<p>I'm applying to quite a few very selective schools (6-20% acceptance rates) and I wanted to make sure my stats look advantageous. My ACT is in the 99th percentile, which I'm really happy with! But, my highest SAT score is in the 96th percentile. Of course, I'm happy with both scores :) , but there's always room for criticism/improvement.</p>
<p>In case you're wondering, these scores were achieved in one setting, and each subject in each respective test is the highest I've made. So super-scoring does not offer any advantage to me.
Both my ACT and SAT show up on my transcript so Score Choice will not help me from hiding the SAT score.
I've considered retaking the SAT, but I'm sure I've tried my best when prepping last year (I've taken 5-6 practice exams from the official study guide). And my senior year course load is tough - 6 AP classes, with multiple leadership roles, ECs, and volunteer activities.</p>
<p>What are your insights? Will colleges just admire the high ACT score?</p>
<p>There are only a hand full of top schools that don’t accept score choice, but it only applies to the test you are sending. So if you submit the ACT, which I would, you don’t necessarily need to send in the SAT score, unless you are also submitting subject test scores, in which case you will need to send SAT scores if the school does not accept score choice. In your case, I don’t think it makes a whole lot of difference, since you scored very high on both the ACT and SAT.</p>
<p>^ no- you can still send subject test scores. In fact, there are many schools that will allow you to submit ACT scores (usually with writing) without subject test scores. However, many top schools will require 2 subject test scores if you submit the SAT instead of ACT.</p>
<p>@PsychoDad10, thanks for the advice. Most of my schools are either SAT or ACT. Subject Test scores can be sent separately. So that’ll be good for me since I’ll send the ACT and my Subject Test scores.</p>
<p>However, won’t the schools still see my SAT score since it’s printed on my high school transcript?</p>
<p>^well, if its on your transcript, then there is no hiding it. I would make sure with your GC if it actually is. I think that it is wrong for a school to put that on a transcript, but if that’s what it is, then you need to deal with that unfortunately.</p>
<p>There is no need to worry at all. Schools would look at the better score. There are hundreds of reason you did not perform well in a test, but there is only one reason you do well. That is all they count.</p>
<p>The only way an SAT or an ACT score gets on your transcript is if you self report it. The school doesnt have access. This is totally up to you. </p>
<p>Colleges dont pay much attention to that, or the self-report section of the app if there is one. They are looking for the official scores you sent (or not). </p>
<p>Students get stressed out about this issue but shouldnt. There is ALWAYS variation in test scores. Colleges know it. Unless you have some very unusual results you have no need to hide it (or explain it).</p>
<p>Actually, many high schools do report test scores on student transcripts. High schools have access to these results because students self report the HS CEEB when completing the identification information for the SAT or ACT. A score report is automatically sent to the self-reported high school. </p>
<p>Some universities will accept HS transcript reported scores and do not require an official report from the college board or ACT. That can save a student money. </p>
<p>I don’t think the OPs case is cause for any concern at all about the lower score being a detraction from the application. The scores are consistent enough that weight will be given to the higher one without any concern. </p>
<p>For students who have a true outlier score in their record, sometimes a school will remove scores from the transcript on request before sending to colleges.</p>