I recently got my SAT score back (790 Math, 760 Reading) but the essay score I got back wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be (17/24). I was wondering if it’s worth retaking the SAT primarily because of the essay score. I’m looking at a few top colleges like Brown, Cornell and Williams and some others like Rutgers and BU and I’m scared that the essay score might reflect poorly on me. My GPA and EC’s are ok, they aren’t the strongest so I kind of wanted my SAT scores overall to somewhat boost me a little bit. Oh and I’m a junior so yeet. Thanks!
I assume you are aware that the five colleges you mention do not require the optional writing section of the SAT so retaking for those colleges would be virtually pointless. Also, the 17 is not a bad score and I likely would not retake even if applying to a college that requires the writing section.
@drusba do you know how it works if the school doesn’t require the essay, but the student as in this case took it with the essay? The school still gets the whole score so they will see that essay score so doesn’t that present a problem?
No. They’ll focus on the 760/790. They can better assess writing skills from the essays.That’s part of the season so many colleges have dropped it. Particularly for the August test, where students registered for the essay in advance of the changes and were unable to change, I really don’t think colleges will hold it against them.
Agree. Lots of colleges don’t consider the essay score because of imperfections in that section. The only time it’s worth worrying about might be (might) if very low, with a less competitive CR, and your prospective major is reading/analysis intensive. But, you have a strong CR score.
But this question suggests you need to look more deeply into what those targets want from you, what they do need to see, more than stats.
No need to retake, congratulations on great scores. Brown and Williams allow self-reporting of test scores so A) save the money and don’t pay for scores to be sent until (and if) you matriculate and B) you wouldn’t even have to self-report the optional SAT essay score (although you should because it’s fine). The other 3 schools require scores to be sent directly from the testing agencies, so they will see the essay score, which again is a fine score. Lastly, Brown recommends 2 sat subject tests and Cornell Arts and Sciences requires 2, so you will need to take those, ideally may or june of junior year, if you haven’t already.
@drusba @skieurope @Mwfan1921 @lookingforward thank you all so much for your input! I don’t have any immediate plans to take the SAT again so I’ll still have some more time to think about it 