<p>I'm currently a junior who's aiming for top schools (HYPS). On the October test I got a 2260 - but I was aiming for a 2300+...</p>
<p>I know some of you guys are going to say WHY WOULD YOU RETAKE THAT?!
I also acknowledge that a 2260 is enough to get into top schools... but would it raise my chances any if I boosted it up? I checked out the Harvard 2011 thread at CC and it caused me to doubt if a 2260 is enough - most people scored JUST short of 2300 or over 2300. </p>
<p>Sincere advice appreciated - thanks in advance!</p>
<p>hum...if i were really aiming at HYPS, i would take it again lol and get as close to 2300 as possible. how did u do in the 1600 scale? i'd say that if u can crack 1520ish, then u'll be good. just my two cents.</p>
<p>Well, MY two cents is that you have better things to do than retake it.</p>
<p>For all the schools, once you're in the "zone," it comes down to other things. You're clearly in the zone, so why retake it just to stay in the zone?</p>
<p>Focus on your grades, your essays, and your ECs.</p>
<p>it depends on your M + V score. You should probably retake if you recieved like an 800 in Wr. But if your M V score is 1500+....then there's really no need to retake.</p>
<p>I had a 1480/2260 the second time I took the SAT. I felt that I could score much higher on the Math if studied. So I did a few practice tests. When I finally took it the third time, not only my math score go down, but so did my overall score (my superscore is higher now though).</p>
<p>I got a 2260 on October and am not retaking.</p>
<p>However, since you are a junior and therefore still have a year, I would only advise retaking if you are confident you can improve in one of your sections without much effort in studying.</p>
<p>I second what Foil said. Your score is outstanding. If your reading+math score is over, say, 1530, then most certainly not. If it's over 1500, then Foil's advice would apply.</p>
<p>If you feel like you messed up big time and could do better without putting in much effort, then do it. I messed up in math big time my first SAT. I knew I would do better next time, so I studied very little (really only the night before). My second SAT I came out with a perfect math score.</p>
<p>Really, once you get over that 2250 hump, it becomes a question of whether or not you want to put in the time for what could be a minimal effect.</p>
<p>If this is your first sitting and you feel that you don't have anything more productive to do with your time and you are pretty sure you can improve significantly, then go ahead and retake.</p>
<p>Retake it.
It's not about being 'in the zone' where chances are not affected by scores, because those who score in the 2300-2400 range do have significantly higher acceptances.
I think you should try the ACT too; I'd think that colleges look a little more kindly upon the ACT because they're less familiar with the scoring system. Like, if someone gets a 2000 SAT it seems worse than a 30 ACT...</p>
<p>If you think all sections of the SAT are created equal, you don't understand the SAT and its history. The admissions people at HYPS DO understand that. The SAT CR/verbal section was recentered in 1995. A 720 today is equivalent to a 660 back then. You think people in 1994 aiming for HYPS were happy with a 660 verbal score?</p>
<p>The math section wasn't recentered, but it was turned into more of an achievement test. In any case, 800Ms are a dime a dozen these days, and unless you are aiming for a math/science major, the math score isn't too relevant as long as it's in a good-acceptable range. </p>
<p>The writing section is a joke.</p>
<p>Choi, with those numbers, I would not retake. Those are good scores.</p>
<p>Choi, you're only a junior, and you have so much time, if you prep a little more, I'm pretty sure you can break 2350+ </p>
<p>I don't think it's about whether a 2260 is a good score or not; it's about whether you think YOU can do better. Because if you think you can, why not? A 2300+ (or even better, a 2350+) will raise your chances significantly. If you look at the score distribution for all seniors from one year, you'll notice that alot more people can get into the 2200s but very few in the 2300s, even fewer in the 2350+. (like a bell curve) So, with you being so close to the 2300s, and with so much time left, you should retake.</p>
<p>I agree. What the heck; just go for it! People on retake threads always make the comment that you'll waste four hours of your life where you could have done something else. I'm sure you've already spent 4 hours of your life contemplating whether or not to retake the test. Just register, do some practice the night before, and shoot for the moon! You have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain. Say it helps your app 5%. Are you willing to give up 5%?</p>