I know I can do better at math, so I really want to take another test. (I do relatively well at math in school, all A’s, currently taking BC Calculus, 5 AP Calc AB last year, rank #1 in 2016 class). The thing is, I keep hearing that taking the test 3 times is bad, but I know I can do so much better on my math. I’ve taken over 30 practice tests, and I’ve hit 760+ on both my reading and math plenty of times. Should I retake? I have until June/next October. Thanks!
You should not take it again. Based on the brief stats you have given- you being the valedictorian- and in addition seeing that you have met the benchmark SAT score for the top-tier schools, it will be deemed as unnecessary for you to retake the SATs. In fact, taking it more than three times is highly unrecommended. As you will see posts on online websites through further research yourself, people do not recommend taking the test more than three times for certain reasons. Although it is known that many colleges do superscores, in ultimately, admission officers do look at all the scores, since they have access to them.
However, if your school statistics and extracurriculars are poor, then ‘perhaps’ it will not hurt to try again. Speaking of such, what are your stats in terms of extracurricular and academics? Which colleges do you want to apply?
5 AP’s Junior Year (Unweighted 4.0, cumulative GPA: 4.4)
NHS Treasurer
Varsity Tennis Co-Captain
Junior Science and Humanities Regional First Place 2014 ($2000 Scholarship)
Far East Band Alternate
Far East Jazz Alternate
Member of Tri-M Music Honor Society
Founder of Mu Alpha Theta chapter at our school and current President
President of Mathletics
Modeled United Nations Officer
Conducted research at a university in 2013 and once in 2014
The problem is, I am applying for the top schools (Harvard, UPenn, Stanford, Etc.), and I know my SAT score isn’t going to help with my applications. I have a lot of time to study, so I might consider taking it a fourth time, but four tries might backfire on me (but then a good score might help too).
If you are putting in the work then you can take it again. The superscore might get a little better which MAY make a difference at a top school. But there’s no real need to.
Thanks Erin’s Dad, I’m just concerned that taking 4 tests would look bad on my apps. I know people say that 3 is max, but I’ve heard of admissions officers saying that isn’t so either (let alone others saying 4 is okay ).
It’s not worth taking again; the possibility that you will do so much better than your other 3 times that it would make a difference is negligible. But the reality is that your scores are not good enough for HYPSM unless you have some other hook (URM, extraordinary honors or ECs), so you are really going to want to target some schools outside of Harvard Stanford and Penn. OP would be a reach even with a 2300 SAT composite (just as anyone is), so 2100 puts you even further down the ladder. You have to be realistic about your chances with those scores.
It’s not worth taking again. To go along with what spayurpets has said, there are plenty- and I mean PLENTY- of applicants who get rejected from the schools you’ve mentioned even with a perfect SAT score. However, there are also many people who get accepted, over the individuals who got perfect scores, with score ranges in the 2100s or even lower. SAT is not the key determinant in your acceptance to these schools. You have taken it three times, and considering that your scores were all relatively similar, the chance that you will actually dramatically improve is slim. Don’t concentrate too much on a single part of the admissions.
I think that some colleges frown upon people who take the test too many times because they look “one dimensional,” as one admission officer put it. If I just improve my math and reading, my score would be much better. Maybe it’ll outweigh the consequences…
Why not try the ACT? You have plenty of time to prep and your scores (especially math) might be higher.
Also, instead of retaking the SAT, focus on prepping for SAT subject tests. Best to have at least 2 or possibly three to submit. For sure take math 2 if you are a strong math student. But make sure to prep for them!
Unless four times would look bad at the schools I’m applying for, I would take it. There’s no clear consensus yet, so I don’t want to be too impetuous about this.
@foodwishes Are those the main schools your looking at? Many other top schools take score choice so it would allow you to retake the test and score better. My cousin got into wharton after taking the sat 3(2150,2190,2350). She made a huge jump on that last test and got in even though penn doesn’t take score choice. I would probably suggest taking an act practice test and see how well you do.
@Gatortristan Thanks. Those are the main schools I’m looking at, and I have safety schools in mind as well. Harvard would probably be first pick, and I do know that they do score choice. What months did your cousin take the SATs? I might take a little extra time to study, depending on how many months went by when she took her 2nd and 3rd tests (her 3rd score was really high!). I don’t plan on taking ACTs at all as the study time for preparing for a similar test would be too costly.
The reason I want to take a 4th test is because the margin for improvement is large in the math and reading sections. If the scores were more balanced out, then it would be a little harder to improve. But the room for improvement is there, which is why I really want to take a 4th one.
@foodwishes She took one in january, one in may, and i think the last one she took was either in june or august. She studied through a company service -applerouth tutoring- but it’s pretty expensive so at your point you should continue self studying. I can see where your coming from with you math improvement score, but if your #1 choice is harvard and you think you have a good shot if you take a fourth test than go for it. However if you want in at penn and stanford than you should be cautious about a fourth test.
^^ I agree with gatortristan. If you are convinced a 4th attempt will be worth it for you then perhaps it will pan out. But beware of the schools that do require a complete record of all tests taken. A high SAT score will be meaningless at those selective schools if your GPA and subject tests suffer as a result of too much focus on the SAT .
(but then a good score might help too).
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