Hi everyone, i need some SAT advice. So i have taken the old SAT two times, the first time i got a score of 1920, and the second time, i got a score of 1990 (with superscoring). My goal score is a 2150-2200, but the last sitting for the old SAT is Jan 23, which i have signed up for, and i don’t think i will reach my goal by then. The problem is, if i take the new SAT, i will have to take it at least twice to get the score i want, due to the fact that i am not used to the new design, which will add up to a total of at least 5 SAT test sittings (new and old combined) I am applying to colleges like Upenn, Northwestern, NYU, Duke, Emory, and University of Chicago, and i am worried that if they see that i’ve taken the SAT 5 times, that it will look bad. I know its not my fault that the SAT was redesigned in the middle of my junior year, but i really want to meet my goal. I will be taking the ACT my senior year. The reason i say i won’t meet my goal by Jan 23 is because i already feel i have done as much studying on my own as i can, and i would need to get some outside help to raise the score. What should i do?
Hi! I’d say take the test again. The year you’re applying, colleges will be flooded with applicants who are in the same situation of their testing situation having been interrupted/disrupted by the SAT change. Also, some of these schools allow score choice (I know from personal experience that Northwestern does), so you wouldn’t have to send all your scores, just the highest. I’m not a professional, I’m applying this year myself, but it seems to me that a better score by 200 some points would definitely be worth the potential appearance of 5 test scores, especially if you wouldn’t always have to report them all. Also worst case, there’s a place on the common application to explain situations like this as “extenuating circumstances”.
Good luck!
I’d suggest moving on. Regardless of what colleges think, you have spent considerable time and energy on the tests. The reason a few colleges would also suggest moving on is that they look for meaningful activities, of which the SATs isn’t one.
Definitely try the ACT. My son’s did much better on the ACT than the SAT.