<p>As a transfer student, are you actually supposed to retake the SATs or do they only just want you to report the ones you took while in high school?</p>
<p>I had poor SAT scores (1490...but if you combined the best scores from all three tests, then it'd be 1580). Would it be in my best interest to take the ACT, or just not even worry about the testing and instead focus on other aspects of my application?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t know about Rice specifically but I’ve never heard of a school wanting you to retake the SAT’s for transferring.</p>
<p>1490/1600 isn’t poor, unless you’re talking about out of 2400… then that 1490 is about average for all test-takers in the nation, I believe (I think the average is around 500 on each section, 500*3 = 1500…)</p>
<p>As a general rule of thumb, SAT’s are supposed to predict college performance, whereas college performance itself is much more important when applying (what’s more important - a prediction or what actually happens?) I transferred to Vanderbilt and on two of my SAT subscores (Writing and Critical Reading), I was at the 25% or below for incoming freshman that year. I don’t think your SAT scores will hold you back that much as a transfer unless you totally bombed it.</p>
<p>Well, to me, a 1490 (or 1580 combined) is totally bombing it. I mean there’s nothing I can really do about it, but still it’s there. I’d really like to transfer to Rice and even Vandy after my freshman year, but that’ll mean I’ll have to have an incredibly high GPA and other extracurriculars, along with good recs.</p>
<p>That being the case, I know they’ll look heavily at my high school career because they only have one year of college to look on, but then again, they may see the drastic improvement in a new light. I don’t know mate, only God can forsee this one.</p>
<p>But you’re right about the prediction. It doesn’t define anything if I don’t want it to. It’s just that, a prediction, not an actuality.</p>
<p>Well I transferred to Vandy after one year and two my SAT subsections were at the 25% of the entering freshman class or lower… I don’t think that SAT’s are that important either way if you have a strong college record… </p>
<p>I don’t think they’ll look at scores you took after you started college, honestly. So your best bet is to just work on the rest of your application - keeping your grades up - showing genuine interest so as to get a couple of good college recs (Common App asks for two, I believe). I don’t know how important EC’s are in the transfer process, but I hear the reason why you transfer/your essay is one of the more important aspects of a transfer application.</p>
<p>Well, I’m transferring to Rice this summer, and I think that if you scored 1490/2400 you should definitely retake it. Several people in the admission office said that your SAT score for a transfer was just as important as a freshman applicant. Sometimes you get contradictory answers from people on many of these questions, but all people I asked agreed that it was just as important for a transfer. When I asked some of them what my chances were for transferring, the first thing they asked me for was my SAT score. Although, it would make sense that it would be a little less important because you have a college track record. I scored 1690 on the SAT when I was a junior in high school, and I just assumed that I would have to retake it to be admitted. 2100 is the average score for a Rice student. Also, they’re suppose to only look at your highest score; so a low score in your high school years won’t hurt that bad. Anyway, I’ve been through the process; if you need any advice or help, just ask.</p>
<p>Op - is it 1490/2400 or 1490/1600???</p>
<p>Hmm, I just thought that the idea of taking the SAT outside of high school would be weird, but if it’s truly in my best interest to retake it then I guess I’ll do it. Howeve,r I will still try to polish the rest of my application. My only worry is that I have such bad test anxiety; I do HORRIBLE on any test that’s timed.</p>
<p>And to Antarius, it was a 1490 (or 1580) out of 2400.</p>
<p>1490/2400 or 1580/2400? those are very different scores? or did you take it twice? and 1580 is superscored?</p>
<p>Yes 1500/2400 is wayyy below Rice par. like the chances of getting in with that are close to zero, so you should retake it</p>
<p>The OP said the 1580 is superscored. To be completely honest with you, you’d almost have to be Jesus to get in with those scores. A 1490 on two sections is close to average for Rice, let alone out of all three seconds. However, you have serious room for improvement. I’d say you should retake even if you are a transfer student. And - I know this probably sounds calloused - but almost all tests are given some sort of time limit, so that’s an obstacle worth getting over.</p>
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<p>Rice isnt religiously affiliated. so Jesus would get rejected like everyone else. :D</p>
<p>As much as I hate to say this but you don’t have much of a chance. applicannot and Antarius are right. Even if it is 1580/2400, your chances are near nothing. You really should try to study and improve it.</p>
<p>I’ll consider retaking it. And as far as timed tests go, I will have to learn to get over that. I honestly just don’t know how a the moment. But like it was said, there’d be serious room for improvement so, I have a year and a half to get this weird inability to take timed tests out of my system.</p>
<p>I laughed at the “you’d have to be Jesus” comment. It’s so funny. I know it seems like I simply couldn’t POSSIBLY get in, but then again, I have a habit of making what seems outlandish and impossible…well…possible. I’ll get into Rice. Somehow, someway, despite my chances being so ridiculously low.</p>
<p>I’m with ya man, I got a 1900 and am planning on retaking as well for Rice.</p>
<p>Good one, Anatarius.</p>
<p>Sorry, you’d have to be… uh… Harry Potter?</p>
<p>umm… ud have to be someone like george HW Bush’s son… :P</p>
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<p>haha you can put the adcom under the imperius curse so they will accept your application without looking at it.</p>
<p>hey man, i got a psat of 150 (1500/2400 equivalent) back when i was a sophomore;
when i took the SAT two years later I somehow got a 2080 (no SAT study in between); Then with some self studying I pulled it up to a 2210. Only had to take the test twice
Point is I think you will pleasantly surprise yourself if you retake without study, and with a little dedication to it you will be even more surprised at what you can do</p>
<p>sort of… the PSAT is also different conditions. no pressure. bombing the PSAT is no big deal. no one looks at it or really cares</p>
<p>but for sure, study and you will do well</p>
<p>@ Antarius - yes, of course one of George H. W. Bush’s sons, because Rice is a notoriously conservative university…
come on, dude.</p>
<p>Yes, yes. Study. Then retake. And then I’ll be good.</p>
<p>Righty-o Jonny.</p>