<p>In the application instructions for Harvard, it says that they take our highest SAT scores. I'm wondering - do they see our other scores? If so, how do they view "erratic" performances, lets say a change in about 80-90 points, across performances even if our overall combined highest score is high? </p>
<p>Even if they say they only look at the highest SAt scores, they'll still receive all of them and I'm thinking the not so stellar scores have to exert some kind of psychological influence on the overall decision, right?</p>
<p>Yes, they really take your highest scores. A Harvard admissions officer who spoke in our town last year said that anyone can have a bad day. As long as you had a good day once, you will get the benefit of that good day (but of course so will all the other people applying to Harvard). Most of the top schools have exactly the same policy--you get the benefit of your best scores if you have taken a test more than once, section by section.</p>
<p>even from old to new?...i.e., can an "old" sat score be used with the new sat score? so if i did better in math in the old and worse on the new, will they take my old one???</p>
<p>Since Harvard does see them, they do have some psychological effect, even though they don't consciously take it into account. I would surmise, however, that it is minimal. One thing that might have any sort of noticeable impact is taking an SAT more than 3 times to get the score you want, as that's not just "one bad day" anymore. That's when they start suspecting your score is the result of a ridiculous amount of prepping (or just luck) or that you are insecure about your score (Stanford reps have said stuff about feeling insecure about your scores in the past), which probably has a negative influence.</p>
<p>I doubt they'll take old SAT scores, since the new SAT is (supposedly) a better indicator.</p>
<p>Check the Web site for what they do with "old" scores. At least during the first transitional year they were mixing scores from both versions of the test.</p>
<p>I have always felt that you can take the SAT as many times as you want and it isn't going to hurt you. I believe Xiggi, the Master of SAT Testing, feels the same. Practice makes perfect.</p>