my ACT score vs. SAT score

<p>ACT </p>

<p>Composite: 33 </p>

<p>English: 32
Math: 36
Reading: 34
Science: 28
Essay: 10 </p>

<p>SAT: 1370/2130</p>

<p>CR: 680
M: 690
W: 760 12 essay </p>

<p>so my question is how will colleges look at my scores. i know my 33 ACT is better than my SAT score, but will colleges keep true to their word of taking the highest score or will they also consider my SAT score, which would make my application look less impressive?</p>

<p>Also, does a perfect 36 on ACT math make up for a decent 690 on SAT math? I'm a very strong math student but i always seem to choke on SAT math. </p>

<p>My SAT scores have already been submitted to my schools because I took the ACT after the SAT and also because I have to submit SAT IIs. I'm looking at top schools, but also 2nd tier schools as well. I'm not looking for "chances". I just want to know how my scores will be considered. </p>

<p>Penn, Cornell, Columbia, JHU, Lehigh, Georgetown, Villanova, Drexel, Penn State, and more. </p>

<p>What do you guys think??</p>

<p>A 34 on ACT reading is excellent. How did you manage to pull that off?</p>

<p>lol well i took timed practice tests and worked on reading through the passages quickly. i also got lucky in that the passages weren't too difficult to comprehend and of course i got a little lucky with the questions:) but that's besides the point. </p>

<p>any opinions about how my scores will be viewed??</p>

<p>Your ACT will more than make up our SAT score. You have strong chances of getting in.</p>

<p>I would think that the colleges would consider your ACT scores more, since it's better, that's how I always thought it worked.
Do u have to report the SAT's, or can you just report the ACT or something? If so I think u should just try to write down the ACT unless you can't, but I really doubt it's necessary.</p>

<p>i'm hoping that they only consider my ACT score. and yes I already have reported my SAT scores and SAT IIs before I took my ACT. so i'm not really sure if my SAT scores will bring down my application a little even if I have a high ACT score.</p>

<p>It really won't harm you.</p>

<p>yeah, you should be perfectly fine! Just submit your ACT's of course. They wouldn't look down on you...a 2130 on SATs isn't that much worse at all than 33 ACT (me-1960 SAT 1st time-2080 SAT 2nd time, 33 ACT. I'm glad I didn't submit my SATs to any of the schools I actually wanted to go to). Plus you received a 12 on your SAT essay. All your "deficiencies" make up for each other, just talking about scores you have a great chance at essentially any university</p>

<p>^see that's what i wish i did. not send my SAT scores, but i took them before the ACT never knowing that I would do so well on the ACT. however, i'm glad to hear that my SAT shouldn't have that much of an affect. </p>

<p>does anyone want to comment on my 36 math ACT score vs. my 690 M SAT score? does that look impressive even with the 690?</p>

<p>bump anyone?</p>

<p>You are fine with sending in both of your ACT and SAT scores. Don't worry about it. The schools will only look at your highest score, which is your ACT score.</p>

<p>that's definitely reassuring. thanks!</p>

<p>My d agonized about this same issue (and had much the same profile as you): ACT 33
English: 35
Math: 33
Reading: 33
Science: 33
Essay: 8</p>

<p>SAT 1420/2130 (680 M; 740 R; 710 W)</p>

<p>All schools she visited where she asked this question, indicated that even if all scores are submitted, they will only look at the highest - if it's the ACT, that's what they will use. I believe they "translate" the ACT score into a comparable SAT score - the 33 is equivalent to about a 2190 SAT. One of the schools she applied to (USC) confirmed they had done this conversion when it sent her an email asking her where she got her self-reported score of 2190 - we were puzzled as she had never said anywhere in her app that she had a 2190 - they then clarified that it was their own conversion of the ACT score (apologizing for the misunderstanding). </p>

<p>She applied to & got admitted to Lehigh; also USC; WUSTL (attending); and a few others. I do not think those scores are sufficient for Penn or Columbia (although she didn't apply to those). Cornell & JHU may be targets/reaches. That being said - if they say they consider the highest, it seems in my experience that they do.</p>

<p>^ that post was also reassuring. a 33 is actually at the top of Penn and Columbia's 50% score range, which leads me to believe that a 33 gives me a passing mark in standardized tests. but of course the scores aren't everything. thanks for the story. so i guess colleges really do convert the ACT to the SAT.. interesting.</p>