It's been asked and asked again..

<p>Do colleges, especially top-tier ones like the Ivy League, have any bias towards either the SAT or the ACT? If not, is it a better idea to turn in two good scores, rather than one great one and one weak one?</p>

<p>More details: I got a 2230 on the October 2013 SAT. It was my first try, I'm a junior, and I'm taking it again this January. I understand that 2230 is a pretty solid score (?) but I feel that I could do a bit better, or at least hope to superscore.</p>

<p>My parents, who aren't very knowledgeable about colleges, want me to get 2300+ solely because it is a "good" score. I think that if I spend this month cramming, I could brush that area. However, I was aiming to attempt to get a 36 on the ACT, but I haven't had any practice yet. I want to start seriously studying for it now and take it in March. </p>

<p>Would it be better to go for that 2300+ and get around 30ish for the ACT, or try for a ~2250, and a 34-36 on the ACT? I know that these scores are just a small factor of the admissions process, but to be honest, I'm not very knowledgeable about this and I don't know where to put my priorities right now.</p>

<p>I recommend closing all your study books and go out and get a life! Really, colleges want to recruit kids who are interesting, who have a passion for something besides academics. Make friends, have some fun, and do not take any more tests!</p>

<p>There is no preference for either score.</p>

<p>Getting good scores on both tests proves only that you take tests really well. One is enough.</p>

<p>Once you get past a certain threshold, you’re pretty much wasting your time trying to get a higher score. (I’m not saying what that score is, no one really knows, but it’s probably somewhere between the 50th and 75th percentile.) Other factors will decide your admission more than a test score beyond that.</p>

<p>If the only thing you have going for you is a great test score, you’re probably not going to be admitted, unless you have some other factor like URM or athletic status.</p>

<p>@powercropper: I don’t know where the mindset of “good score=no life” comes from. I have quite a lot of passions–nonacademic–that I indulge myself in, and a large group of friends that I have a lot of fun with (no, we don’t sit around and quiz each other on vocabulary. I know, shocking).</p>

<p>@MrMom62: Yes, I know that test scores are a very small part of admissions, but I want to do my best on them. Would sending both, if they turned out good, end up hurting me then? </p>

<p>And no, I have quite a few extracurriculars and decent grades so hopefully I’ll have more than just test scores up my sleeve.</p>

<p>Scoring well on both can in no way hurt you, it’s more just a waste of time.</p>

<p>If your SAT score is well balanced (i.e. No sub 700 scores). You may want to leave it alone and move on to other aspects of your application like SAT II’s.</p>

<p>Remember, some schools like Yale do not participate in Score Choice. Therefore, you need to report the results of all SAT and SAT Subject Tests or all ACT tests that you have taken. I think the fewer times you take it, the better - assuming you have an adequate initial score as you do.</p>

<p>Just echoing what MrMom said - all schools will accept either the ACT or SAT. I’ve only read of one school that professes a preference (a California school for the ACT!). Once your above a certain level increasing your score does nothing for you.</p>

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<p>I don’t think MrMom–or anybody–said that, exactly.</p>

<p>Your transcript probably matters more than any other single element of your application, but standardized test scores do matter a lot.</p>

<p>If you’ve never taken the ACT you might find you like it better and can score a 36. If so I guess that’s better but the SAT score you have now is equivalent to a 33 ACT.</p>

<p>I agree that you are already in the ballpark for the most selective schools but I guess where you plan to apply and what other stuff you need to do (Subject tests? APs? School?) will determine how much more time you should spend on test prep.</p>

<p>my suggestion (and as per my experience) is to take the ACT sometime next year after a few months of studying. It is somewhat similar to the SAT in that you probably will get above atleast a 30 but different in enough that you might find it easier and get better score than your 34/2250… remember that all schools only require one so just do both and whatever you kill you send in. and a 2230 is nothing to scoff at! It’s a great score!! congrats</p>