<p>I am going to apply to Caltech with the following scores:
December SAT: 2100 (800 M, 690 CR, 610 W, 8 Essay)
June SAT: 2240 (800 M, 730 CR, 710 W, 10 Essay)</p>
<p>Now I'm still not happy with my last score. I think I am going to retake in October for a 2350+ after some studying (Did no studying last two SATs). If i am confident I can get a 2300 at the very minimum, will retaking a 3rd time look bad?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If your SATII's are 750+, stop. Don't waste your time. I can't guarantee that a third administration will hurt, but it will certainly not help, and your current score won't stop you from getting in if the rest of your app is strong.</p>
<p>First time I took the SAT I got a 2390 and I was really tempted to retake it to see if I couldn't get that elusive 2400. Turns out I'm very glad I didn't... to MIT, I'm pretty sure that would've translated directly to "she's obsessive-compulsive and won't handle failure well". It's easy to get carried away and treat it like playing a video game again to try to beat your old score (even though it was plenty high enough!). My point is this: RESIST THE URGE!! Your scores are lovely. :)</p>
<p>Eh, I've already sent all my scores to Caltech, so I think I'll just take it again, but not send my score unless its really good (2350+).</p>
<p>To be fair, I was deferred EA and retook my 760/790 Physics/IIC. Ended up with 790/800 and got in. (I'm not saying that's the reason, of course.) I completely understand everyone's frustration--after I was deferred I felt like "what the heck else can I do?"--I come from a small town and there was really no way I could have done the serious research stuff that so many applicants have nowadays. So it was sort of like, OK, I'll improve the only thing I can.</p>
<p>There was also something which I actually still feel a bit resentful about, because I think the application was quite misleading--Caltech at the time required 3 recommendations: A math/science teacher, an English/social studies teacher, and a third teacher of (they said!) your choice. Well, I used my band director as my third teacher, since she knew me better than any other. When I was deferred and called up asking what I should do, they said that they were a little "troubled" that I'd not used a math/science teacher for my 3rd recommender! Well, if that's what they really wanted, why not specify it?? That was completely irrational and unfair in my mind--I had made a good faith decision to take the application at its word and chose the teacher who knew me best without regard to subject taught. So after that, I sent in a supplemental recommendation from my physics teacher and I guess it was all good in their eyes. I would've been happy to send them that in the first place if I'd known that's what they wanted.</p>
<p>Further proof of the wisdom in calling to see what they'll tell you if you're deferred while you still have a chance to change things.</p>