<p>I've taken the SAT and ACT both one time (unless you count middle school). I'm a rising senior, so I'll only have time to retake them once. However, I'm not really sure if I need to or not. I got an above-2300 SAT score (800 on writing) and a comparable ACT score. On my SAT essay I got a 9 and on the ACT, an 8, scores that don't really seem great in view of my overall scores. In AP English Lang this past year I did very well, and my teacher really liked my writing, but for some reason the SAT and ACT essays just didn't go well for me. My intended major is chemical engineering, so do my essay scores really matter all that much in light of this? I am applying to top schools like Stanford and MIT, but will this affect my chances of getting in to a significant degree? Should I retake?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, I have heard that at some schools the admissions people check your standardized test essays and compare them with your application essays to see if you really wrote them. Is this true? Should I be worried?</p>