<p>I originally posted this over on the Dartmouth board, but my son emailed me yesterday and is now contemplating going ED at Brown, rather than Dartmouth. I think he shapes up pretty well (All A’s except for one B at an elite semester program away, pretty good EC’s including a sport in every season but one, captain of his primary sports team, lots of interesting travel experience, volunteer work). 5’s on the three AP’s he’s taken. National Merit. Understand, of course, that it’s a crapshoot.</p>
<p>On the SAT I, he scored 800 on both CR and W, and a 720 M. He’s a really good math student, and feels like another 800 (with some studying…something he didn’t bother with first time around) is achievable. His SAT II scores weren’t great. I think he scored 790 on History, but his Math 2 and Lit scores were closer to 700. </p>
<p>There’s only one more test date available for scores to be ready for the 11/1 ED deadline. Should he do the SAT I and go for the 2400 superscore, or should he get those SAT II scores up? </p>
<p>Also, Brown only requires 2 SAT II tests. Will submitting only 2 SAT II scores leave him at some sort of disadvantage? Thanks!</p>
<p>Ditto. Those scores are excellent. Since when is a 790 not great? That is an unbelievably good score. </p>
<p>When Brown says it looks at 2 SATs, that’s what it means. And your son has already taken 3, and scored at or above 700 on all of them. Honestly, he needs to spend his time doing something other than studying for and retaking these tests.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies…he knows he has some good scores, as do I. </p>
<p>Just to clarify, obviously the 790 on the History SAT II is great. He’s not wild about the other two SAT II scores (checked them…730 Math Level II, 700 Lit). I think his real focus is math, where he’s very strong, and would like to present a better math score (I believe the Mat Level II score is 70th percentile). So the question is which test he should take on the early October test date: SAT I or SAT II, with a focus on putting up a good math score. </p>
<p>In terms of doing something besides studying…the kid hasn’t done a stitch of prep for any of these tests. The prep books were never opened. So there’s no risk of him putting too much into college test prep!</p>
<p>Agree with the replies. Those grades and scores are solid.</p>
<p>Whatever top school your son applies to, (Brown, Dartmouth, …), just make sure he doesn’t fall in love with any of them. There are too many variables in the decision process that are out of his control.</p>