<p>If students apply to top-tier schools that require them to send either (1) all scores from the SAT I & II, (2) all scores from the ACT (w/writing), or (3) all scores from both, can they send just the ACT scores but report SAT II scores on the Common App? So, for example, if a student did slightly better on the ACT than on the SAT I--enough so that the ACT was in a slightly higher tier of results--but had top-tier SAT II tests the student wanted the admissions committees to see, could the student send the ACT, then report the SAT II tests on the Common App but not actually send them, since if the student sent them, the student would also have to send the SAT I test? Or would colleges see the reported SAT II scores on the Common App and ask the student to send official copies of those and any SAT I tests?</p>
<p>If they require all scores you need to send them all. In fact, the online tools wont give you an option…if you select that school they get everything. </p>
<p>No student should be concerned about this. Every student reports everything, and variations are common and expected. </p>
<p>Thanks, mitchklong. But there is an option, as I described–students can either send all SAT scores, all ACT scores, or all of everything. And the Common App does indeed make it possible for students to self-report whatever scores they want to. So a student could, theoretically, send schools all the ACT scores, but self-report just the SAT II scores (and not the SAT 1 scores) on the Common App without actually sending those scores (in order to avoid having to send the slightly lower SAT 1 scores).</p>
<p>You would still need an official score report for the scores to hold any amount of credibility.</p>
<p>I see what you are saying, but you should still send your scores. Schools use self-reports to expedite their processing, but they still expect you to be hones and follow their rules. </p>
<p>How bad are they ?? </p>
<p>Thanks, Ranza123 and mitchklong. Mitchklong, the scores are actually pretty good–of the 3 SAT 1 scores, the lowest is 740. But they’re not quite as high as the ACT composite. When you look at the Common Data Sets of some of the schools in question, the ACT ends up being at approximately the 75th percentile and higher of the schools’ admitted students, but the 3 SAT I scores only end up being around the 40th percentile (for the 740), around the 55th, and around the 73rd. That’s a worrisome enough difference. But the SAT II tests are very high, and not being able to send them would also be worrisome, especially since one is from a possible major, is an 800, and balances an AP score of 4 in the same subject. The AP scores are all good and can be reported on the Common App; 3 of them, including the 4, are from the same subjects as the SAT II tests–so that might be enough, even without the SAT II scores, and make it safer to just not send either the SAT I or the SAT II scores. But it would still be nice to be able to self-report the SAT II scores on the Common App but not send them, if that’s allowed (as per my original question). I’m just concerned that if they’re self-reported there, the schools may ask them to be sent, and the SAT I would have to be sent then too. (Just as an aside, I actually told an admissions rep from one of the schools in question the exact SAT I, SAT II, and ACT scores, and she said to just send the ACT scores, even though that would mean the admissions committee would never see the SAT II scores. But I’ve received different advice from the high school counselor….)</p>
<p>If you have around a 2250 for SAT 1, then that will certainly not hurt you in the application process even if you have sat scores. If you self report scores, colleges may ask for you to get them officially sent through collegeboard. I assume based on what you have given us that you have 35 ACT and that gap between your SAT and ACT scores are not enough to warrant just not sending your sat scores. I recommend that you just send all of your SAT scores to your desired schools (most likely ivies and equivalent based on those percentiles). </p>
<p>On a somewhat related note I also noticed that ACT scores tend to be in higher percentiles for accepted students compared to equivalent SAT scores. Like a 34 (which is around a 2250) puts you in the 75th percentile of the lower 4 ivies but a 2250 may not even break the 50th percentile.</p>
<p>Thanks, ooohcollege. That would be my inclination too if I hadn’t been told by the admissions rep to not send them. I’m hoping to ask another rep or two for their opinions before making a final decision. Your observation about the SAT/ACT percentiles is interesting–I’m not sure why that would be. I really wish more schools would just either require all of everything (which some do) or let applicants send either the SAT I or the ACT and optional SAT subject tests (which some also do). IMO, the worst policy is the one I’m dealing with, where you can either send all the tests from one agency (College Board) or all from the other (ACT) or all from both, because that puts people who didn’t do as well as they’d hoped on either the SAT I or SAT II’s but did do well on the other in a tricky position, having to guess which course of action will be less damaging to their application.</p>
<p>Note that some school would even block off the self report scores part during the downloading. Even if you self report it, it does not mean they will see it. We had that experience last year.</p>
<p>Yikes, billcsho–I had no idea that could happen! How did you find out, and is there anything applicants can do about it? Some schools specifically encourage you to self-report (but not send) your AP test scores, and I really want them to see those.</p>
<p>On the PDF post-submission, the self report scores were all blocked for one of the schools my D applied last year.</p>
<p>Very strange–there should be some way to see in advance (maybe print preview?) if that’s going to happen. After the application has been sent, I guess the only way to self-report those scores would be by letter or e-mail.</p>
<p>Obviously, if the school blocks whatever part on CommonApp in downloading, they don’t want to see it.</p>
<p>Yes, I guess that makes sense. I still wish the decision was clearer in cases like this!</p>
<p>The decision is clear. If the school requires you to report all scores then do so. If you don’t your admission could be rescinded. If they find out while you are in college you could be thrown out. If they find out after that your diploma could be rescinded. Is that all worth the risk because you THINK they will hold a 2250 against you? Really??</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad, you misunderstood the situation. In cases where the colleges require all scores of everything, all ACT, SAT I, and SAT II scores have been sent. In cases where the colleges let you send either the ACT or the SAT I, plus 2 SAT II scores, the choice–perfectly legal–is to send the ACT and 2 SAT II scores. However, in cases where the colleges say you must send either all the SAT I and SAT II scores or all the ACT scores or all of everything, the choice is tricky, for precisely the reasons I outlined above. If just the ACT is sent, they won’t see the SAT II tests, which would be a shame; if the ACT and the SAT II scores are sent, the SAT I scores (which are slightly lower, percentile-wise, than the ACT score) must be sent too. As I said, a rep from a top-tier school strongly advised sending just the ACT score, even though that would mean they would never see the SAT II scores, which are really good.</p>
<p>I would agree with what the rep said although it’s a tough call.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t agree. No school will hold a 2250 against a student, particularly with slightly higher ACT scores. This is just a non-issue.</p>
<p>I’m not sure where the 2250 came from–the total SAT I score is actually closer to 2300. Another point to possibly consider: There is variability in the ACT subscores–some subscores are lower and some are higher than the composite score. I’ve seen others on CC write about the same dilemma, and most responses–even one in the “Ask the Dean” section–suggest just going with the ACT score.</p>
<p>I must admit I find your question a bit confusing, but If I understand it correctly I would say technically you would have to send them all or just use the ACT or SAT scores. I interpret the “all scores from both” to mean that you cannot cherry pick from both categories. If you are using elements of the SAT and the ACT they are asking that you submit “all scores from both.” </p>