take the SAT, and if they see someone who only submits the ACT, they might think that they didn't do as good on the SAT so they didn't send it. If you send both, they'll instantly see the ACT as the higher but they'll also give you a thumbs up for your SAT score, that score won't hurt you for most colleges.</p>

7

<p>I agree with RahoulVA. Sending in such great scores from both tests is probably even better than sending a great score from one or the other.</p>

8

<p>I don't know when you took them, but it doesn't make you look like one of those students that got something like 1350 SAT and a 34-35 ACT later on to save themselves. You're someone who already got a very good SAT score(1500) and then colleges will view you as someone who only wants to get even closer to perfection with your 1580 equivalent.</p>

9

<p>Send in both, it can only help. Some schools/admission officers feel awkward with the ACT even though they consider them equally, and others feel really awkward with the SAT, so both can't hurt.</p>

10

<p>Well as everyone has said, send both in!! Seeing such great scores is great and I am so happy for you. I think you should send both in because you will probably be instantly accepted (if you have extra curricular activities also). If the reason why you will not send both scores in is because of the cost, then there are alternative options. Listen, I know sending scores in is like $60 bucks per college, and its a pain in the ass, but it is surely worth it. If you can’t financially pay the $60, there are fee waivers, that can be filled out. I would talk to your guidance counselor in high school to see what you can do, because I bet your guidance counselor will suggest to fill out the fee waiver after seeing a 35 in ACT and 2200 in SAT. Also, if you are applying for a science degree, they won’t care about that 1 low ACT score in your whole high school career. After seeing how excited you are about science (because of your SAT score in science, AP classes you took in science), they will certainly accept you. Your guidance counselor will even help you fill out the waiver forms. Heck, if I was your parent, I wouldn’t wait for the waiver forms to get passed, I would just give you the money to send in the scores. I am sure your parents will also. Talk to your parents, and they will definitely give you the money to send in both unless they are in a serious financial crisis. I have been through all this also, but I was not lucky enough to get such great scores on both (I got a 2180 on SAT and 31 on ACT). If your waiver form does not get passed, and you don’t want to send both, I would send in the SAT because you have such a great raw score with Math/Reading. Also your SAT 2 scores are great, so send all those in.</p>

11

<p>Please use old threads for information only, do not post and revive them.</p>

<p>The OP graduated this past spring.</p>