question about SAT Essay

<p>RocketReview claims that adcoms look at your Essay from your SAT's and compare it to the essay for the admissions app. Is that true? Because I have never heard of that.</p>

<p>Some school I either considered or applied to explicitly stated on their web site that that's all the SAT writing was actually used for. It varies from school to school, and I doubt it's used often given the volume of applicants anywhere. But from my understanding, the way it's used is something like this: let's say your personal statement reads like a 19th-century classic...but your SAT writing is atrocious. This might raise some suspicions about having your mom (or your credit card) write that application essay.</p>

<p>This is pretty upsetting news. For me, there is a big difference between a 25 minute essay and one I spend days or weeks on. Does anyone know which schools use this policy?</p>

<p>Umm, most of the schools I am applying to use this. And I bet alot of other colleges use it as well. </p>

<p>Go into collegebaord, and go into the universtiy "webpage" in collegeboard. Then, under the SAT, Ap, Clep tab thing, you should see this:
"
SAT or ACT writing component will be used as follows:
For Admission
For Placement
For Advising
As a validity check on the application essay
"
I guess if the college has "As a validity check on the application essay" that means they want to see if you really wrote it.</p>

<p>And unless the difference is between Steinbeck and a 200 (essay 2) on your writing, I'm guess it's not a big problem.</p>

<p>Most colleges don't....a few do though.</p>

<p>
[quote]
For me, there is a big difference between a 25 minute essay and one I spend days or weeks on.

[/quote]

Yeah, certainly that's how it is for most people. Colleges hope you spend a little more time on your application essay anyway and they understand this. ;-)
Like kyobo said, they just want to make sure that the difference isn't too astounding.</p>

<p>I'm gonna check RIGHT NOW. this is frightening me.</p>

<p>This is bad news for me because I ran out of time on my essay.</p>

<p>I got 80/80 on the writing section but only an 8 on the essay. 2340 overall. The essay was basically my weak spot...I just didn't care. I was tired and it was the first part of the thing, I just wrote two paragraphs and made some stupid example up because I saw later in the instructions that you needed one. </p>

<p>My common app essay, I think, is very very well-written. Not the most revolutionary topic, but a really good read.</p>

<p>That's not good to hear. Not that they compare them to see if its valid- my essay is about a certain activity that I did that I list in my EC list, you couldn't just buy it off a website or have mom and dad write it.</p>

<p>But, it sucks because they will look at my SAT essay and take it into account when thinking about my writing skills. I am a lot better than the SAT essay reflects.</p>

<p>... oh dear. My essay was also the weakest part of my SAT, and because I had no idea how to write an "SAT essay", I rambled. My last SAT was also taken in 10th grade... and I'm pretty sure my writing's improved since then. Here's hoping they DON'T decide to do that, or at least look at my ACT essay instead.</p>

<p>insofar as I'm aware, the SAT essay is considered to a degree (like validity check), but since the writing section is so new, a lot of schools don't even know what to do with it. those who do have a policy probably don't weight it much.</p>

<p>so basically...relax.</p>

<p>admissions can be a lot more merciful than you think.</p>

<p>really? I thought schools don't look at the SAT writing.</p>

<p>More colleges are using it beginning this year for admission. I know UDel and UVa both say on their sites that they use the writing section for admission purposes, and when I went to admission information sessions at both schools, the adcom who spoke said they use the writing section for admission (SAT on the 2400 scale).</p>

<p>Whoa. I had no idea. But still, isn't using the SAT essay just stretching it a bit? Why can't we simply send in one of our research papers from like Honors Brit lit or something? This is why I'm all for an SAT optional program.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I thought schools don't look at the SAT writing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Plenty of schools do.</p>

<p>Why do people always say that colleges don't even glance at the Writing Section? I guess it is changing now.</p>