This fall as a junior, I took the SAT for the first time and scored 800 CR, 720 M, 800 W. My college counselor is insinuating that I might want to take them again, completely focusing any prep on Math, as well as all my energy and effort during the actual test. I have no confidence that I’ll do any better the next time around - I sat there for 3 hours, got 2 questions wrong (tough Math curve this fall) and I don’t really think I can expect to do better the next time.
His point is that a 1520 isn’t really that great when it comes to HYP - 720 Math is the bottom of Harvard’s middle 50 percent - and I see what he’s saying.
I would love to be the kind of person that just says, “My scores are good enough, they’ll be impressed with my first-time, single-sitting score, and I can move on with doing the other kinds of things that are interesting to me/make me interesting to Harvard admissions.” But I also don’t want to leave something undone that might help my application.
I’m planning on taking the Math 2 SAT II this spring - would an 800ish score there make up for the 720?
Any other thoughts on how to resolve this dilemma of not wanting to let the SAT rule my life vs. not wanting to pass up a chance to better my application? Thanks!
That is a tough call. I’m inclined to think that if you are otherwise a strong candidate, that score (which is still in the 99th percentile) is not going to be a deal breaker, particularly if you do well on Math 2. Does Harvard Superscore? If so, wouldn’t that lock in your 800s on CR and Writing so really all you need to do is focus on math. The November curve was particularly difficult. I saw this article on another thread and it explained why. https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/blog/2014/12/17/the-trouble-with-the-curve/ So even if you got two wrong on math again, it could be a higher score.
But I do think there is something to be said for putting the SAT behind you and focusing on other activities that would make you a more compelling candidate.
IMHO, as your SAT score is already ABOVE Harvard’s average for the class of 2018 – you’re done with the SAT. Instead, you should consider taking the AP CalcBC exam or the MATH 2 SAT Subject Test, as Harvard seems to place MORE emphasis on AP exams and SAT Subject tests than they do the actual SAT/ACT.
Thanks for that link. It’s things like this that make me hate the College Board. There’s such a negligible difference between getting 0, 1, or 2, questions wrong on a sitting of the SAT, and yet such a seemingly big difference between scores of 800, 750, or 720. In my dream world, an admissions counselor would see a 720 Math from November 2014 and say, “Oh, that was the test with the ridiculous curve.” Not gonna happen though.
I guess I’ll take the Math 2 this spring and then - in part based on my score - think about it over the summer. At this point, it’s not like I’m going to be devoting precious time to SAT prep that could otherwise be spent elsewhere. It’s just that I don’t want to sit through the test again, and I can’t help feeling like a one-time, single-sitting for the SAT looks kind of good to admissions counselors. If I take it again and don’t do any better, or maybe even do worse - a very distinct possibility - I wonder how that looks.
Thanks to you too, @gibby. We must have posted at the same time and I didn’t see yours until now. Seeing in black and white that Harvard values subject tests more than the SAT is extremely helpful. Just need to focus on the Math 2 (and my IB math exam) and then I won’t have to worry about this again.
@baltimoreguy No. Doing so could actually work to your detriment. Your scores are already fine–if you retake the SAT, not only might you do worse, but you run the risk of appearing excessively focused on scores. Top colleges want to see that you’re spending your time on real interests–not needlessly wasting another Saturday to boost your score a few points. Congratulations on doing just fine the first time around!
My son got one question wrong on math, and the curve at that time got him a 760. There was some pressure from classmates to retake it to get a 2400, but not from the GC. Math was his strong suit, and he got a simple (as he put it, a “count on your fingers”) question wrong. He did not make any mistakes in the other parts of the test. He subsequently went on to get 800s in Math 2 and Physics, to go with his 780 on U.S. history sophomore year (long story). He was relieved that he did a “one and done.”
He was accepted to his first choice school.
As @Planner mentions, it could work to your detriment to take it again. Two things: you could do worse, and the Adcoms might wonder if you’re a perfectionist. Finally, and my son was half kidding when he said it, but he said that Adcoms always like to mention that they rejected a 2400; well, they won’t have that satisfaction with his application
You counselor is dead wrong. Your reading and writing scored have no where to go but down, and there’s no guarantee that your math will go up, resulting in a giant waste of time. Also how many questions did you miss at math 4? Do you really think that Harvard will deny you admissions based on 4 questions? Spend your time bulking up your EC’s and writing a great essay. GL
Seriously? You’re only 80 points away from a perfect score. That’s amazing. In the end, your 2320 vs. 2380 or 2400 really won’t make a difference at all no matter what these crazy posts say. You’re fine, and you already scored so high so when they review your application they’ll be looking at things other than whether you decided to retake because you didn’t get a 2400.
Harvard doesn’t care. Other lower tier schools might as your increase in 80 can let them let in an athlete or a full pay legacy with lower scores and maintain their high averages. If ur gonna take it again just don’t spend too much time studying for it or stressing about it
