Retaking

<p>I am a high school junior, and I have taken both the SAT and the ACT. My scores are as follows:</p>

<p>SAT: Total 2110 - CR 720 M 680 W 710
ACT: Comp 32 - E 33 M 31 R 36 S 28</p>

<p>I don't know what to do with them. My scores are good by most standards, but I feel I can do better on both. I will be applying to a wide range of schools, some of which are very selective, and others where I'll be receiving merit scholarships to cover the cost. Cost is an important factor.</p>

<p>I also have not taken any SAT Subject Tests. As of now, all of the colleges to which I'll be applying are fine with just SAT/ACT, but that could change. I would need quite a bit of studying to take these tests because my school doesn't have APs, and I would be really unprepared for most of them.</p>

<p>I want to be a competitive applicant and have great options for my education, but I don't want to waste my time retaking tests and taking days of work when I don't need to retake at all.</p>

<p>So here are my questions:
1)Should I retake the SAT?
2)Should I retake the ACT?
3)Should I take SAT Subject Tests?</p>

<p>Sorry if I come across as conceited and pretentious, but I really don't know how I should solve this.</p>

<p>I'm in pretty much the same place as you--junior, 2160, worried about money, don't want to waste time with SATs.</p>

<p>I've decided to not take them again this year, because I don't want to have it looming over me and stressing me out. However, I'm planning to take it at some point next year. I might do a little studying over the summer, but probably not. I figure that some time away from the test and some time in school might help, and if not, it is really only one saturday morning and colleges won't consider lower scores anyway.</p>

<p>As for SAT subject tests, I'd imagine that some of the schools you are applying to at least recommend them. And if not, it can't hurt your chances at admission/scholarship. Your scores indicate that your good at reading comprehension (720 and 36), so perhaps look at the literature subject test, which is basically the same format at the critical reading SAT, but more complex and with poetry as well. Take a practice test, because while some people don't find it too bad, others find it impossible. And the great thing about the literature test, if you don't find it too painful, is that you don't need to study for it. It doesn't test knowledge, just your ability to understand pasages, so you don't have to waste you time reviewing dates and formulas or whatever. Beyond llterature, anything you are good at in school is worth a shot, if you buy the official subject test book from collegeboard you can try out any practice test.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>