(repost) SAT score tearing me apart

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>** Sorry, I know that there's a better forum to put this under, but it wouldn't generate nearly as many responses... so I turn to you, 'High School Life'</p>

<p>To put it briefly, I took the Jan. 2012 SAT and, honestly, I didn't expect much.</p>

<p>Well, I get my scores and what d'you know, I got a 2290 on it (and what * me off the most about this was the fact that a -1 on this year's test was a -40 pt deduction; ONE damn question).</p>

<p>Now I was super-pleased with myself at the time for my score, but now as applications loom in the distance, I find myself regretting more and more ever day over not having retaken it much sooner.</p>

<p>The issue here is that now the only time I have to re-take the test is in November, without me being able to look at my score before having to send it in (because I'm applying early). Also, I'm a senior if that hasn't been made clear by now.</p>

<p>CC, tell me the BRUTAL and HONEST truth. Assuming I'm applying to top, competitive schools, and also in acknowledgment of the possible costs/benefits (mainly that I haven't studied since January) - should 1) I retake the test in November, 2) sometime before RD deadlines (and just using my 2290 for early), or 3) not at all?</p>

<p>Please! I'm desperate for some good, thoughtful advice! I know I don't really have a right to your advice, but all I can do is thank you for your help!</p>

<p>So, again, thanks .</p>

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<p>help please?</p>

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<p>there’s no context.</p>

<p>2290 is <em>not</em> bad, then again what are we talking about school-wise? and what honors, extracurriculars, etc ??</p>

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<p>2290 isn’t bad. Stop panicking. I’d be thrilled to get that.</p>

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<p>Lol, I was ecstatic when I learned that I got a 2290. Seriously, I don’t see why this is a bad thing. If you genuinely feel that you could have done better, then retake it. But, it is by no means necessary.</p>

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<p>You can get into any school with 2290 as long as everything else is up to par. Your acceptance will depend on all the OTHER factors. No need to worry about SAT at all! Look at stats acceptance threads on this site to reassure yourself and those reporting are only a very small fraction. If you are rejected from a school, even Ivies, it will not be because of your SAT score! Good luck!</p>

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<p>You may find this [url=&lt;a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/1356034-self-answer-should-i-retake.html]thread[/url”&gt;Self-Answer: Should I retake? - SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums]thread[/url</a>] helpful.</p>

<p>I would not retake. Scores above 2250 tend to vary from test to test simply by scoring curve. As you noted, one missed question can cost you 40 points. An uninspiring essay prompt can take some points away as well. </p>

<p>In any case, a 2290 is well into the 75th percentile for nearly every school. Retaking it would not reflect well on your confidence or allocation of time. Is it high enough for the top ten schools? Well, it won’t be the reason you are rejected. It is not a disqualifying factor. </p>

<p>I would spend November’s test date (since Oct is closed) taking SAT IIs or polishing your application. I wish you luck in whatever you decide!</p>

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<p>Thanks for all your replies!</p>

<p>Part of the reason I was considering re-taking seriously was because, as I stated, a 760M isn’t normal for me (800CR, 730WR - if this knowledge helps).</p>

<p>I believe that one or two of the schools I’m applying to superscore, and if that’s the case I’m sure that I can get my math to an 800 - pushing me to at least a 2330 overall. This, however, is a risk I might have to take with the possibility of doing worse on the other section.</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

<p>EDIT: @HarveyMuddLove - well, I’m asking from a solely score-based perspective… as in, if this score ALONE were to be considered, if it were something that would be a detriment to my application. Sorry for the confusion…</p>

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<p>Same here. I took the SAT in Jan 2012 and I got wrecked on the math section for missing two questions (-60 points). </p>

<p>But 2290 is stellar. Combine that with an all-round college app, and you’re a solid application for top-flight colleges. Look at the data. 2290 is easily above the 50th percentile for upper-echelon colleges. </p>

<p>Seriously. A 2290 is stellar. Work more on other parts of your application.</p>

<p>As one person put it, it’s not what you don’t achieve. It’s what you have achieved. Admissions officers won’t hold the fact you didn’t get a higher score against you when you have such a high score already. A 2290 is already an achievement in itself. An extra 40 points isn’t going to make the difference between your application and the thousand other 2200+ applicants to top-flight colleges. Now is the time to polish that college essay, or work on getting recommendations.</p>

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<p>No. Spend your time doing something productive.</p>

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<p>@Ice, Niquii, others: I also don’t understand the whole “use time for studying for other things that would improve your app” argument - not trying to be rude or anything, but I personally don’t see how it would be that time-consuming.</p>

<p>But I suppose worrying over another re-take wouldn’t do me much good either…</p>

<p>EDIT: any final thoughts on my superscore dilemma? tl;dr: pretty confident I could get 800M for superscore, but am also just as sure I might not do as well on the other sections.</p>

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<p>Ideally, one would be able to do everything to the furthest extent possible: score a 2400 the first time; have time to write great college essays; have time to interact with teachers so they know you well by the time they write recs; have time to volunteer; have time to search out scholarships, etc. </p>

<p>It doesn’t always work that way in the real world.</p>

<p>Let’s put it this way. People don’t generally get scholarships on the basis of their SAT scores alone. But people do get scholarships for things such as volunteering. </p>

<p>The current valedictorian at my school scored a 2290, just like you. </p>

<p>I scored higher than the valedictorian. </p>

<p>But who’s the one that’s won tens of thousands in scholarship money? Who’s the one who had a check for $10,000 delivered to her personally yesterday, along with a brand new MacBook Air (if I’m keeping track correctly, that’s the second MacBook she has won)? She has stellar community service; I don’t. I do have the higher SAT score. Doesn’t seem to have done me much good.</p>

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<p>Go for it if you don’t feel that a second go will take too much out your time. Go for it if you feel that you won’t be doing anything else worthwhile. </p>

<p>If I were you, I’d be doing something huge instead of sweating the SAT, like organizing huge community service projects (as did my valedictorian) or otherwise leaving a legacy at your school. One senior founded a huge and highly successful club at my school 3 years ago. It still exists today. He swears that he got into Duke because of the club he created.</p>

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<p>All that for volunteering?</p>

<p>She must’ve put in a lot of hours…</p>

<p>Ok, well - I’ll be satisfied for now. Hopefully, nothing will really come up to make me re-evaluate myself to such an extent again. As you can tell, I’m pretty insecure when it comes to these things.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help/input.</p>

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<p>How about this: Spend your time not obsessing over 40 points. </p>

<p>There’s a ceiling for the amount of influence SAT scores can have on an applicant. You’re clawing at it. Spend your time doing something else so you don’t come off as an obsessive kid who can’t get that 2370.</p>

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<p>It’s not hours; it’s logistics. She’s a really great community organizer and pretty much mobilized the entire school for this one cause. </p>

<p>That’s genius right there. Any individual can put a 1000 hours into something. Not everyone can mobilize an entire school into collectively supporting a noble cause.</p>

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<p>yeah being able to mobilize people is a rare talent.</p>