High school or you send test scores

Test Preparation
1

<p>We just got a questionnaire from our guidance department giving us a choice of whether we want the guidance department to send all our scores, or if we would take care of sending our scores ourselves.</p>

<p>What are the pros/cons of either choice?</p>

<p>Also, whenever we register for a test, ie, ACT, SAT, SATII, we have sent the scores to four colleges, including our number one and two choice, then add a couple that we're interested in, want to get on their radar, may or may not apply. </p>

<p>Since we have done this as part of our registration, do the colleges already have our scores, good and bad, so might as well let the guidance department do it?</p>

<p>If you're applying for merit scholarships, is it better to take care of sending the scores yourself, so as not to miss any deadlines? </p>

<p>Thanks for any help with this!</p>

2

<p>If you sent to colleges as part of taking the tests then those colleges already have your test scores and in fact have already started an application file for you into which will go anything you send when you actually apply. </p>

<p>It sounds like what your high school is doing is simply giving you a choice as to whether to include scores on your transcript or not. Even if you say yes, that does not relieve you of the obligation to send official scores from the College Board, which most colleges require. So do not assume saying yes means you don’t have to personally order official scores sent when applying to any college or for scholarships. You still have to send official scores, which you are already doing by including colleges on your send list for each test. Your high school seems to be reacting to “score choice.” You can now order from the College Board just the scores you want sent to a college and not ones you do not want them to see. Your high school is simply allowing you to also close to door to colleges finding out about low scores by preventing them from being on your transcript. In your case, it is likely to make little difference now because you have already sent all your official scores to your main college choices.</p>

3

<p>I would advise you to not send any scores to colleges until you’ve completed the testing and you’re in the actual application process. Then direct CB to send only what you want to only where you want. The only down side is you’re out $36 when you don’t use the 4 free reports. I say this based on the experience of a co-worker that bad things can - and do happen (thankfully not often but they do happen). The fact that his S hadn’t had any results sent to colleges made the negative result moot.</p>

<p>(Don’t fill out the “interest” part of the form either - you’ll save hundreds of letters from arriving at your house.)</p>

4

<p>The first time we took the SAT, we did not send scores with registration. He got a 2100, so we sent them then. I guess we did have to pay for that, don’t remember, we were just giddy with the results. Of course, we got too cocky, and so automatically sent scores with each registration. And wouldn’t you know, his scores the next time were not as good. Not horrible, but not as good. </p>

<p>So I guess the colleges have the official scores, and from now on, if we think of another college we want to apply to that we haven’t sent scores to, we’ll ask College Board or ACT, I guess they’re different organizations, as to how to choose scores, so as not to mess that up. </p>

<p>I’m concerned because we will be competing for merit scholarships, and I would have preferred that the number one choice would have only seen that 2100. The next SAT was 2040, with a decrease on the writing from 730 to 660. However the CR remained the same, 690, and the math went up from 680 to 690. So that was a good thing.</p>

<p>Now, we’re faced with a similar dilemma for ACT. Son got the same composite, a 31, but went up in some areas, and down in others. So the college will see the good and bad for all subjects.</p>

<p>And then there’s the SAT II. Here’s where I’m panicking. Son took Chemistry after only one year of Honors Chem, because he will not be taking anymore chem. His score was a 630. Of course, the score I guess has been sent to his choices with registration, so that cat is out of the bag. I’m concerned that this “low” score will hurt his chance of admission into an engineering program, receiving a merit scholarship, but hopefully, not admission to the university itself. </p>

<p>If a college does not require SAT IIs, but you sent them as you do with all the other tests, I guess they’re now “in your file” and so they’re out there for them to see. Whether they factor them into your admission and scholarship criteria is what I’m wondering. Do they just “ignore” them if they don’t require them?</p>

<p>We’re wondering, though, if colleges will look at all the tests, take your top from each category, to make the score that they use for their admission and scholarship decisions, to put you in the “best light”.</p>

<p>Is that what they call “super score” or is “super score” something else?</p>

<p>Thank you for any insight anyone can give me. We are approaching senior year, and Mom here is getting really nervous.</p>

<p>And by the way, we’re not looking to get into one of those prestigious, ivy league schools. We just want to get son into an engineering program, which is competitive enough for us.</p>

5

<p>One thing would be helpful is what college are you talking about. For example, vast majority of private universities superscore your SAT scores (use highest subscores from multiple tests) meaning they wil use your 730 writing, 690 CR and 690 math, total 2110 both for admission and for determination of merit aid (in other words for those you did a good thing sending both). Others just use that test with highest composite so the 2100 will be relied on by those. </p>

<p>As to the ACT, most colleges use that one with highest composite and if composite is the same they may either look at both or use one with higher math or English score. Once again though, it won’t hurt chances sending both. Moreover, if you submit both ACT and SAT, they will use whichever one they think is higher for admission (unless you are applying to Rose Hulman which combines the two and takes highest subscores from the combination of tests).</p>

<p>As to chemistry SAT II, it is low for some, good for others, and unnecessary and not used by many (and they won’t use it if they say they don’t use SAT IIs including to determine merit aid)</p>

6

<p>Thanks, Drusba. I see you’re from Chicago, so you might be familiar with colleges we are looking at. We are definitely applying to Marquette. We are considering applying to Northwestern. Don’t know if we’ve sent scores or not. We are considering applying to Case Western. I think I’ve sent some scores there. Really at a loss at where else to apply. Son wants to study Biomedical Engineering and does not want to go to a big state school. He prefers a Catholic college. We may apply to Loyola Chicago, don’t think have sent scores, but doesn’t have major, but loves Chicago. Trying to talk him into applying to UIChicago, went to a summer program there last year. Will probably apply to UWashington and UMaryland. I know, they’re state, but have good programs for what he wants to study and in areas of the country that he likes as well. Will apply to some Southern schools, which he’ll only attend if he doesn’t get in anywhere else. Can’t think of anywhere else. Maybe Iowa and maybe Pitt. Just starting to look into those. Any recommendations, discouragements? Thanks for any help.</p>