<p>If I'm looking to transfer as a junior, many have been saying that SATs have relatively low consideration. But to transfer to top schools (Penn, Columbia) would you guys suggest I do retake them and improve my scores - regardless of how unimportant it may be?</p>
<p>I think you should. You will most certainly do better. I took the SATs again back in March(as a Freshman in college) and scored 200 points better.</p>
<p>It only takes 5 hours anyways so why not? :P</p>
<p>Sorry, cpSCHICK, but preparing for an executing a five-hour standardized test takes a trifle longer than five hours. We cannot possibly give an adequate answer until we know your SAT I/SAT II scores. </p>
<p>In general, I would hesitate to encourage juniors to retake them, as you would be shifting your emphasis from your infinitely more important college GPA/transcript to something much less important. That said, a truly sub-par score would send up a red flag at the Ivy League, though again we don’t know how you did.</p>
<p>Some schools don’t accept test scores from tests taken during college. </p>
<p>What school are you transferring from? The quality of the school that you are coming from can help determine whether you should retake: if your school is a CC or is a relatively unknown public/private uni, you might want to retake a standardized test to reinforce your GPA.</p>
<p>I would be transferring from UNC Chapel Hill with around a 3.8GPA. My SAT was in the 1900 ball park range. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Retaking your SATs would place you at a tactical disadvantage insofar as you would be displacing emphasis from your college courses, which are far more important at this point in the application process. Your 1900 will be adequate.</p>
<p>You don’t need to retake. But if you feel like you can do better without adversely affecting your GPA, then I would do it. Keep in mind that the average SAT of Columbia is something around 2200 or higher. A 1900 is not a bad score, but displaying to the school that you can perform similarly to incoming freshmen would be helpful for making your case.</p>
<p>understood. thanks for all your input.</p>
<p>I was wondering this exact thing. Thanks guys.</p>
<p>Would this matter more as a Sophomore transfer? I ask because I plan on transferring after freshman year, but my HS ACT score is not at all impressive and was never advised to take the SATs. Would it be a good idea to try and get higher scores while in college?</p>
<p>Yes, it does matter more for sophomore transfers.</p>
<p>DoveyP… it really would be a good idea IF the colleges you are considering allow post-college scores. Some do, some don’t. Although I don’t like the emphasis on test scores, they are a fact of life. For soph transfer, they basically only have one term of college GPA to go on… so the SAT scores hold more weight.</p>