<p>So I took the SAT in May and got 770 CR, 780 M, and 800 W with 80 MC and 9 essay. I'm having trouble deciding whether to retake it or not. The imperfection in math is sort of painful to look at, and the 9 essay seems a tad low. And I heard having a 2370 is better than a 2350. So should I retake or not?</p>
<p>your scores are perfectly awesome.
dont need to retake</p>
<p>Agreed. Colleges are going to realize that you were perfectly capable of scoring a 2400 on a different day.</p>
<p>You've already made your point--the colleges don't care about that last couple of points. You're already in the 99+ percentile, and they know that getting a perfect score is more about luck of the questions when you're talking about the last few points.</p>
<p>I know what you mean about the math score. 780 can hurt when you're in AP Calc or above because you know that it was a simple error. I have had many a sleepless night due to that score, so I definitely feel your pain. I even retook it (to bring my 700 CR score up, more than anything else), and yet again, 780 in math. Double fail. Don't risk it. Keep your scores now.</p>
<p>Ah, my friend, amicw, who attempted to convince me not to retake ;) </p>
<p>I will now convince you to retake with me. Essentially, a 2350 says, "I can get a perfect score, but I didn't...please, please believe me!". Now for admissions, don't you think a perfect 2400 -- a score obtained by only 269 kids out of 1.5 million in the country -- is going to look a lot more impressive than our 2340 and 2350s, where over 1,000 people beat our asses to a sorry pulp? </p>
<p>Furthermore, that's just composite -- think of the ~15,000 kids who beat us at CR and math? Don't you think colleges are much more impressed with people who are quite literally at THE top of the heap, rather than near it? </p>
<p>If I were you, I would do some hard-core practicing to make you tough as nails for your retake so that you can get a 2400 -- or as close as you can to it. It's what I'm doing.</p>
<p>(please, people, don't flame me -- I do realize this is just a very sad excuse to retake the test. Truth of the matter is, I just want one, like a car collector wants the best cars. Sure, some lower models of Ferraris are still amazing and desired by the majority of the population, but there's nothin' like the best.)</p>
<p>You should retake it. You might do better next time. I still think a 2350 is very different from a 2400, no matter what people say.</p>
<p>Hannah...learn something about "standard error of measurement"</p>
<p>BTW: the probability of doing worse is much greater than the probability of doing better. Those are great scores, now focus on more important issues.</p>
<p>I happen to think like Ashraf Eassa. So, please respect my opinions and my way of thinking.</p>
<p>You know what I think? I think the "percentage who score lower" statistics are horribly skewed. This is because many, many people have very high scores in one subject and not as high in the others, thus they retake. Under the impression that they'll be superscored, they don't try on the sections that they did very well on before. </p>
<p>I think if one scored a 2300+ and he or she studied very diligently and practices such that he or she will not "go down", then I think the odds of scoring better are, well, much, much higher than those indicated on the score reports.</p>
<p>I personally wouldn't retake it.
Sure, it would be nice to get a 2400.</p>
<p>But I think that if you scored so highly before you were obviously prepared, and just a little mistake kept you from a perfect store. The chances of you making the a similar little mistake are seem so high, or getting a weird question, or even doing worse than before.</p>
<p>I guess my philosophy here is a mixture of pesimissim and optimisim. I doubt that you will make a substansial difference in your score...and I really don't think you need to in order to be a stellar applicant. </p>
<p>But whatever you choose, go for it with full force!</p>
<p>No...I hope you aren't serious.</p>
<p>Ashraf, no a 2400 does not look more impressive than a 2350...that's pretty obvious, as if you can even judge about a score in the first place.</p>
<p>Troll or arrogant, which?</p>
<p>I don't know why you automatically think that someone who posts a thread like this is trolling or arrogant. If I was in his position and knew I could improve I would definitely be a little apprehensive of what choice to make, and would surely see what other kids some of whom are in my same position(because this is CC) had to say.</p>
<p>Just so you all know: I know quite a few people who have scored in the lower 2300s who retook and got upper 2300 scores. I've never met anyone who retook one and recieved a lower score...no, it's usually 2310->2370 or something like that. </p>
<p>So, uh, if you think you can do better on math/reading, then do so.</p>
<p>wow you need mental help</p>
<p>I know there are people who do better,
but there are probably just as many people who do the same or worse.</p>
<p>At least that's what happens with people I've talked to who have taken it multiple times. But then again, with superscoring all you have to lose is precious time and money.</p>
<p>Personally, I would definitely NOT retake it. I wouldn't blame you if you did, because it's obviously tempting to try for 2400 now that you know how close you got. But for colleges, I don't think it'll make THAT much of a difference, if any.</p>
<p>Wait. How do you get 800 on the Writing with a 9 on the essay? I thought the essay was 30% of the writing grade. Something about that seems off.</p>
<p>Excuse me for this, but retaking a 2350 is a little silly. Even if you do want to go for the 2400, go about it with a more frayed and humble determination; the entire thread wreaks of ostentation.</p>
<p>If you got every writing question right, a 9 is the minimum for an 800 I believe. But who honestly cares an 800 is an 800. I say let it be....you can't make yourself a better applicant. You would just be wasting time that can be spent on something more productive and there is always the chance your scores will be worse the second time.</p>
<p>Retake a 2350? Is this a joke?</p>
<p>Spend your life doing something more important. If anything, it will hurt your chances because colleges will think you're obsessed and spend your time trying to be a perfectionist. They'll think "this student spent have spent those hours of studying to increase his already outstanding score, when he could have spent it MUCH more productively, doing something more significant in his life".</p>
<p>DON'T, and I mean DON'T retake it. What happens if your score goes down? You know that you're capable of a 2400. But what if you have a "bad" day again like you had this time? The likelihood of your score going down is much higher than the likelihood of it going up. Don't risk it. Colleges regard a 2350 at the same level as a 2400. It's just your paranoia that makes you think otherwise.</p>