I’m planning to apply to all the UC Schools (Minus Merced)
My #1 choice is UCLA, #2 Berkeley and #3 Davis.
I got 1860 on my SAT (690 M, 590 CR, 580 W) but I got 30 on my ACT. Assuming my SAT score doesn’t go up by a lot is it even worth it to even put my SAT score on my UC application or just my ACT Score.
It depends on the M+CR score.
@BrownParent Can you clarify what you mean by that?
Cannot advise you on the UC schools, did not apply but for the east coast LAC, I would not use SAT, look at the equivalency
Did you prep for any of them? Test scores from unprep single attempt do not tell if one is more suitable for you. But you are right that ACT30 is better than SAT1860. Anyway, you need higher score for better chance at these schools.
I actually prepped more for the SAT than I did for the ACT. But I prepped for both. I found the ACT math and ACT English to be much more straightforward (35 Math 32 English) But struggled on the Reading (Like I also did with the SAT) and also with the Science (27 on both) SAT I went 690 Math, 590 Critical Reading and 580 Writing. (I scored a 10 on the SAT Essay so maybe my ACT essay will also be good. Idk what I got on that yet)
Unless you really hate science and freak at graphs and tables, the science and reading are similar in both are reading comprehension. There are tricks for that so you can work on it. Did you take a class/ tutor or work alone? If you did not have help try paying for a few tutoring sessions for the ACT. There are cheaper online courses and some great books but not sure which try the testing forum for advice
35 math is great, 32 English can probably get to a 34 if you work, that is the most teachable
Just use your ACT score.
The problem with the Reading and Science is mostly just the very little time you get because I’m not the best at absorbing large amounts of information in such a short time frame. Time wasn’t at all an issue with Math or English because I’m really quick at Math and with the English you really only had to absorb a little bit of information on certain questions at the end of passages and I was pretty quick at being able to identify grammar problems/picking best usages. Reading and Science I feel like I have to rush and make careless mistakes as a result. So does anybody have any advice on how to speed the Science and Reading up without sacrificing accuracy. (And obviously I get more practice helps but I’m looking for something more specific. Like things I can do when I practice to speed things up)
@SaphireNY
Science isn’t my best subject but it isn’t my worst either.
English I usually get the “If this was the authors purpose does this passage accomplish it yes or no and why” questions wrong the most often along with a few others mixed in.
I took an SAT prep class that was offered at my school for about a month leading up to my test. The PSAT I took this year (Before I took the class) I scored a 179 on and the actual SAT I scored 1860 on. I’m not sure the prep class helped me a whole lot.
I took the SAT last Saturday and think I did about the same as I did in December. If I went up it wasn’t by a whole lot and If I went down it probably wasn’t by much.
I am signed up to take the ACT again April 18. I’m starting to study for it again. I haven’t really taken a prep class and I’m not sure a prep class will really help for my next ACT but I might consider it over the Summer. I plan to take the ACT and SAT one more time each in the fall.
I think the most best on each test I can realistically see myself doing in the fall next year would be
SAT
Math:730 (Get better at not messing up the misleading problems)
Critical Reading:630 (Be better at answering Passage based questions and also get faster)
Writing:620 (Be better at improving sentences questions)
Total:1980
ACT
Math:36 (Be perfect this time)
English:34 (Get better at the the accomplishing a purpose questions)
Science:29 (Get faster)
Reading:29 (Get faster)
Composite:32
I think the SAT score I got is low for UCLA and UC Berkeley. (Probably good enough for Davis though) and the ACT Score probably makes me competitive for all 3 of my top 3 choices. I’m going to apply to every UC with the exception of UC Merced anyways though. It’s just hard to determine what will look better. I’m leaning toward just sending ACT at this point.
It seems you really do better in ACT. Do some more preparation over the summer and retake it again if you really want to get into UCB or UCLA.
What Billscho didn’t outright state is this: you really want a much higher ACT than 30 if UCB and UCLA are your top choice schools…
^ I thought I did say that in some way. 
This may or may not work for you (and you can get the same advice from any number of hack type books) but read the first couple of sentences so you know the topic, then quickly look at the questions and answers so you know what they will be asking and then go back and read the story and answers will pop out at you. There is no real superscoring on the ACT so when you prepare DO NOT neglect the areas that are already good, otherwise your score will go down in those.
I always did the best on reading so you should not go by me. However, I took a class but I did not do much work for the ACT but it still helped, then I stopped because I had other priorities, then about 3-4 weeks before met with a professional for an hour once or twice a week to brush up, I think it helped in math (still my lowest but better and english and it forced me to practice science and reading)
I think your ACT score is already higher than your projected SAT so stop wasting your time with SATs unless they are absolutely required in the UC system (I have no idea). I would consider doing some SAT 2s if you are planning to apply to private colleges. Math 2 if you can do it and either english or history or a science if you can stand it. The goal is to get in the 700s to get a private equivalent to where you want to go
For UC system (or any Universities in the US), submit either ACT or SAT score is fine. Although UC does not require SAT2 score in general, it does help in some situation and OP may want to consider that. See the link below for official information:
What score should I want on the ACT for UCB or UCLA?
@billcsho
Yeah, it looks like the SAT II is mostly for STEM majors (Not what I want). It lists a few other majors but nothing that I want. I’m pretty sure I want to do something like Business/Economics.
No seriously, look at their admitted statistics at the 75%. Unless you have hooks but I thought the UC system did not care about hooks. Also look at the break down if they have one