Retake 2210 (5th time)?

<p>Hi, so my score's breakdown is:
CR: 710
Math: 740
W: 760
Composite: 2210</p>

<p>Have taken this thing for 4 times, and am not very happy with it - wish I had studied more. Now I know that 2200+ is good for most school, but I am aiming at merit-based scholarships that use standardized scores. I am international, and in no way can I attend a US school without huge scholarship. </p>

<p>I am wondering if the schools that offer merit-based scholarship also have a benchmark, for example: you get 2200+, you're good - not much different if you score higher? Or do they award the highest scores? Because I honestly believe they give out the money to attract students with top scores to raise their ranking, so the higher the better...</p>

<p>Why take it so many times? Your 2200 is a solid score. Colleges don’t like it if you take the SAT so many times </p>

<p>just curious, what were your scores all the other times? those merit scholarships are hard to get i think and 2210 may not do it for the ones you want but there’s got to be <em>some</em> colleges that could make it affordable for you, it might just be your average states schools and not anywhere more prestigious.</p>

<p>My initial reaction is - your score is excellent, DON’T take it again! </p>

<p>And then I wonder: What is your score history?
What have done between sittings to improve your score? (self study, prep course, etc)
Have you taken the ACT and how many times and with what result? </p>

<p>I also assume you are a senior in your country and you are applying for fall 2014 admission? </p>

<p>Thanks for your input. @ lots2do: I graduated from high school last June and have been taking a gap year: currently I’m waiting tables in the morning and tutoring English in the evening. I got into a couple of schools in my country and one in Japan, but they all require me to choose a specific subject. The Japanese school gave me full tuition scholarship which was nice, but I feel relieved that I didn’t choose to attend because business/economics don’t hold a thing for me (I’m volunteering for a marketing event and I must say I want to do nothing). </p>

<p>I think of taking the SAT more because:

  • most schools use score choice
  • like I said, I can’t attend a school without lots of money. Those merit scholarships make me feel like the highest scores will stand the biggest chance, and I want to do all that I can.</p>

<p>@ omgmakemesmarter: I consider only “average states schools” so that’s not a problem. Money over prestige (one school doesn’t even report its rank on US News). I may try applying to one or two “need-blind” schools (aka Ivies) but they are totally a dream that I don’t bother much.</p>

<p>My score history is:
May 2012: 2010 (CR 640/M 710/W 660)
October 2012: 2070 (CR 650/M 740/W 680)
December 2013: 2170 (CR 710/M 700/W 760)
… and the January 2014 score: 2210 (CR 710/M 740/W 760)</p>

<p>It is pretty frustrating because the January score is what exactly my score would look like if I used score choice for the previous tests.</p>

<p>I mostly read novels (not much) and online newspapers between sittings. I only finished the blue book three days before the January 2014 test… Sometimes I hate myself for being so lazy (and I’m Asian).</p>

<p>I don’t do prep course because they are damn expensive.</p>

<p>No I have never taken the ACT.</p>

<p>I intend to apply in fall 2014. I’m also considering schools in other countries (and my own). I guess going to work at 5 in the morning for 0.5$/hour makes me much more realistic haha.</p>