<p>I just got my scores back from the May SAT, and I have to say that I am a wee bit disappointed. </p>
<p>On the one hand, I did the best that I think I could have ever done on the Critical Reading and Math. Together they amounted to a 1390. Yay!</p>
<p>But on the other hand, the Writing, my all-time BEST subject (and I do mean that. On the practice tests I always had a 700+ and near-perfect to perfect essays, and I've been called one of the best writers in my whole school)...well, I'm just not sure what happened. I ended up with a 630 and a <em>cringes</em> 8 on my essay. I know a 630 isn't BAD...but it is for ME, you know? Because I SHOULD have done better, and I CAN do better.</p>
<p>So my question is this: How much emphasis to colleges like Northwestern, U. Chicago, and Cornell place on the SAT Writing? If they actually care, I'll retake the test, and probably do poorer on the CR and the Math, but get a 700 on the Writing. If they don't, I probably won't because, frankly, test anxiety absolutely DESTROYS me.</p>
<p>You'll never know how much emphasis is put on it. But if you're a great writer and will be called that, I would suggest retaking it especially if you're applying to competitive places like you are applying. Normally, colleges look at the highest--so it shouldn't matter if your CR/math go down. =]</p>
<p>Most colleges just use the writing section as a way for statistics. Since its new most big colleges say they won't place too much emphasis on it until the first class who had it graduates and they can see how well their grades on the writing coincided with their performance in school. Personally it doesn't feel like a real section cause I always feel like I'm writing about nothing on the essay and don't worry your not the only one with 8 on your essay. I got a 100 on my english regents then took the SAT and got 640 on the writing so I know where your coming from when you say you feel like a good writer. So my advice would be try to do better the next time you take it but definately don't stress over it.</p>
<p>I think it would be a good idea to call the admissions offices at Northwestern, University of Chicago and Cornell and find out. Please let us know what they say.</p>
<p>In our recent tour at Columbia, the admissions officer who did our talk said the Ivies were doing a study to see how to use the SAT writing scores. She said that they now just use the scores to validate the essays submitted with your applications,ie, did you really write your essays. The guy at Princeton said they look at everything you send them to make their admisssion choices.</p>
<p>a few weeks ago there was an article about how writing scores correlate most strongly with gpa in college, so perhaps writing will begin to be more important in admissions this year.</p>
<p>My d had the exact same dilemma. She took the SAT in March and couldn't be more pleased with the CR and M scores. Her W score was not low, but she was personally disappointed. Retake the SAT or not? Not all schools look at the writing, BUT some do. Her counselor told her that she really didn't need to retake it; her older brother told her she had nothing to lose other than time.</p>
<p>Anyway, she retook it in May. Yes CR and M scores went down somewhat, but her W score went up as did her overall score. She is glad she retook it.</p>
<p>March:<br>
CR 800<br>
M 770<br>
W 700<br>
Total: 2270</p>
<p>May:
CR 750
M 750
W800
Total: 2300</p>
<p>Superscore: 2370 </p>
<p>Anyway in my d's case, the retake was all good - even though she lost some CR and M points.</p>