Multiple SAT scores

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>what colleges like Harvard supposedly tell you is that they only consider your higest SAT scores in your application.
But when collegeboard sends your test scores, all the tests you took from collegeboard go, so Harvard will see all your scores.</p>

<p>I am one of the people who did much better on the second attempt. (620R, 790M, 770W 1st time and 740R, 800M, 770W 2nd time). My "best score" is 2310. But since Harvard sees all my scores anyways, including my 1st SAT score, 2180, will my 2310 look worse than another's 2310 who didn't do as bad their first time or didn't take it multiple times?</p>

2

<p>not at all. They will see you have great potentials!</p>

3

<p>don't feel bad: I went from a 1280 (10th) to 2180 and then 2320. I have a much larger score difference.</p>

4

<p>I believe they look at your scores separately (for the SAT Is); I don't think they're going to look at your lower scores and condemn you. A 2310 is a great score composite score. Don't fret. </p>

<p>I think the principle behind why they say they will only consider your best scores, yet you will have to send all scores, results from when they eliminated "Score hold"ing. </p>

<p>Before, Collegeboard used "score choice" (or something along those lines), which allowed kids to withold certain scores from colleges. The problem with that was many people began missing deadlines, since they weren't sure when to send in scores; as a result, colleges and Collegeboard supported the elimination of the score choice system. Principally, the new policy where they look only at your best scores should put you at ease: Harvard, as well as other schools, understand scores will vary. You might have a bad day, or whatever, but that doesn't say anything about your intelligence (adcoms are merciful like that, I hope). They understand, in other words. Thus, you have the option of retaking tests to show your competence (although they say that they see most second-timers will get "diminishing returns"). And they'll look at your best scores. Anyway, that's my theory.</p>

<p>P.S. I doubt that your future/acceptance will depend on their decision to accept someone with the same score took it in one sitting, and you took it in two. That seems pretty illogical and trivial.</p>