I am a sophomore in high school and I scored a 1570 (770 EBRW / 800 M) on the SAT last year, but I read that CMU only accepts SAT scores from junior or senior year. I don’t think it is worth retaking the test because it’s expensive and I might not do so well since I haven’t studied for the SAT in a long time, and to other colleges it might just seem that I retook it since I was desperate for a 1600. I’m considering the Early Admission program for juniors next year since I’ll have completed all my standardized testing by then, but I hear they accept very few students from that pool. I think it would benefit me more than an additional year of high school simply because I’ll be spending my senior year mostly satisfying arbitrary graduation requirements and taking university-level math and science classes that I could take in college anyway (will have maxed out CS by junior year, if that counts for anything), and at CMU I could dive right into courses that will benefit me more in the future and I’d have more opportunities for work/research experiences. I’m just concerned about my application not being strong enough. Does anyone have any suggestions for what course of action to take?
Not sure what the SAT specific criteria but perhaps just do the subject tests now and those would have a current year date.
@h2omolecule Maybe call to see if there are exceptions to that rule, given your high score from freshman year?
I just emailed admissions asking this question about Subject Tests, as my D is taking Math 2 in May at the end of Freshman year. I’ll follow up on their response and ask about SATs (which is also relevant for her - 1560 in 8th grade, so even more of a time stretch)
@Likesbikes - per the letter of the written policy, even doing the subject tests now wouldn’t help @h2omolecule as he/she is currently a sophomore which doesn’t “count”. Sounds like a not-very-well-thought-out requirement from my alma mater.
@h2omolecule, My Dd took SAT once as a sophomore and was done. She just got admitted to CS in CMU
You need to verify if that is really true- Carnegie Mellon accepting scores from only 11th/12th? I don’t think the grade really matters, but I would say don’t take my word, and call Carnegie Mellon ADMISSIONS, and note what they say about accepting which SAT scores from what GRADE. 1560 is enough, and it’s a waste of time to try to get more point-gains. Focus on your extracurricular activities.
D19 just got accepted to SCS and took Math II sophomore year.
@Ranipetgirl Ah I see, thanks for the reply and congrats to your daughter on SCS! Did you/your daughter ask CMU admissions about it beforehand?
“call Carnegie Mellon ADMISSIONS, and note what they say about accepting which SAT scores from what GRADE”
My email reply was from the Assistant Director of Admissions.
“this is correct. All testing will only be accepted if it’s done in the junior or senior year”.
Seems pretty clear to me.
It also seems clear that it’s not actually what they do.
I followed up an asked if that meant that all of the AP tests my D is taking F/Soph will be discounted. No reply on that one.