SAT/ACT in College Admissions: What should I do?

Applying to College
1

Feel like I may be posting in the wrong forum so I’m really sorry if that’s the case! D:

Anyway, I received an 8 on my ACT essay this summer and am looking towards selective colleges. Should I retake the ACT because of this, or submit my SAT score which includes an 800 writing but a 700 critical reading, or neither?

Thanks so much! Any advice is appreciated : )

2

What were your exact scores for each test?
Also what colleges in specific are you looking at?

3

8? Are you missing a digit? 28? Writing is the least used portion of the SAT, some colleges do not use it in admissions. yes tell us the M and CR.

4

@BrownParent I think OP is talking about the Writing Portion of the ACT, which is scored between a 2 and a 12.

5

I wouldn’t worry about it. My son had abysmal essay scores (6 on ACT and something similar on SAT), but his English & Writing scores were 33 and 35 (I can’t remember which was which). He was in an IB program, earned 5s on US History and World Geography APs, was co-President of Debate/JSA and Model UN, received an A+ in School Newspaper elective, etc. He did not get into his three super-reaches, but I doubt that his essay score had anything to do with that. They were reaches, regardless. His application provided ample evidence that he knew how to write properly. Tulane, Occidental, UCSD, and seven other good colleges accepted him. Reed, which is as writing-intensive as any college around, waitlisted him. You’ll be fine.

6

Thanks for the responses everyone! :slight_smile: @gdlt234 I’m mostly concerned about my reach schools, specifically Brown- with superscore my SAT is 700 CR 800 Writing 800 M. My ACT is 36 E 35 M 34 R 34 S plus the 8 writing (I believe it’s 32 with english/writing combined)

7

I think you should be fine with scores like that

8

I’ve decided to submit both scores. Thank you for the assurance @gdlt234!