<p>Hey, it's my first post here at CC, looking forward to much advice!! :)</p>
<p>Here's some background info for more accuracy.
Junior
Asian (apparently this makes it harder for me to get admitted to top tier universities =_=+)
Live in suburban pennsylvania,
Not rly stellar ECs but not yawn-inducing either, (i hope) and some are pretty unusual
GPA: 9th: 3.9 10th: 3.9 11th: 4.4 (so far, weighted)</p>
<p>so my first SAT was 750 math, 750 CR, 760 writing.
January, I took it again. 790 CR, 800 writing, 710 math(!!)
The math hit me in the face, I've always done better.
Will it drag me down?</p>
<p>next year, i plan on applying to yale early, and i have my eyes on UPenn too.
Problem is, they don't take score choice. So if i take it one more time and score lower... ouch. I'm clawing at HYP (H and P take score choice i believe? so i could plug in the 750 i got earlier). non-HYP 1st tier schools are perfectly fine too. but anyway I'm in stiff competition. FYI i took SAT Math II last summer and got a 770, might that balance out? To add, I'm taking AP Calc BC this year. the last thing I'll ever do is become a doctor or engineer, but...</p>
<p>Should I retake? Any advice is much appreciated :)</p>
<p>My advice is: do not retake the test a third time; you’ll look obsessive. Any score above 700 shows you can “do the work” so trying for an extra 20-30 points (a couple of extra correct responses) seems silly. Focus on great essays; these are the best way to stand out from the crowd.</p>
<p>My advice…do not retake the test. There is no reason - your scores are plenty high enough. My DD had lower scores and she is at Harvard. Have a son at Duke. I think that these schools look for PASSION. What are you passionate about that sets you apart from the others?? When a school like HYP puts together a class they look for diverse personalities to create an interesting and dynamic mix. At least that is my opinion. Everyone who applies usually has equally worthy scores.</p>
<p>It really depends on what majors and schools you are applying to. I can say with certainty that for nearly all programs at all colleges, your scores are good enough. However, some elite schools such as Penn Wharton have tons of high scoring students, so a perfect math is almost a requirement. Your superscore looks good, but be sure to look up which schools do not superscore.</p>
<p>Actually, you don’t have a 2300–you have a 2340, because most of the schools “superscore,” which means they take your highest score in each section. That’s a pretty good score.</p>
<p>I think your question is moot; it is more than apparent that a 2300 is not a bad score, and like many others here it seems like you may be after attention and commendation more than anything else. Please remember that schools consider entire applications and that extra curriculars, interviews, essays and personal statements, course load, GPA, recommendation letters, and much, much more play a large role in the admission committee’s decision. Do not obsess over a score that you KNOW is extremely high; it makes you seem one-dimensional and THAT is something a college will certainly look down upon.</p>
<p>Repliers 1-5, thank you so much, I’m a bit more sure of myself.</p>
<p>Travelbug, I’m sorry to hear that I came across as an attention-hog, my intention was actually quite the contrary. Seeing many people question whether they should retake with scores well into the 2300’s did in my confidence a little, so I thought I might ask my own question to be a bit more sure. Your advice does help, though, so thank you nonetheless. :)</p>
<p>I retook my own 2300 nine months later and ended up with a higher score, but the only reason I did that was because I had only taken it once and was reasonably sure that I could do better. It’s your choice, but you already know that a single-sitting 2300 is very, very high. Unless you feel like you’d improve to near 2400, I’d say don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about applying to Wharton with scores in the 2300 range. Check the ED thread for Penn and you’ll find plenty of Wharton admits who did not have perfect scores!</p>