<p>I got my SAT scores today, and I'm a bit concerned. I got an 800 in math, a 750 in CR, and a 640 in writing. Will the writing score dramatically lower my chances at being accepted into Yale? I took the ACT a year and a half ago at the end of my sophomore year, and got a composite 34 (30 math, 36 science, 34 reading and English, 9 writing). I don't know why my writing score is so much lower. I've gotten 5's on both AP English tests, and generally good grades on essays. I'm ranked first in my class (4.0 unweighted 4.326 weighted). Can I still get into Yale?</p>
<p>Why don’t you just use your ACT score?</p>
<p>Chances are that you wouldn’t get into Yale even if you had a 700+ writing.</p>
<p>Why not retake? No one has a good chance at Yale without a hook. If anything is imperfect, try to correct it for your best (unfortunately still small) chance.</p>
<p>What’s a hook? Sorry if this is common knowledge; I rarely come on here.</p>
<ol>
<li> Don’t get your heart set on going to Yale. Everybody should be “concerned” about getting in.</li>
<li> Your scores are fine. Yale will look at them in the context of your whole application–including your essay which is going to tell them a lot about how you write too. Apply and see what happens.</li>
</ol>
<p>It’s not <em>set</em> on it. It’s my first choice, certainly, but there are other options that appeal to me nearly as much. The other options aren’t nearly as selective.</p>
<p>What’s wrong with the 34 ACT?</p>
<p>I had my SAT scores automatically sent to Yale, and I’m concerned that they’re going to look at that more than my ACT.</p>
<p>Don’t be concerned about that. Their computers work in a way that the highest scores are considered.</p>
<p>Cool. Would you still recommend retaking one or both tests? I only took the SAT in the first place for the National Merit competition.</p>
<p>OP – the writing section of the SAT is not given the same weight as M or CR. You picked the right one in which to score lower.</p>
<p>Your SAT scores are in a band that the adcom will note as “fine”. 1550 = fine. 1500 = fine. 1600 = fine. What’s really the difference between 98.5% and 99.5%? At that level, the adcom (any HYPSM adcom) doesn’t care –</p>
<p>[MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: “What’s the big deal about 40^2?”](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/standardized_test_requirements/whats_the_big_deal_about_402.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/standardized_test_requirements/whats_the_big_deal_about_402.shtml)</p>
<p>Per the link, it’s good enough to keep you in the running, and no score will get you in by itself. LOTS of 1600s are not accepted into HYPSM each year. Here is a salient portion: "Yes, scoring a 1600 is something that you, your school, your parents, and your guidance counselor can be very proud of. But it’s not something I’m going to bust out my highlighter for, circle in big red pen, make it the focus of your case. In fact, I don’t think I have ever in my summary of a student used high standardized scores as an argument to admit that student. "</p>