<p>So far, I’ve taken the SAT twice:</p>
<li>M 750, CR 730, W 730 (E: 11)</li>
<li>M 760, CR 770, W 710 (E: 10)</li>
</ol>
<p>Right now, I’m considering retaking the SAT a third (and definitely final) time in order to raise my writing score. What do you think I should do?</p>
<p>Things to keep in mind:</p>
<ul>
<li>Whenever I’ve taken a practice test, I’ve always gotten a solid writing score (typically 750+, sometimes even 800), but that doesn’t appear to have applied to my real scores.</li>
<li>I’m worried I might see a drop in my reading and math scores if I retake the test.</li>
<li>I’m a Canadian student, and so the US schools I’m considering are really only top colleges. Yale is my first choice, and I’m not sure if it would be looked down upon if I retook the test with such high scores already.</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>I’m not too sure that you need to take the test again. Those are some dirty scores(in a good way)! Besides, by the time you get over 650-700 in ANY section, it is supposed to be really difficult to get any better. Its probably not going to help you anymore to take it a third time with scores like those. And if you’re a senior, what could taking it again help you do when decisions come out in 3 weeks?</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I’m only a junior, now…</p>
<p>well, if you’re REALLY determined, then be my guest. But it might not help you all that much…</p>
<p>Your scores are absolutely fine. Stop worrying about those numbers and make sure the rest of your application is up to an equally good standard.</p>
<p>Those scores are great. You also want toe be careful about the number of times you take the SAT. I know that the new score choice (is that the name?) exists but not every school is honoring it. Unless you know every school to which you are applying, you don;t want to produce the appearance that you are obsessive </p>
<p>Another option for your resume is the ACT. Some people so differently on the ACT than the SAT. D benefited by the ACT. Her SAT (took once) is a 2080 and the various numbers did not show a lot of promise for improvement despite her skills. So she took the ACT. She got a 33, like a 2190, pretty much cold (did 1 practice test) and then a second time ( with another practice test) and got a 35, like a 2340. D loved the ACT an refused to ever take the SAT again.</p>
<p>If you do not do well on the ACT, you will never have to send it in.</p>
<p>You still may need to take and report SAT II’s depending on the school, so be sure to keep those going and at least your SAT scores are so good that if they are sent along with your SAT II’s there will be no harm.</p>
<p>Only negative is the cost. If your ACT is the stronger, then you will end up paying for the reporting of two different test scores for schools that require the SATs also. Which BTW currently Yale not not require both, SAT/ACT AND SAT II, but for example Harvard and MIT do.</p>
<p>I agree that the OP’s scores are already stellar. Plus, it is difficult to improve once the scores reach the 700 level. While Georgetown is the only top-tier school that ignores the new score choice policy, others like Yale might follow. Most expert advice seems consistent that students that test more than two or three times are at a disadvantage with the AdComs. Instead of taking the SAT a third time, however, I would work on the REST of my resume.</p>
<p>Barrister - I cannot figure out where to look up such things, but I feel that I read about Ivy’s (Yale or Harvard) that was agreeing to score choice.</p>
<p>In general, on one hand I am envious of the kids and the potentila benefits of score choice but on the other hand I am not because it is not consistent between the colleges. I think that there are a number of students next year that will have not done their research and will get burned by the different ways colleges are handling score choice.</p>
<p>I just did a quick look up. Harvard is accepting it and Yale is not.</p>
<p>Smoda…I saw an article about Georgetown and then checked their website and participated in some discussions here on CC. D is a junior and is getting ready to take her ACT for the first time. She may take the SAT in June, but only if her ACT score is not above 30. We’re trying to spend money wisely. Plus, d is already taking one or two SAT subject tests in early May, followed by an AP exam 6 days later. Right now she is calm and focused and I want to keep it that way! Again, I think we have to all maintain a “big picture” attitude about everything, keep our kids grounded and not too obsessed with any one particular aspect of the college admissions process, etc., and OH, BTW, make sure these young people remember to have fun!</p>
<p>Your financial pros and cons are: the cost of taking the SAT vs the cost of potentially having to send both SAT and ACT score reports to those schools that require SAT IIs. </p>
<p>If you know roughly the schools, their score requirements, and number of schools in which she is interested, you can give yourself a better assessment of these expenses.</p>
<p>Exactly, Smoda. My preliminary assessment (for my daughter’s interested schools) is that virtually ALL schools will accept either the ACT or the SAT. Some will accept the ACT w/writing w/out any subject tests; some want subject tests without regard to whether the student has submitted ACT or SAT scores…Time for Meet the Press!!!</p>
<p>I contacted the Yale admissions office a couple of weeks ago, and they told me that the college will not be accepting the College Board’s new Score Choice program.</p>
<p>I don’t want to take the ACT because of the possibility of having to send two separate score reports to colleges. I will, however, still consider it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help!</p>