<p>How many times did everyone take the SAT? At what number do colleges look and say "hmm...that's a bit too much." Isn't it 3 times?</p>
<p>I'm asking because I want to get my SAT stuff done before senior year, so I'm wondering if March 12 and June 4th are sufficient or if I should squeeze in the May 7th too.</p>
<p>My school counselor said 3 is the max that ivys will accept for you to take.</p>
<p>I know of someone who got into MIT with a 1370 on the SAT. He took it 5 times. I don't think admissions officers actually see how many times you take the SAT; normally your highest composite is tabulated and put onto some sort of "cheat sheet" for the adcom. In fact, at my regional information session for Princeton, I asked the guy how many times they recommended. He told me that you can take the SAT as many times as you wish, and that they take your highest composite. I told him that I had heard that schools like princeton wanted to see it taken no more than three times...he laughed and said that they don't care if you take it 5 or 6 times, and that the actual admissions people would never see it to begin with.</p>
<p>The whole idea of a three test limit is a myth. A while back, after a similar post, someone had spoken with adcoms at some of the top schools (HYP etc) and was told to take the SAT as many times as you are comfortable with. If you think you'll be able to significantly raise your score and you're willing to fork over the money, go ahead and take the test. Most colleges only consider your highest composite score (highest M + highest V + highest W for class of 06+) anyway, and even if the adcom's were to see all your scores (which they probably dont, just because of time) I don't think adcom's would see anything wrong with a person whose scores show a steady improvement over time.</p>
<p>But the "rumor" or "fact" is that the more times you take it the better you do, therefore they don't want you to take it so many times or else you begin to understand the test too well and it kind of defeats the point. I've heard time and time again that it's not good to take it more than 3 times.</p>
<p>dmitriyr is right, taking it more than three times makes the adcons raise their eyebrows a bit--you shouldn't make a career out of taking the SATs. When my brother took a tour of Harvard, the guide mentioned an applicant who took the SAT 17 times, making it like some sort of hobby. That guy was INSANE!! Taking it so many times is NOT recommendable, since the more times you take it, the smaller your gains are.</p>
<p>It's important NOT to get carried away with taking the SAT I, esp. during the super crucial junior year when grades matter more than anything else. Remember...it's just a piece of the admissons puzzle. Obsessing over it distracts you from important pursuits, like getting good grades in challenging classes, summer programs, developing your talents, ec's, etc. Colleges are looking for interesting, well-rounded candidates who are passionate about learning. Is someone who spent the entire summer cramming SAT vocab words to take his/her 8th SAT someone particularly interesting?</p>
<p>Are you sure the it was 17? My guide mentioned 7.</p>