SAT and ACT score = composite score... which one's better?

<p>I'm pretty bad at standardized testing in general... </p>

<p>I took the sat reasoning test with a score of 1690...
540 math
550 english
600 writing</p>

<p>I tried my chance at taking the ACT last minute and got a 24.
24 mathematics
24 english
29 reading
20 science</p>

<p>If I look at conversions, those are pretty much the same scores, except that I did much better in the math section of the ACT but awfully in the science section... </p>

<p>Should I send this ACT report to colleges or no?</p>

<p>send both since they are practically the same scores u have nothing to loose</p>

<p>Any other opinions?</p>

<p>It definitely depends what you want to major in. Your ACT math is higher, whereas your ACT science sucks. Now, if you're going to major in science, you should probably send the SAT since it doesn't display a science weakness. However, if you're going to be a mechanical engineer or something with math...you should submit the ACT since it reflects your ability in math. If you retake the ACT you might wanna study genetics and punnet squares/breeding, because there is ALWAYS a passage about breeding experiment.
Good luck. WHere you applying?</p>

<p>If you send both, colleges will choose which one they think is better to determine admission so you have nothing to lose. Also, do not assume that low science ACT score will necessarily be treated as a bad omen for a science, math or engineering major. Colleges know that the ACT "science" section is not really a science section and in fact some of your tech schools -- e.g., Georgia Tech and Rose-Hulman -- actually ignore your ACT science subscore for admission (those two consider only your math and English subscores and ignore the rest including composite).</p>

<p>Thanks for your replies~!
I'm thinking of majoring in law&sociology or forensic psychology.</p>

<p>Would the low science score hurt me if my intended major is in Psych?</p>

<p>I'm applying to most of the UC's (except for the lowest ones), my top choices being UCSC and UCSB.
Private CA schools like Pepperdine, Santa Clara, and USC.</p>

<p>courgette - since your standardized test scores are not your strong suit, how are your other stats/ECs/essays/recs? What do you have as your safety schools?</p>

<p>courgette:</p>

<p>unles you have a significant hook (or mitigating circumstance, such as low income, first generation to go to college, etc), most of the schools are your list are reaches, or high reaches (UCB, UCLA, UCSD, & USC). Of the UC's, UCSC is third 'lowest', so your low scores might possibly be balanced by high grades. Suggest you consider adding a few Cal States.</p>

<p>jmmom, bluebayou,</p>

<p>Yes I'm aware that most of these schools are reaches, except for UCSC and UCSB. </p>

<p>My GPA is not too great either with a 3.3, thanks to my soph. year. But I have other factors that might save me: my love of languages (fluent in 3 of them, taken ap's, etc.) , and my love of photography for which I won a couple awards...
I think I might have a chance at UCSC and UCSB, I just checked and their ACT composite scores are: 25 and 26.
SAT II writing score: 597, 618 -- mine: 600</p>

<p>Other then that, my safeties are the CSU's. </p>

<p>Would the low science on my ACT score hurt me if my intended major is in Psych?</p>

<p>In my opinion it actually might-a litte. Being that Psychology deals with studies, experiments, etc, and the ACT science IS experiments and interpretation of studies... I dunno that's just my thought.</p>

<p>cour:</p>

<p>for the most part, the UC reviewers don't even look at intended major for the Colleges of Letters & Sciences, since many (most?) students change their major 2-3 times while in college. Test scores (particularly math) do get counted heavily for students applying to engineering or other hard math programs. </p>

<p>Also, please know that the "mean" UC scores are skewed downward bcos the adcoms give tips to low income and ESL students (higher test scores are correlated with higher family income as well as english as a first language). Thus, unhooked students need to be in the upper half, preferably at the 75% for a school like UCSB.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>