<p>I know it really isn't bad, but Harvard is my top choice school and I'm wondering whether it's worth it to take the test again. I ideally wanted 2300+, and the 10 points short thing is bugging me, and I think any improvement will help with admission. </p>
<p>I've already taken the SAT twice; 800 CR, 770 M, 720 W are my best scores. I'm pretty sure I can improve writing. First time I did okay (68/80) on mult. choice and wrote a good essay (10/12); ended up getting a 710. The second time I did well on mult. choice (75/80), but didn't plan well for the essay and wrote a crappy, kind of off-topic one (8/12); I got a 720.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to take it one more time?</p>
<p>nah, dont retake it's fine. PLus your two highest scores are in the two that matter the most. Your old is 1570. THat's really good.</p>
<p>.............................OMG ****! I'd pay a million bucks for a 2290!</p>
<p>
[quote]
10 points short thing is bugging me
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ten points short of what? Harvard doesn't have any definite minimum score, and a 2290 is within the scope of 99+th percentile scores. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/SATPercentileRanksCompositeCR_M_W.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/SATPercentileRanksCompositeCR_M_W.pdf</a> </p>
<p>So what's the worry? What does the rest of your application look like? That might be more important than your SAT I score. If you are worried about retaking the SAT, stop worrying </p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4198038&postcount=1%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4198038&postcount=1</a> </p>
<p>but if you are worrying about putting together a strong application, spend a lot of time on your essays and devote yourself to a meaningful extracurricular activity that will add something to the college community you join. </p>
<p>Good luck. DARE TO BE YOURSELF. Don't worry too much about college.</p>
<p>Raising it ten points won't really help you in admissions. At this point, they know it's a matter of a few questions.</p>
<p>what is the problem of all of these people who think that good scores are bad..either they are extremely insecure or just plain stupid..i'm not really sure</p>
<p>tokenadult: It's ten points short of my goal. I wanted to get 2300 or over. Also, the other parts of my application are (in my opinion) pretty darn good--lots of ECs and community service, fair amount of leadership, great grades, etc.</p>
<p>sratman1011: If you actually read my post, the FIRST thing I say is, "I know it really isn't bad." I just wanted people to read the post and give an opinion on whether I should take the SAT again.</p>
<p>I wouldn't retake it. A 2290 is a competitive score for any elite college.</p>
<p>its fine...the 1570 is what matters</p>
<p>There are 2 reasons why I wouldn't bother to retake it:
1) colleges still focus more on the CR and M, which are your strongest scores and both well over 750
2) at that level you have a greater chance of lower than higher scores if you retest - the data the College Board sent with your scores should confirm that
3) the time involved in retaking would be better spent working on your essays or your courses - those senior year fall grades really count.</p>
<p>My son had a 2270 but it was lopsided - 680 CR, 800 M, 790 W. On practice tests his CR had been closer to 730. He retook to try to bring up the CR and all 3 scores actually went down.</p>
<p>If you do decide to retake, be sure to send the scores you have to your colleges first. Then if the new scores are lower you don't have to send them. I know they all say they superscore, but why risk lower scores and creating the possible intention that your first scores were a fluke.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p><em>3 reasons</em></p>
<p>I think everyone is flaming on you because you said "How bad is...," you should be optimistic, those scores are excellent. I'm still trying to improve my 2200 from March, but I still feel that it is a very good score, not something "bad."</p>
<p>I got a 2290 in March and I retook in June (at my mother's wishes, much to my own chagrin) because when I took it the first time I had the flu and I didn't get an 800M like I could have. I really regret having retaken, though, because if I end up doing worse then... I'm in trouble. And it's not unlikely that I'll do worse... breakdown of my scores was 760M, 760CR, 770W. But yeah. Don't retake. There's too much at stake, and your scores won't hurt you anywhere.</p>
<p>retake it until you get a 2400 or else you'll never get into Harvard</p>
<p>amiriteguys?</p>
<p>^ Agree! You'll NEVER get into HARVARD AT THIS RATE! </p>
<p>just kidding...</p>
<p>I understand people are flaming me for the title, but I wanted people to actually read it, so I posted a rather ridiculous title. I do think it is a good score, but I'm a perfectionist, so yeah, it does bug me. I can't help it.</p>
<p>Well even for a perfectionist, a 1570 composite is beyond perfection taking into consideration what the majority of our population scores. Honestly, your score is great, but move on. There are other more important things in life than worrying about a lousy 110 points. Good job anyways!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I really regret having retaken, though, because if I end up doing worse then... I'm in trouble.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's not what the colleges say. </p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=349391%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=349391</a> </p>
<p>If you did your retake just to get along with your parents, you might want to make a BRIEF mention of that in your application.</p>
<p>don't take the SAT more than 2 times.</p>
<p>The issue here isn't the retaking. A Harvard admission officer said just last month, in a big public meeting in the Twin Cities, "Take it ten times if you want to; it's not going to hurt you." </p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4198038&postcount=1%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4198038&postcount=1</a> </p>
<p>Lots of people may tell you otherwise, but I try to seek advice on an issue like that from the college admission officers themselves.</p>