So, I’m a junior at a large Public High School and on the October SAT I got a 1520. This came as a wonderful surprise to me because I was consistently scoring around a 1420-1440 on my practice tests.
My Top 3 Schools are:
- MIT
- Harvard
- Georgia Tech
My question is will it look bad If I make no further attempts to increase my score? I’m afraid it will make it look like I don’t push myself and that I’m content with just good. I studied a ton though to get my score. Anyway thanks for reading and any and all help is appreciated.
What is your score breakdown? How is the rest of your application? Honestly, got MIT and Harvard, your scores can’t be too high. A second attempt does not look bad (although you’d hope not to score lower).
I got a 790 on Math and a 730 on English. I have also got an 800 on the Physics Subject test and a 720 on the Math 2 2 test. I know I’m definitely going to retake the Math Subject test. My GPA, class rigor, and extracurriculars are all good too which should help. I do agree though that my SAT could never be too high I’m just afraid it will be worse.
The thing that I wonder about: If you did a ton of studying for the SAT the first time, then while you might get away with slightly less, you probably will need to do some significant studying this time in order to do just as well as last time. You probably have a lot of other things that you need to be doing at this point – such as working on applications and keeping up in your classes.
That is kind of my thought. Also from what I’ve been reading as long as your SAT is at or above 50th percentile (a 1520 is 50th percentile) for MIT or Harvard then it starts to not matter. At that point they pretty much know you can handle the coarse work and then turn to your extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations to see who would be the most valuable student for them to have at their school. Thanks for the feedback 
As @intparent hinted, it’s not the total score. For MIT, that 730 is around the 25th percentile of admitted students.
What MIT said in the past is anything with a 7 in front of a score shows you can do the work. But that’s only a bare start (and before some top schools saw higher numbers with the New SAT.). While you’ll be reviewed as an individual, they select admits for strengths in the group comparison. And lots of kids are going to have great EBRW and Sat2’s.
The usual advice is to be at the top of the mid-50th. not at statistical average, not mid-way between the 25th and 75th.
If you retake the SAT (and I do think you should consider,) work on the EBRW, as well as prepping for the Math2. Both H and MIT allow Score Choice for the SAT. Haunt their web sites, really learn about this, ECs, and the etcetera, from their perspective.
You have time. You may also need to fine tune activities.
One should actually aim for getting the final test score by the end of junior year. There is no point to retake if that score matches your plateau practice score. However, if you think you can improve it significantly, not just 10 or 20 points, you should go for it to aim for merit aids.
My D got the same score, same break down on her first try junior year and didn’t retake. It worked out fine for her (accepted everywhere, including Harvard RD, 7 full rides). She would have done better with a retest and some studying, but preferred to work really hard on her essays, which I believe helped her stand out. Given how many essays she had to write (not to mention everything else she had going on - very tough schedule, ECs, jobs - both junior and senior years), she made the right choice not retesting.
I think your scores put you in the game, so if you don’t want to retake, I don’t think it’s necessary.
No it’s not. In the first place, neither reports 50th percentile; they report 25th and 75th. Secondly, you cannot just add CR+M percentiles together. The 790 is obviously fine. The 730 is in the ballpark, but it is only a bit over the 25th percentile.
These schools don’t require all scores, and even if they did, they look at the best ones. I would not use that as an excuse.
But to answer your question, will it look bad? No. If you’re comfortable with the scores and want to put your energy into other things that will help your application, by all means do so,
SATs are usually evaluated in context and not just by themselves. Do you have any hooks - urm, first gen, low income, what’s your major etc. I initially thought 1520 is fine but the posters so far have made good points here on taking it again. At any rate you have to take the Math 2 again, assume MIT will get a ton of 800s.
Thanks for all the responses. I know my SAT score isnt in the top 25th percentile but I’m not sure I could really get all that much higher. Also I’m taking 6 APs this year so I should probably focus on them. I did only get a 7/5/5 on my SAT so that could be a reason to take it maybe at the end of this school year.
A gentle hint: when you want MIT, Harvard, or any other tippy top, watch out for the mindset that, “but I’m not sure I could really get all that much higher.” Yes, you may make a straight decision based on other priorities, or be willing to take a chance based on other great colleges on your list, that you’d be happy to attend. But make these decisions carefully, don’t inadvertently self defeat. Tippy top colleges can look for drives, a sense of continuing effort.
In the end, make the best decision(s) for you. I’m not saying you have to retake. Just don’t trip yourself up. Think about this.
While you’re at it, make sure you know what these schools value in applicants.
Best wishes.
Adding. No, in general, kids with great scores don’t need to aim for perfect scores. I’m just responding now to the repeat that you don’t think you could do better. It’s your choice, but make the decision with confidence.