My SAT Score a Fluke?

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>Ok so I am very lost right now. My dad signed me up and made me take the SAT as a sophomore,(Since then I have taken control of my scheduling, thank God) and I did simply put awful. </p>

<p>M:570 CR: 580 W:490 E:8 1630</p>

<p>But granted, I studied hard, took many practice tests and I think generally became much smarter and at the near end of my junior year took the SAT again.</p>

<p>M:800 CR:720 W:770 E:11 2290</p>

<p>I have taken Math 2 and U.S History and did well on them, but I wanted to take Physics and Lit this upcoming testing date. But here is the problem.</p>

<p>My guidance counselor is telling me that colleges will think my "shocking" rise in score is a fluke. She said she confirmed it with others in Guidance and she is recommending that I take the SAT again and not my subject tests. I am applying to UPenn ED so I do not have many more test dates. But I personally think what she is telling me is a load of bull. Will colleges really think that my increase in my SAT score was a fluke?</p>

<p>You don’t have to submit all of your SAT scores! Only suit the higher of the two, there’s no reason to submit the lower score or take the test again!</p>

<p>Just send a score report for the second SAT you took, and they’ll never know about the first!
Taking the SAT as a sophomore is rarely a good idea anyway and even if they were aware of it (which they won’t be if you don’t send it in, don’t worry), I’m pretty sure colleges would attribute your huge improvement to the fact that you took it junior year rather than anything else.
Definitely go for the subject tests instead, and only send a score report for the second SAT.
Great job by the way, that’s an excellent score!! (:</p>

<p>Actually, UPenn uses Highest Section Version 2, so you’re expected to submit all scores but the school claims to only consider highest sections. Most schools of UPenn’s caliber want to see all scores:</p>

<p><university x=""> has indicated that it considers your highest section
scores across all SAT test dates that you submit. Only your highest
section scores will be considered as part of the final admissions
decision. Each time you submit scores, <university x=""> will update your
record with any new high scores.
<university x=""> strongly encourages you to submit your scores each
time you take the SAT. Sending your scores each time you take the
SAT can benefit you by allowing <university x=""> to consider you for all
available enrollment-related opportunities.</university></university></university></university></p>

<p>

Maybe your GC wants you to get a better (than 2290) SAT scores to enchant your chance of admission at UPenn?
I don’t think more or better SAT Subject Test would improve your chance of admission at all. </p>

<p>UPenn 2011
Test Scores – 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 660 / 750
SAT Math: 690 / 780
SAT Writing: 670 / 770 </p>

<p>See [Penn</a> Admissions: Required Tests](<a href=“http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/testing.php]Penn”>http://www.admissionsug.upenn.edu/applying/testing.php)

</p>

<p>If anything, colleges would consider your low first scores a fluke, especially considering you were a sophomore. You can’t ‘accidentally’ score high on all sections of the SAT: that’s ridiculous. You have better things to spend your time on right now. Wasting effort re-studying for an SAT isn’t helpful or productive.</p>

<p>Some colleges even like it if you achieved your high score with as few tests as possible, and I don’t think many of them take sophomore year tests very seriously.</p>

<p>^ Yes, I totally agree with this.</p>

<p>Plus, you made an 800 on math which would be nearly impossible to guess on thanks to the non-multiple choice part of the test whereas you did the worst (although a 720 is still stellar) on the section with all multiple choice questions (CR)!</p>

<p>Congratulations, though. A 2290 is a superb score and I hope you get into wherever you want to!</p>