SAT Rush here before November 1st?

Hi, you might have seen my last post, but essentially after realizing my scores were taking over 2 weeks to send, I called CollegeBoard to find out that all my score sends featured an Oct. 5th deadline I intentionally did not show up for (decided not to take the test). This box was gray and unclickable, so I was essentially forced to send with those scores. thinking nothing of it at the time, I now realize that this means that the scores would be delayed indefinitely (score would always be pending, never comes out, never gets sent).

Frustrated as I was, I forked over another few hundred dollars to have the reports canceled and then ordered a new entire set with rush shipping on all schools to get there before the 1st.

Now I am severely stressed, as I do not know if the scores will arrive before the 1st. I am heavily considering writing every admissions counselor an email just to forewarn that it is not my fault, but I am scared this will land my application in some hot water. Can someone please shed some light on the subject? I was proactive enough to send early reports, but CollegeBoard really messed me up here. Thanks.

If I understand correctly, you signed up for the Oct test, which, when the scores were released, would have resulted in CB’s also sending prior scores to colleges designated in your sends list in the test application. You then did not take that test, which meant no scores were sent to any of the colleges listed. That has always been College Board’s procedure since you do not get to send scores without a paying an extra fee per college unless it is part of the order for a test you actually take.

You have now ordered scores sent to colleges with Nov 1 ED or EA application deadlines and paid the required fees charged by CB. That apparently occurred yesterday, October 28. Whether those scores will be delivered to those colleges by Nov 1 is questionable, although not completely out of the question. CB’s procedure for sending scores is simply to put the scores into an online account that the college has with CB, and thus sending and receipt occur simultaneously. Sometimes that is done quickly after you place your order, but often it takes a week, and then often takes another week or more for the college to acknowledge receipt in your online college application account.

Thus, the issue you need to determine is whether it makes any difference that the scores may be delivered after Nov 1. That means checking the colleges sites to see what is actually required. Most colleges with Nov 1 ED or EA deadlines accept scores that are delivered after Nov. 1 and usually as late as Nov 10 to mid-Nov, and a number of those even accept scores from the Nov SAT test.

Colleges that actually require test scores to be in their hands by Nov 1 usually make that clear on their sites by specifically stating such or stating that all supporting materials, in addition to the application for admission, are due by Nov 1. If it is not clear, that usually means scores can arrive after Nov 1. One way to determine that is to check to see if the college accepts the Oct ACT for EA or ED. If it does, that means it accepts scores that arrive after Nov 1 because ACT tests, particularly if the test-taker has taken the essay, often are not delivered until after Nov 1.

If, in fact, you have a college that specifically requires the official scores to be in their hands by Nov 1, then you might contact the college’s admissions office, such as via email, to inform it that the scores have been ordered sent, and include a copy of your scores in the email, and ask if that is OK, and possibly explain what occurred (without trying to place all the blame on CB). That may not work, but is worth the try.

@drusba thanks for the detailed information. I will be sending an email to these schools just in case (ones that require tests on the 1st), and they hopefully will not disqualify me because this is not my fault.

I would avoid the “not my fault” mentality. Frankly, it is your responsibility to understand the CB policy. You made a choice to not sit for that test and not understand the implications.

Go ahead and email your schools that require those tests but not taking accountability is going to leave a poor impression.

I agree with momofsenior1; just explain, do not assign blame (to others).

Thank you @drusba for describing clearly the OP’s situation; I could not follow at first.