<p>To all CCers out there, I really appreciate your input on a few puzzling questions.</p>
<p>Is it true that colleges only look at SAT's CR+M along with the GPA, ECs, etc.?
Here's the situation: I scored CR=800, M=800, W=650 with 9 Essay. Now, will the low writing score really hurt my top 20 college acceptance chances? Will it affect scholarship chances?
With such a low SAT-writing score, will it be wise for me to take the ACT w/o writing?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your input.</p>
<p>no, it’s not true that the writing section “doesn’t matter.” Whatever gave you that impression? But don’t worry, an 800 in both critical reading and mathematics looks fantastic and it’ll more than make up for the 650 writing. Anyway, your overall score is still a 2250-very high, even for some of the top 20 schools in the nation. The 650 writing won’t hurt scholarship chances as the sat based scholarships out there only require certain OVERALL scores. There’s not going to be a requirement that you get certain scores on each section to get the scholarship, ya dig? Anyway, you have good scores, but the SAT isn’t everything. There’re also many other factors you should worry about, such as overall gpa, rigor of courses taken, rigor of school, ap scores, the essay (imo this is very important as it sets you apart from the other applicants).</p>
<p>oh and I almost forgot, don’t bother with the ACT w/o writing. it’s unnecessary for someone with your sat scores imo</p>
<p>^the OP probably got that impression because it is the policy of some schools.</p>
<p>OP: it depends on the college. most schools consider it less than the other scores because it’s a new section and they don’t trust it yet. some schools don’t even consider it (which is annoying for me since writing was my best score…). it won’t kill your chances but it definitely could affect things, so if you have the time i would suggest studying for it a bit and retaking, just so it’s on par with your other amazing scores 
and if you’re curious about policy, it depends on the college so just look on their websites.</p>
<p>The reality is that the majority of colleges still don’t use the writing section for admission so for those it matters not. That includes some high ranks such as UChicago. However, majority of your high ranks are giving it consideration.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your help.</p>
<p>It depends on the college you want to apply to. For example, if you want to come to New York City, and apply to CUNY colleges, then they can care less about writing scores.</p>
<p>@aghaby
Sorry wrong post</p>
<p>It’s everything. Everything counts</p>
<p>I think if you’re a senior, you should just chill. But if you’re a junior there’s a good chance you could bump it up if you study.</p>
<p>I hate that many colleges/scholarship programs disregard writing scores, as mine is crazy high (and far better than my CR and M scores by a million!!!). It seems a bit discriminatory to those of us who are somewhat gifted at writing.</p>
<p>WHY?!?!?</p>
<p>Sorry for that bit of trolling.</p>
<p>I’m a junior. I’m planning to take the ACT in February. I’m not sure about SAT, though. I’ll possibly sign up for April SAT I and June for SAT IIs.</p>
<p>“It’s everything. Everything counts”</p>
<p>You’ll probably find that this is the belief of most Californians, because the California state schools give equal weight to all three sections. In the east, however, many – perhaps the majority – of colleges either use only the M and CR sections or consider the W section but don’t give it the full weight that they do to the CR and M scores. The SAT Writing section has yet to achieve near-universal acceptance and, IMO, never will. Except among a certain segment of the CC community that worships at the altar of the College Board.</p>
<p>^lol at the last sentence. It really does seem like some kids worship cb like a diety haha!</p>
<p>Jokes aside, I think your right that cr and math is accepted more since thats the way it used to be for decades.</p>
<p>Math and CR are weighted more by most schools, but by no means does that make writing irrelevant.
IE:
If you got 800M 800R and 700W
They’d be like…wow we got a perfect scorer on our hands (Even though you really didn’t)
but if you got an 800M 800R and 550W
They’d be like WOW…wait just a minute…?</p>
<p>PS: The reason why many great schools don’t put as much weight on Writing is that the overall structure of that section doesn’t really determine writing skills too effectively and it isn’t a great indicator of skill at all. When I was in 8th grade and still hadn’t even done my first research paper I got a 750 on it…so it isn’t even that big of a deal so colleges don’t regard it as such. It basically puts to use your “that sounds right” skills instead of “that is right” skills.</p>
<p>It depends on where you apply! In the NE, many of the schools could care less … If you have taken challenging English classes and done well/taken an English AP and scored well, that counts for significantly more than the writing section on the SAT…</p>