How much do schools care about SAT and ACT essays?

Parents Corner
1

<p>How important is the SAT or ACT essay grade?</p>

<p>D1's ACT scores (34 single sitting, 35 superscored) edge out her SAT (2240 single sitting). However, her SAT essay (12) topped her ACT essay (10). I say she should just send her ACT scores. She says she'd like schools to see that great SAT essay score. I argue that her application essays will show she can write well. I also like the idea of saving a teeny bit of money by not having to pay for SAT reports. </p>

<p>Thoughts? The most selective schools on her (subject to change) list are Tufts, Wesleyan, and Emory. Other privates include GWU, Muhlenberg, Macalester, and Rochester. Publics are UC, Pitt, UMCP and U Oregon.</p>

2

<p>My D had the same essay scores as yours and also did slightly better on the ACT then the SAT. She only sent out the ACT scores and did fine in the acceptance department. I highly doubt that not sending the SATs will matter.</p>

3

<p>Those grades will not hurt her chances at all.</p>

4

<p>I doubt that the essay score will matter, but I do think that it’s pretty rare to score a 12.
You could consider sending both scores to the most selective schools on her list, but just send the ACT to the one others.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think colleges care about essay scores unless they are lowish (like a 7 or below). Colleges really don’t know what to think about the value of the SAT/ACT essay score since many “good writers” aren’t able to write well in a very short time. </p>

<p>Plus, the scoring is rather subjective, done in teachers homes one right after another without much time spent on each one.</p>

<p>I think colleges are fine with your D’s scores. :)</p>

6

<p>As far as I know, Pitt doesn’t even look at the essay score (maybe if it is a borderline case) and superscores.</p>

7

<p>I don’t think most colleges care much about the essays. Since both the SAT and ACT composite scores are superb, why not just send both? Only at CC would someone think they should hide a 2240. My younger son only got a 9 on the essay and still got into Tufts, probably because his application essays were good.</p>

8

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<p>Hey, hey, hey, I’m just trying to save some money by not sending more reports that won’t add anything! Give me some credit here, huh?</p>

<p>;) :wink: ;)</p>

<p>Now some wiseacre is going to point out that it would be cheaper to send one SAT report instead of two ACT reports. :)</p>

9

<p>I was wondering about this too… </p>

<p>I have worse essay scores and I’m applying to even more selective schools…</p>

<p>I got 8’s on both SATs I took, although my overall score isn’t too bad.</p>

<p>(2300 highest single sitting and superscore)</p>

<p>I’m appyling to some ivies…</p>

<p>If the SAT essay counts, even a little bit, I think I’m screwed for top schools.:(</p>

10

<p>D got a 34 ACT with a 9 on the essay. She took the ACT three times and the SAT once and could never break the double digits. She is a rising sophomore at Stanford. Test scores aren’t everything, at least based on our family’s experience.</p>

11

<p>Great scores! Congratulations! Don’t worry about the writing score. Your D should get excellent merit aid.</p>

12

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<p>For many schools, you can get the precise answer by looking at the college’s Common Data Set. Just google the name of the school along with the phrase “common data set” or “institutional research,” then go to the section on “First-Time Freshman Admissions.” Wesleyan, for example, says it doesn’t use the ACT/SAT essay component at all. So for them, anyway, I’d just send the ACT. Great scores!</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/ir/cds/cds2008-09.pdf[/url]”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/ir/cds/cds2008-09.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;