I was quite satisfied with my SAT scores until I received my pathetically low essay score, which I bombed.
I’m currently applying to schools like NYU that don’t require essay, but if I send my SAT scores they would also see my essay score. I’ve looked around in the forums and people keep saying that essays don’t matter, but I really don’t want them taking the essay score into account and risk my chance of getting in.
Is it possible that colleges will ignore my essay score if I do better in my Reading and Writing section and CommonApp essay?
NYU does not care about the essay score since it isn’t required.
@dissolvedgirl I understand because I had the same thing happen with my child and the ACT. The reactions we got from school counselors was not to worry or retake the entire test because most schools don’t use it. Yes, it is on the report (same was what you describe above), but if they say they don’t require…well, I guess we have to have some faith in the process. On the otherhand, some schools require it…so again, that is where it gets hard. I believe from what I have read…most colleges are doing away with the writing or if they require it, I am just not sure how strongly it counts. Just my opinion. My child has decided to retake the ACT just to let you know. Good luck
One suggestion would be to look at the NYU Common Data Set. If you scroll thru the entire document, you’ll see it has a box that asks about that essay and how it’s used.
For instance School X may use it for Admissions, while School Y uses it for placement, and then there’s school Z that doesn’t use it for anything at all.
My D has the opposite problem, her SAT scores are low but she scored a 23 on the essay.
Thank you so much! I gave it some thought and I guess I’ll just go for it. I’m really committed to NYU so I’d like to submit ED.
Thanks for the help! Hope she does much better on her SAT next time. Maybe she could send both and they can superscore it.
@Mimi2018 I just checked it - apparently they use it “as a validity check on the application essay”. It makes me a bit nervous lol. At least I still have a 6 on writing, which means if I do well on my application essay it doesn’t contradict with my score. Hopefully they think reading and analysis don’t have to do with writing a commonapp essay.
Yea!! Good for you! You might regret it if you don’t apply early.
Seems to me that SAT essay is a big waste of a Saturday afternoon for most kids! Good luck and let us know how it goes!
I’m told by the college counselor that the essay part of the SAT are not strongly considered or even looked at by some. Our kid just got his acceptance notice from an Ivy school despite a bad essay score on the SAT. So if your SAT score is good, then I wouldn’t worry about the essay score.
@noanswers thank you so much, I really hope that’s the case for me.
If its not too private can i ask you exact essay score? i did pretty bad too(even in a one digit)