<p>I hear so much conflicting advice. My D has taken them twice and gotten dismal scores both times. SAT counselor advices not to bother taking them again--she is a poor timed test taker. We agree; this isn't news to us. Now as she's filling out applications, someone suggests she take it again! First, it's not offered again til Dec, so that puts her way behind. Second, there is no reason to believe she would do any better.</p>
<p>Her grades are low B and she takes at least two honors or ap classes each year. Not a star academic, but not a slouch either. She gets Bs, a couple Cs, and last year, one D in chemistry. I think she's being reasonable in her selection: Assumption, Emmanuel, Simmons, Sacred Heart, Merrimack, Manhattan, and Fairfield U and Hofstra as reaches.</p>
<p>But what I really really want to know, is does anyone know how important the SATs really are?!!</p>
<p>Depends on where you apply. If your high school has several applicants (and even admits) to the schools your D is applying to, then SAT is second to GPA. If she is the first to apply to these schools, or first in seveal years, then SATs come first because it is hard to measure how different schools grade. SATs are a national measuring stick for a student's abilities. If you go to a school like mine which sends kids everywhere, then most colleges know how to read my GPA. If a college does not know how to read the GPA (does not know how hard As are to come by, grade inflation, scores required for grades, etc) then SAT is the best indicator.</p>
<p>They are important. Can she try the ACT. Sorry, I don't know when they are given next. Sometimes students do better on one test than the other. Also, you can research some SAT optional schools as possible options.</p>
<p>As long as your daughter scored in the mid-50th percentile ranges (which can be found on collegeboard.com) for the schools she is applying to, she should be okay</p>
<p>For most schools, unless stated otherwise, SATs/ACTs are very important. Sites such as <a href="http://www.collegedata.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegedata.com</a> or common data sets of schools will indicate how important the SAT/ACT is in their admisisons, if they consider them at all.</p>
<p>As far as your D, goes, I'd recommend she tried doing 3 or 4 practice sections (and if she can stand it, maybe even a full test) from Collegeboard's official test prep book, or something equivalent, after some more prep if she was willing to stomach it. If her scores on it were somewhat improved, it'd be good to retake. However, if she doesn't have the time/energy to do any preparation and really doesn't think her score would improve, it would make sense not to bother. Good luck!</p>
<p>try SAT optional schools. muhlenberg is one that comes to mind. just google "sat optional schools" there are some really good schools that dont require you to send... also look at providence college</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! She did take a 9 week long course and on the practice did very well, then bombed the actual. She then met with the tutor from the same SAT course school and had two sessions after which the tutor told me that my D knew it and there was no need for more sessions. She scored almost exactly the same on the next test. We thought about the ACT, but we're pretty skeptical about it, and we feel that the free Saturdays we have left before apps go out are better interviewing. </p>
<p>She's going to write a personal statement that will highlight her academic transcript and "explain" low SAT grades. (BTW, the same thing happened on her APUSHistory exam-- a solid b in the class but lousy on the test).</p>
<p>I looked at the list of schools that don't consider SATs, but they also seem to receive higher GPA students than my D.. </p>
<p>Is there a way to find the common data on every school? If I look at the CollegeBoard Handbook listings, she still falls lower than the 50 percentile.</p>
<p>Does she have any outstanding EC's that will make her stand out?</p>
<p>Also, will she be applying for financial aid? I know of a student in town who had a very low GPA and very low SAT scores and was accepted last year into schools that my D is freaking out about. After talking w/the parents, it turns out that they were not applying for any FA at all - so that might be a hook.</p>
<p>That actually raises another question I have. If, certain schools are blind to financial need, then does that mean that other schools admit using financial need as a factor? And, yes, she will be applying for financial aid, particularly since merit aid is not going to happen!</p>
<p>My D does have pretty good ECs--she's done ballet forever (though not a star, but she loves it), and she's a regular office ass't at Habitat for Humanity for almost 2 years. She is in Key Club for three years now. She also works at a retail store one day a week.</p>
<p>My understanding is that there are "need-blind" schools, where financial need plays no role in admissions at all, and "need-aware" schools, where financial need may play a role in deciding which of two (or more) similar students is admitted to the school.</p>
<p>My daughter is a truly terrible tester, as well. She becomes physically ill with anxiety and has to carry a barf bag to all tests. That said, she did very well on the ACT. THere's something about the flow of it and the presentation of it that worked well for her. The ACT scores were the equivalent of almost 400 points higher than the SAT. It might be worth the attempt.</p>
<p>You might be best off asking your questions in the Parents Forum. BTW, there is a thread somewhere on CC that links to the common data sets published by a large number of unviersities.</p>
<p>Generally need-aware schools don't advertise that fact. So check if the admission website says something like
"We have a need-blind admission policy". If it doesn't say that it is safe to assume that need play a role.</p>
<p>The number of schools that are 100% need-blind is small indeed, and largely limited to highly selective institutions w/ huge endowments. Not sure about the accuracy of the list, but it'll give the picture:</p>
<p>zoosermom--Did your D do much preparation for the ACT? I signed my D up for the test that is this Saturday, but she has not spent any time at all doing preparation. Mostly because she got an early acceptance to a school in Missouri and had planned on going there, until we visited last weekend and she decided it isn't a good fit. So we're back to the drawing board. The only problem with her taking the ACt this Saturday is that she'll miss an opportunity to go to an open house at a college she likes, and get in an interview at another in the same city.... I just don't know how to advise her!</p>