<p>Hey guys its my first time starting a thread.</p>
<p>I know you guys all have crazy SAT scores in the 2300s and stuff. And 2400.</p>
<p>I'm Asian. Indian. Which I know is a liability as people expect higher scores from Asians. I love being Asian but just take this into account when telling me whether or not to resit.</p>
<p>So I took the SAT May 09 and scored a 2230 after studying from the Princeton Review book. There are no SAT courses here, although to be honest even if there were, I wouldn't take them.</p>
<p>Breakdown : CR 750 M 800 W 680</p>
<p>I'm applying to Harvard and other Ivies for the fall of 2010.</p>
<p>Obviously, I've read that above 700s in all areas are best.</p>
<p>I just want to know, should I resit the paper and get above a 700 for the writing section? I really don't want to as it is 500 dollars in our money after conversion and stuff.</p>
<p>Would my chances significantly improve if I get a 700 and above for the writing section?</p>
<p>Significantly improve? No. But it wouldn’t hurt by any means. Don’t get me wrong, writing is the least important section so I wouldn’t worry yourself because your score is good as is, but I would say retaking it once more while focusing on the writing section would be a good idea.</p>
<p>If it is that expensive for you, I wouldn’t worry about it. At the Q&A at a morning tour session, the Director of Admissions said they use the writing score to validate that the kid can write (I can’t believe that a student would have someone else write their essays). With a 680, you are close enough. Since you don’t need to improve on the 750/800, I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Thanks guys I dont think I’m going to retake it unless I get my essay score one week for now and I get less than a 10. </p>
<p>@ OperaDad : Did not mean to mislead anyone, I can afford it, its just that I’d rather not pay for something that might not be that useful in the end.</p>
<p>More feedback would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Does the fact that I live in a country where English is not the official language have an impact at all? </p>
<p>I mean, English is the language I speak most frequently, but what would the admission committee think?</p>
<p>Most Indians who apply for universities in the US speak English most frequently. And if you’re schooled in English they will assess you accordingly. If they see you study in eg. Punjabi then they will assess you differently. All applications are considered with their specific conditions and what opportunities the students might have had.</p>
<p>Not a good attitude to have if you want to get into Harvard. You have no idea what will payoff, and what will not. Should you pay the $25 and have your AP scores sent? Should you pay $50 and send in a DVD of something you did? Who knows if you will be on the edge, and that little bit more makes the difference. We did a special trip to Harvard to meet with one professor. A lot of money, but I think it made the difference.</p>
<p>@ OperaDad : Okay, I understand what you’re saying. I think though the thing that I’m most worried about is that while I know my writing score can improve, I’m afraid my CR and M sections would go down. Although I know most colleges superscore, that can’t look good. Anyway thanks a lot for your help, I think I will take the SAT 2 in October and then decide whether or not to retake the SAT 1 in November or December. Thanks!</p>
<p>^ Warning on the score choice advice. Harvard accepts score choice while Yale does not.</p>
<p>A whole other option is to try the ACT and see what that score is like. I have no problem with the 680 except for your being an international applicant. I was under the impression that international was more competitive but hopefully some international applicants/students will respond.</p>
<p>Okay, sorry about that. Um, being an international (particularly an ORM, which an Indian would certainly be) does make it harder to get in, particularly since most Indians do better in M than in CR or W. However, the one Indian guy on CC who got into Harvard this year had a 21-something in his SATs, so I would say that if you’re confident about your ECs and essays, then don’t retake.</p>
<p>According to the Admissions Officer at the Q&A they have before tours, Harvard will take your best score for each section. They won’t just look at the best from one sitting.</p>
<p>That’s what he said. I have no idea if it is true.</p>