If I send out scores on the 22nd when the SAT scores come out, will colleges receive them on time?

I really don’t want to rush send them, so I’ve been waiting for them to come out that day to send them. But now I’m hearing that it takes a while for scores to get to colleges. If I send them on the 22nd, will colleges receive them on time? Thank you.

Good chance scores will be sent before end of year but it could be delayed till first week of Jan. Do the colleges to which you are applying say they accept the Dec SAT and Dec ACT? If so, they will accept scores that arrive after the early Jan application deadlines.

Some do, but some of other specifically stated they want they scores in by the deadline with the application. Should I rush send them for these schools?

Check the college first; many say they do not want rushed scores. Sending rush might get it there a little quicker than sending regular but it might not.

Also, how set is that rule for having scores in thier hands by the applicaiton deadline? If the college says it accepts Dec SAT and ACT tests then it must take scores that arrive after a Jan 1 application deadline because to claim otherwise means it does not necessarily accept the ACT – if you take the writing section, ACT sends no scores until the writing section is graded which for a number of test-takers can be a week to two weeks after the section scores are released, meaning some of the scores will not be sent, regardless of when one orders them, until after an early Jan deadline.

Where could I find that information about whether or not they want rushed scores? Can’t seem to find it on their standardized testing page.

NYU stated that they wanted the scores in with the application, so I sent my SAT to them today. Anyways, what I’m understanding from your reply is that if a college takes both SAT and ACT scores, it’s okay if my scores arrive late? So I won’t have to do rushed scoring?
Does the same apply for test optional schools?

Thank you so much btw. I was stressing over this so much today.

You should be able to find out whether the college is against rush scores by doing this search: sat act test, and then reviewing the hits that come up. Nevertheless, you are likely fine sending regular delivery. Consider the obvious: if the college accepts the December SAT, then why would it reject possibly thousands of applicants who order the scores sent as soon as they are released simply because the testing agency delivers them shortly after January 1? Colleges want to be able to admit as many qualified applicants as they can and they do not go out of their way to find technical reasons, like a short delay by the testing agency in sending scores, to reject applicants.

Sometimes the college says things that you need to figure out what they are really saying. NYU is an example. It accepts the Dec SAT and ACT for admission. NYU releases regular admission decisons in early April. For regular admission it requires a mid-year report with first semester, senior year grades, which most cannot even submit before mid-January at the earliest. It uses grades in the mid-year report for determining admission.

Now go here http://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/all-freshmen-applicants/standardized-tests.html and read what it says under “What if my test results won’t be available by the application deadline because of a delay or other reason?” It states it will consider scores received after the application deadline as long as they arrive before NYU makes an admission decision. That coupled with the requirement of a mid-year report tells you three things: (a) scores can arrive after January 1; (b) since it requires test scores to make an admission decision, it will not be making a decision to admit or deny until it receives them: and (c) since mid-year reports won’t arrive before mid-January it will definitely not be making final admission decisons before then. If you are still concerned, NYU. in that same section, gives you the option of emailing a screen shot of your scores by the application deadline and if you do that then, obviously, NYU will accept the official scores if they arrive after Jan 1.

You should also be aware of what happens with almost all colleges with early January regular admission application deadlines if your test scores do not arrive. Some time between late Jan and mid-Feb, they send you notice via email or letter that test scores (or other required materials) have not yet been received and that you need to get them in promptly if you still want to be considered for admission. In other words, you get a second chance to submit required materials including test scores. One of the reasons colleges do that is because they know that sometimes the applicant has actually sent the required materials but they have been lost (often by the college) and they do not want to reject applicants who may have actually complied witrh admission requirements but do not know that something went wrong.

As to test optional colleges, look to their decision release date. If it is March or early April, getting test scores to them by mid-Jan should be fine.

Ah thank you so much honestly I can’t thank you enough. You cleared up this process for me so much, thank you again!!