<p>As a practical matter, I would treat the Writing as equal to the others, particularly since it is the easiest to prepare for in a limited amount of time, IMO.
More than one admissions officer in the Northeast in info sessions told my daughter that they were plenty used to evaluating the Writing score from the days of the SATII. Many schools in the Northeast asked for the Writing test in particular.
One source of confusion may be the attitude toward the essay. Several admissions officers said that while they weighted the Writing section fully, they almost never bothered to read the essays.</p>
<p>Seconding marian's post. Obviously not every college professor can write well. What's the proverb about those who live in glass houses?</p>
<p>Certainly not every teacher or professor can write well. But that doesn't really matter. They've already been invited to the party. The prospective students still have to make the guest list.</p>
<p>Cheers, I wouldn't be surprised if person you're discussing can probably write us into the ground in his native language. </p>
<p>I have writing skill but am always caught short by my maths. </p>
<p>Have some humility. Ideally, we should all have it all, but we don't.</p>
<p>Why not cool it already. I stand by my comments in post #40. Lay off the gloves re: kelowna. </p>
<p>Everybody makes mistakes in a new environment. I sure have (bad memories flood my brain, ouch) </p>
<p>What was this post about in the first place? Let's get back to help the OP, IMHO.</p>
<p>So, before this thread got derailed, I thought I'd ask a relevant question. My friend got 800 math, 800 verbal, 670 writing and wants to retake it to get a better writing score. I personally suggested that this was unnecessary since she's gotten 1600 old scale, and a 2270 is still quite good, and she's unlikely to score 800 on both sections again(her PSAT score was 216, to put this into perspective). Was I correct in saying this, or should she do so? (Her dream school is University of Notre Dame, and her list includes schools such as Brown).</p>
<p>"So, before this thread got derailed, I thought I'd ask a relevant question. My friend got 800 math, 800 verbal, 670 writing and wants to retake it to get a better writing score. I personally suggested that this was unnecessary since she's gotten 1600 old scale, and a 2270 is still quite good, and she's unlikely to score 800 on both sections again(her PSAT score was 216, to put this into perspective). Was I correct in saying this, or should she do so? (Her dream school is University of Notre Dame, and her list includes schools such as Brown)."</p>
<p>TELL HER NOT TO RETAKE IT! NO!</p>
<p>If her dream school is Notre Dame, she now has a perfect SAT to submit to them. I have two cousins at Notre Dame... they are one of the schools that officially overlooks the Writing section of the SAT.</p>
<p>To the OP, carolyn has made the best suggestions. In general, writing scores are ignored if there is a brilliant essay. Hopefully, in your D's case, the low SAT scores will be accompanied by brilliant essays and ECs and grades. There are many schools which are not SAT driven.</p>
<p>To paying...that was my first post in this thread. Thanks for the scolding though. I do feel more humble.</p>
<p>I imagine that the future relevance of the SAT Writing score will rest with whether the USN&WR 2008 issue lists HYP on the 2400 scale or the 1600 scale.
No argument here as to which scale is "better".</p>
<p>I'm not sure that a brilliant essay offsets a low writing score, since essays can be edited by others. I've heard ad officers say that they like the writing sample as a check against such outside help. The latest common data set form even has a check-off box that colleges are now using, saying that they employ SAT writing "as a validity check on the college essay."</p>
<p>Hello there, if anyone could help me plz. I am a non american, non english speaking senior that wants to apply to an American college. My last SAT score was 1750(650-Math and the english part was both 550). Now I'm in a dilema. Should I take the SAT II rather then the SAT I again. I think that I could do better on the SAT I, but I do not know how important is the SAT II, and the thinh is that it is almost November, so that doesn't leave to much time for me. Anyone please help me out here.</p>
<p>A little thing I wrote wrong. What I ment to say was that I come from a non english speaking country, not that I do not speak english. That wouldn't make sense:D</p>
<p>The SAT II's are dependent upon which colleges you're looking at. Figure out where you want to go, then figure out what they require and act accordingly. ^_^</p>
<p>A lot of our kids take the SAT in seventh grade for the Johns Hopkins program. Maybe now they can take it in sixth, too. My daughter took it then because she was at the time interested in a summer program, but also because I thought it might be good for her to have an early "look see." But in hindsight, I think it was a mistake for lots of reasons, having nothing to do with how well or not well she did. But that's a different topic. I agree with corranged, it was entirely inappropriate to post a student's sixth grade score, especially in the context of it being compared to a high schooler's. corragned said it well.</p>
<p>I think a 670 in writing is quite solid. The only potential problem is the brilliant application essay. That could cause concern. Was the essay score high - 11 or 12 - and the loss in points due to grammar? That would be okay then. The applicant is eloquent and can produce a brilliant essay, just not meticulous with grammar.</p>
<p>kajtebolibriga:</p>
<p>The SAT I is far more important in the admissions process, so you should probably retake that. Some schools require SAT IIs, as HisGraceFillsme notes, you might have to take them in December or January. Have you looked into the ACT?</p>
<p>justbreathe</p>
<p>It would be a very bad idea to retake--scores are as likely to go down as up--more likely, I think. Your friend should put in time writing a good essay, writing good apps and having a good senior year. Re-testing sometimes makes sense--this is not one of those occasions, imo.</p>
<p>Notre Dame does not consider the writing portion. Therefore don't retake it.</p>
<p>I remember reading that a professor at MIT recently proved the Writing section of the SAT was easily coached, and that most schools did not consider a 25 minute test, on a subject one may know little of, in which factual errors are not counted against the writer, as a valid test to show writing ability.</p>
<p>My son got mid-500s on his Writing test. He also got, in 10th grade, a 5 on his AP History test, and in his junior year a 98 on his NY English Regents test, which has 4 essays. His college essay is powerful and compelling. Obviously, he needs more than 25 minutes to compose an effective essay - he did it in 40 minutes with the AP exam. So what?? Does that mean he is NOT a good writer? I don't think so.</p>
<p>And on the ACT he got a 29 English and a 8/12 on the essay, which is better than the SAT one. I think the test is not too indicative of writing ability.</p>
<p>For that person posting on behalf of his friend, if your friend is applying to other universities as well I don't see the hurt in retaking the SATs. After all, they superscore, don't they?</p>
<p>rstuben, not sure what schools your child is looking at but many more every day are looking at the writing, what was the breakdown of her three separate scores, if you care to share them? My S has only come across one school that does not consider the writing but increasingly they are Also an 1870 is a fine score, WELL ABOVE the median for seniors in this country so be proud!</p>
<p>For the parent of the 6th grader boasting about your genius child, that is great, perhaps you should consider starting a separate post (considering this one didn't ask for that info-notice none of us included our kids scores) and you can brag all you want abour your child who is in the 99.9% percentile even for a senior.</p>