Hopefully Harvard, retake SAT?

<p>I'm a jr, took the SAT for the first time without prepping just to check it out and got a 2300. Reaching for Harvard. Should I retake it? I'd prep but still could do worse and many of these top schools get all the scores and promise to only consider the best but .... hmmm?</p>

<p>I would not bother. My daughter is a junior at Harvard. She only took the SAT once and took three SAT IIs (they required three back then) in a single sitting. She had better things to do with her Saturdays than retake tests when she scored well enough the first time. Her SAT was 2340, but I would think your 2300 is sufficient to show that you are capable. It will be other things that Harvard will use to choose between you and the other high scorers.</p>

<p>Retake it.</p>

<p>Your reasoning? I also got a 33 on the ACT - first pass. Maybe submitting them both, first passes, as a junior, is pretty good?</p>

<p>I would retake it since it’s your first time. However, as cltdad said, essays and commitment/leadership in extracurriculars matter far more for a place like Harvard than a few extra SAT points.</p>