Is there a preference colleges have for the SAT vs the ACT, and what would you recommend?

Test Preparation
1

I took a practice ACT and a practice SAT recently, the new SAT that is.

My scores were as follows:

ACT:

English: 33
Math: 30
Reading: 34
Science: 29

Overall: 32

SAT:

Reading and Writing: 730
Math: 670

Overall: 1400

So obviously I didn’t do too well on this SAT, but I figure I can improve my scores, right? I want to apply to competitive colleges, and I’m not sure if schools like Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, Tufts, UCLA/UC Berkeley, care about SAT vs ACT?

2

Schools don’t have a preference. Pick the one you are better at/feel more comfortable with.

3

I am aware of only college of any rank that states a preference, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a state college in the heart of California where the SAT has long been the dominate test. It states a preference for the ACT.

4

@drusba that is interesting! What do you think they prefer ACT, and I wonder if that’s still the case now that the SAT has been revised?

5

@drusba, I remember that from a couple of years ago but I no longer find it on their web site.

6

^That appears to be correct. Since June when I last saw it, Cal Poly has changed to new application pages for those applying in Fall and the preference statement is gone. I assume that results from the new SAT.