This is my first post, but I’ve been following the site for a few years.
D18 is trying to decide whether to take the SAT’s again in October. She took them last December without preparing and again in June, when she planned to prepare, but didn’t. She is considering taking them a third time, to try to raise her Reading/Writing score, and is thinking she will prepare this time (I know, that’s questionable), just for that portion. She will be applying to a mix of in-state publics and out of state privates and is hoping to receive merit aid at the privates that might put those schools in financial reach, as well as, increase her chances of acceptance at her reach schools.
Her scores:
December – 700 R/W, 670 Math
June – 680 R/W, 780 Math
ACT - 34.
She has not had her scores sent to any schools.
Her gpa is around 3.4 UW/4.2 W and her EC’s are very good, but not over the top, as some I see on this site. No “hooks” of any kind. The schools where she plans to apply (EA for all) are a mix of 3 pretty safe bets, we think (NC State, Ursinus and Dickinson) and 2 that are reaches (Richmond, UNC-CH).
IMO, she should focus her efforts and time, at this point, on her essays. But I would really like the input of others here, as well.
Why would she take SAT over with a 34 ACT? A 34 ACT converts to 1490-1530 SAT which is better than her SAT superscore of 1480. Unless you are applying to a school that requires writing (very few these days) the writing doesn’t matter and does not warrant a retake. She should focus on essay essay essay!
I would not even send the SAT scores, just the ACT. A 34 single sitting is very impressive!
If it were my kid, I would tell him to use the remainder of time to focus on essays. A 34 ACT is a great score that should put your daughter in the top quartile (or higher) at most if not all of those schools (you can check Common Data Sets to know for sure, if you haven’t already done that). Once you’re at that level, I suspect you’re in the running for merit scholarships at the schools that offer them. While some merit is based strictly on standardized test scores, GPA and / or class rank, it seems like most merit scholarships these days are awarded on the basis of factors that best come across in activity lists, resumes, essays and recommendations. So once you’re already in the ballpark for merit scholarships (and it sounds like your daughter probably is), my advice would be to focus on those other things. Good luck!
@suzyQ7, I think her thinking was that she didn’t want the 34 ACT to appear as an anomaly, since her GPA isn’t all that high.
@gclsports , thanks for the detailed info on how the scholarships may be awarded. I can use this to support my opinion.
I appreciate all the quick responses! You all are thinking along the same lines as I am, that she needs to spend her time focusing on the applications and all those essays.
@thumper1, maybe I’m not being very clear. She knows her ACT score is very good. She feels her GPA isn’t that strong. She’s thinking if she raises her SAT scores a bit, they would be more in line with her ACT, so her test scores would be more representative of her abilities than her GPA. She’s concerned that the ACT score might now look like a fluke if it’s her only very high score.
34 ACT is great and no further testing needed. Spend the time looking for other merit possibilities with that 34 ACT from schools that match her interests.
My DD has a 34 on the ACT and an UW GPA of under 3.5 but weighted at 4.765 due to all AP/IB classes
The schools that use GPA on a 4.0 scale were not in her best interest and the ones who took her true GPA are the ones that gave her more attention. We have begun to think that the schools that only look at GPA on a 4.0 scale are doing all the kids who take the advanced classes a disservice and don’t necessarily want the shining stars, they want the average.
The OP listed the application list in the first post. I’m not an adcom but I would wager that those three sure bets really ARE sure bets.
The reaches…well…they are reaches…but that 34 ACT doesn’t NEED a better SAT to bolster chances of admission. Just send the ACT score. Her weighted GPA is good and supports that she is taking a challenging courseload. That will matter too.
Honestly…I just don’t see what would be gained by retaking the SAT…but maybe I’m missing something.
@thumper1, thank you. I honestly didn’t know if retaking it would help her chances and I’m sure she doesn’t know, either. Hence, the question. I appreciate your thoughts.
The replies have been very helpful. I’ll show them to her and hopefully, she will decide to place her efforts on the applications, instead.
One other thing to consider is would it be useful to take Subject tests. I don’t think any of the schools you listed require subject tests but many or most students applying to UNC-CH will have subject tests to submit.
A better score isn’t going to help her at her reaches. What will help is the rest of the application, what teachers say about her, how she can present what on paper may seem like modest activities. Does she have AP test scores to show that she knows the material? I think it’s pretty hard to study for subject tests in the fall when the material is half forgotten.
@Dolemite, she did take the Math subject test a couple of years ago, I think. I’d have to find her score, but I don’t think it was very impressive. I’ll pass this along for UNC, though. That’s good to know that others may well be submitting them.
@mathmom, I’d also have to look up her AP scores. I’m not sure how strong they are, but that’s also a very good suggestion. Her activities are pretty good, actually. I think I’m just awed by how over the top some seem to be. She’s not in the stratosphere.
@AroundHere, yes, that’s exactly her plan. If, for some reason, she’s not accepted at NC State (her only true safety, due to COA), she will apply RD to some of the other state schools where we have no doubt she will be accepted.
If NC State is a true safety then you must be in-state so UNC-CH isn’t an uber reach. I’m not up on UNC-CH in-state admissions but do they try and balance based on Congressional District making some areas more competitive than others?
I can’t answer that question, about UNC-CH balancing admissions by county. Locally, that is pretty widely considered to be the case. But, we attended an information session 4 years ago with my son, and the rep said they do not adhere to any requirements to balance by district/county. Of course, that doesn’t mean they don’t do it, just that they aren’t required to. D attends a very competitive high school (so her class rank will actually be pretty low) and we are in a very competitive county, as well. Despite being in-state, many locals feel it’s a real reach.
Thank you all for your input! DD read your comments last night and has decided not to take the SAT again. She will focus her efforts on her applications.
