<p>Just send both scores to any college–it’s nice to let them know you can repeat a 99th percentile score.</p>
<p>Here’s a tabulation of the percentages taking SAT only, ACT only, or both at the Ivies and other highly selective schools for the 2013 incoming class. The numbers are skewed toward the SAT in the northeast and west, with the midwest favoring the ACT (except U Chicago, which favors the SAT).</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, Caltech students are the most ardent test takers, with the highest percentage of students that take both. Dartmouth’s number of 0% taking both seems a bit odd; but I guess their students have better things to do… Dartmouth just rose a few notches in my opinion!</p>
<p>What conclusions can be taken from this? The percentage taking just the ACT at the Ivies ranges from a low of 10 to a high of 31. SAT still dominates, with the SAT outpacing the ACT by between 2:1 (Dartmouth) and 7:1 (Columbia). Does it matter? I don’t know. It will be interesting to see how the percentages compare for 2014.</p>
<p>Numbers shown are percentages of incoming freshmen in 2013 taking SAT only, ACT only, or both
School SAT, ACT, Both
Brown 62, 21, 17
Columbia 68, 10, 22
Cornell 61, 18, 21
Dartmouth 69, 31, 0
Harvard 62, 14, 24
Penn 60, 19, 21
Princeton 67, 14, 19
Yale 65, 16, 19
Stanford 61, 14, 25
MIT 60, 15, 25
Caltech 57, 12, 31
Duke 55, 21, 24
U. Chicago 49, 30, 21
WUSTL 39, 45, 16
Vandy 38, 56, 6 </p>
<p>I don’t see why both tests wouldn’t have the same weight. </p>
<p>The tests have the same weight the reason people take the SAT more is because preparing for the SAT also helps prepare for the PSAT (which is important to people due to scholarships) its killing two birds with the same stone</p>
<p>@mobius911 These numbers means nothing. It is mostly due to historical and geographical reasons.
<a href=“File:SAT-ACT-Preference-Map.svg - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAT-ACT-Preference-Map.svg</a>
Those schools on your list are mostly in the area that SAT is more popular (for historical reason). 86% of students go to a college within 500 miles from home. 53% are even within 100 miles.
<a href=“http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■/blog/going-the-distance/”>http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■/blog/going-the-distance/</a>
There is no preference between the two tests, however, the conversion chart may be different from school to school as they may have difference emphasis in section scores.</p>
<p>If I get a decent composite (33) but a terrible reading (29), will this be a significant weak point, or will it be overlooked because of my composite?</p>
<p>@Serendi I think you’re fine.</p>
<p>SAT and ACT are all harder in their own way, but there’s a common misconception that the SAT is harder simply because the questions are harder. OK, true, but the SAT in my opinion is way more generous with time than the ACT. My advice is, like others, to just take both and see which one you do better on.
P.S. In two years we’ll see how the new SAT format stacks up to the ACT, but honestly I don’t think it will make the SAT any easier or harder than it is now.</p>
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<p>In a NYT’s article from Aug 2013 titled “Where the SAT & ACT Dominate”, they list off the stats for Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Cornell comparing 2006-7 with 2011-12. </p>
<p>In terms of first time freshmen submissions, the SAT dropped 9% at Harvard, 11% at Yale, 7% at Princeton and 7% at Cornell. The ACT gained 14%, 14%, 18% and 16% respectively in the same time period. The ACT is up to 32% at Harvard with students who take both up to 22%. Basically, the ACT is growing. </p>
<p>Inland, where the ACT dominates vs. the coasts where the SAT dominates (according to the stats & the graphics in the article), the stats are striking. At Northwestern, where I would assume MANY students would die for admissions, they have 80% of their first time freshment students in 2011-12 taking the ACT. </p>
<p>This past year (2013), the ACT CRUSHED the SAT with just shy of 1.8 million ACT takers vs. 1.66 million students who wrote the SAT test. </p>
<p>I see the Ivy League having to just accept reality. </p>
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<p>Just curious where these stats are from? I’m not saying they’re not accurate, but just curious about the source. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance Mobius. </p>
<p>If a student took the SAT once and got 2300, does he need to take ACT? I’d say no. Why waste time and money. They both test below 10th grade stuff. Get it done and show that you know the stuff. Move on to your ECs, APs, and subject tests. Don’t take both unless it is apparently necessary, imo.</p>
<p>@hkkid2014, sorry for the late reply. The numbers came from collegenavigator.gov, a US government compilation of college stats. Not a bad site for this type of data, although one can certainly get the info elsewhere.</p>
<p>@mobius911 No problem at all. Thanks for the heads up. And appreciate the follow up as well. Cheers. </p>
<p>I’ve heard
ACT - Knowledge based
SAT - Reasoning based</p>
<p>I know someone who got into Harvard with a 36 ACT (and he did not show his SATs on his application either). They probably look at both tests equally. </p>
<p>Not at all, they are both equal in the decision process! </p>
<p>Hello All!
Question: I’m looking at websites of the colleges I’m researching and they say they accept SAT and two subject tests OR ACT w/ writing. But, do they accept ACT with subject test scores? Or must I do ACT w/ writing and subject test scores?
I wanna get standardized tests out of the way before senior year, but I’m still a bit unsure of which test I want to focus on when the school year begins. I’m leaning towards the ACT as I have heard that it is more knowledge based. Can someone confirm this for me?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance. </p>
<p>What schools? Usually it’s fairly clear based on the wording. For instance Princeton specifically states they want two SAT Subject Tests whether providing SAT I or ACT. <a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/standardized_testing/”>http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/standardized_testing/</a></p>
<p>@"Erin’s Dad" im looking at schools like HYPSM and of course also others. Im a rising junior so i’m just putting together a list of schools i’m interested in for now and these are at the top. H and Y both say SAT w/ subject tests OR ACT w/ writing. But will subject tests with ACT be okay? Or must it be subject tests with ACT along with writing?</p>
<p>Tha</p>
<p><a href=“First-Year Applicants | Harvard”>https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-requirements</a>
Harvard says SAT or ACT w/ Writing and Normally 2 SAT Subject tests. Normally means they will waive that for low income students who can’t afford to take them and have GCs unfamiliar with that requirement.</p>
<p><a href=“Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions;
Yale says Either SAT and SAT IIs OR ACT w/ writing. That’s clear. You don’t need to send subject tests, no penalty. However, if you DO send subject tests you need to send ALL your SAT data.</p>