<p>I recently got a 2330 on the January 2011 SAT: 800M, 770CR, 760W with a 10 on the essay.</p>
<p>Originally, I had promised myself not to retake after a 2300, but now my parents and I are both leaning on retaking after getting input from upperclassmen (I'm a sophomore) and family members.</p>
<p>Do you think it's worth to retake to up my chances for Ivies? I come from a very competitive school where 2370-2400 scorers are almost becoming commonplace... I'm just scared of scoring lower, or only scoring up to 20 points higher if I do retake.</p>
<p>I say retake it, but don’t study for the retake, you’ll probably improve naturally over-time by next year. Take it in May or June of junior year.</p>
<p>I’d focus more on other ways to set you apart from your peers–research, ECs and other things that YOU are passionate about. </p>
<p>A 2330 is very good, and yes, there is a considerable risk that your scores could DECLINE rather than increase, just due to careless errors or not having reviewed the particular math that is most commonly on the exam shortly before your retesting, etc. If you want honest input, I’d ask the GC/CC instead of peers because they have the most knowledge of what has happened to others at your school in your situation.</p>
<p>For those who get into ivies, it really seems the Us are looking for rounded kids with an exceptional demonstrated passion that sets them apart.</p>
<p>Thanks, meteman and HImom :D! I’ve actually been having the debate between both of your arguments in my head, actually.
Can anyone personally relate to a retake/notretake dilemma :O?</p>
<p>Our S was annoyed he didn’t get a perfect SAT (he also scored over 2300). He decided against the counselor’s advice to retake (as a JR/SR) and scored slightly lower in the retake. The counselor told him that the schools were much more interested in the ECs & other things that set him apart from other kids who would be applying than any retake.</p>
<p>Similarly, he took the GREs and LSATs recently (before graduating from college). He scored well (90-95%) but not perfect. He talked with the counselors and his profs and they all agreed that his recs would be more important than retaking it to get potentially higher scores. He’s decided to work awhile before he decides whether to go to grad school; his employer has a program to pay for grad school if it relates to his job & credentials. :)</p>
<p>a 2380 senior year is far less impressive than a 2330 sophomore year. They know you are incredibly smart and when you deal with those scores they are sometimes flukes. My sister got a 2360 her junior year and only got 2310 senior year. It is not worth the risk for me, just a little mistake can screw you over.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s any real reason to retake it. I got a 2350 (800W, 790CR, 760M) and although my math score bothers me slightly, it’s only because I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and everyone I’ve talked to has basically gotten annoyed at me for even suggesting retaking it, since there’s no real difference between a 2300 and a 2400. I agree with Raichu; the fact that you got such a high score as a sophomore is amazing; now spend your time working on other things, since retaking the SATs would be a waste of time.</p>
<p>No need to retake for admissions. But if you are in California, a 2400 would make you competitive for a Byrd Scholarship, assuming Congress does not defund the program.</p>
<p>It depends on which Ivies you’re looking at first-choice. I know Brown superscores and I think Harvard does to. I’m sure that Stanford ( I know that this is not really and Ivy, but Ivy caliber) and Yale do not. </p>
<p>Another way too look at it is that admissions people know that students from top high schools like yours invest a lot of time, money, and anxiety into getting a testing advantage. High scores in a single sitting indicate aptitude. Retaking high scores could look obsessive.</p>
<p>^^Stanford certainly does superscore. Yale too. Indeed, nearly every private college superscores bcos it is in THEIR best interest to do so. But the point for the OP is that his/her admission chances will not increase with a one/two extra correct bubbles.</p>
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<p>Nonsense. Only high scorers believe that, or wish to. :)</p>
<p>So, is the consensus that the OP should really take it again? Golly, my homeschooled son took it in December as a junior, scored a 2320 (800M, 790CR) and said he’s done, done, done. I was fine with that. I think he has a lot going for him other than his scores but…He did get a 78 on the writing portion of the PSAT, so his 730 was a little low and surprising but I just think he has other things to do with his time (like this past week, studying for the physics olympiad semi-finals and this week, studying for AIME, playing baseball, getting paid for playing violin in his band, etc.). He definitely could improve his writing score but I just don’t want to plunk down more money for the SAT. Maybe it will cost him not to retake and get a score in the high 700s or even 800 on the writing, but I support his decision to be done.</p>
<p>OTOH, given that the OP is a sophomore, maybe it is a good idea to retake since he has the time and comes from a competitive school.</p>
<p>Don’t retake it. You’ll look like you’re score-obsessed, which will actually hurt you. A 2300 is definitely good enough.</p>
<p>SAT really doesn’t matter very much once they’re convinced you’re qualified, anyway. Then the essays and ECs and other stuff become far more important than the numbers.</p>
<p>I remember when my son got his scores back and we were both very excited. Later that week, I was corresponding with a homeschooler who told me it was low and that lots of the uber competitve kids retake a 2320. Good thing my son moved on the day he got his score. :-)</p>