<p>I received a 35 Composite Score (E: 35 M: 36 R: 34 S: 35) but received a very poor essay score of 7. This dropped my combined English/Writing score to a 31. I want to apply to highly selective colleges and was wondering if this will adversely affect my chances</p>
<p>Look up the common data set of colleges that you’re interested in and see if they consider writing scores. Some colleges don’t use the essay to make admissions decisions at all, but others consider it. For example, if you look at page 7 of the common data sets for Cornell (<a href=“http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000554.pdf”>http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000554.pdf</a>) and Princeton (<a href=“http://registrar.princeton.edu/university_enrollment_sta/common_cds2013.pdf”>http://registrar.princeton.edu/university_enrollment_sta/common_cds2013.pdf</a>) you’ll see that Cornell doesn’t look at writing but Princeton does. </p>
<p>If the colleges do look the writing, how much do you think the low essay score will affect me?</p>
<p>I have the same situation… I seriously don’t want to retake it… 
What’s your major? </p>
<p>i got the same score! 35 composite and 7 essay.
do colleges consider what you’re majoring in when they look at it? </p>
<p>I’m a very STEM orientated person 
I think maybe computer science or engineering. I’m hoping this doesn’t set me back too far</p>
<p>@Inertmuse I am in the exact situation as you are!! I am thinking about computer science, engineering or just math… I don’t think this will influence our application that much… But still… no one understand college admissions… </p>