flat out: Will taking the SAT a second time harm me?

Test Preparation
1

<p>I got a 1990 which I realize isn't bad outside of this damn site. However, I want to sit it again to see if I can up my score a little. Is there any way possible that this could screw me out of any acceptances (usc, cal, ucla, ucsd, and ucsb)</p>

2

<p>If you improve your score substantially - no, it won't harm you, it can only help you.</p>

3

<p>I think all of those schools superscore (take the top score from each section, regardless of sitting), so no, I don't think it will harm you.</p>

4

<p>UC's dont use superscore. They pick best one sitting.</p>

5

<p>UCs don't, yeah. Only 2 schools I'm applying to (Hawaii PAcific and USC) take superscore. I went and asked my counselor today and he said even if I get a lower score, it won't hurt me.</p>

6

<p>do the ivies take the superscore? (Sorry for taking over OP :o)</p>

7

<p>no idea about Ivies but you should definitely take it agin.. aim for at least a 650 on each section and you will be good to go!!</p>

8

<p>im pretty sure all the ivies superscore. i emailed a couple of them about it, and they wrote back saying they took the best score of each section.</p>

9

<p>well, I had 640 (I believe the math was unusually hard), 680 reading, and 670 writing (only got an 8 on the essay which truly struck me because I thought it was a really good one)</p>

10

<p>Short answer to a short question:</p>

<p>Regardless of how schools look at your score, sitting the test a second time can't hurt you. Think about it. If you do better on both sections, you're helping yourself. If you do worse on both sections, you haven't hurt yourself, because colleges will only see your best score (regardless of whether they superscore or not). If you do better on one section and worse on others, and your overall score is lower than before, then you will help yourself at all schools that superscore. But you won't hurt yourself at schools that don't superscore; they will just disregard your second test. And obviously, if you do better on one section and worse on others, and your overall score is higher than before, then you will still help yourself out everywhere.</p>

<p>A lot of schools write your best scores on the front of your folder and may never even flip to your score report.</p>

11

<p>I should have written <em>all sections</em> instead of <em>both sections</em> above.</p>

12

<p>USC does superscore? good!
How about NYU and john hopkins?</p>