<p>DDs got back their SAT scores the most interesting thing to me was that they earned identical scores on the Math and their overall total was only 10 points different. Any other twin pairs do something similar?</p>
<p>The other thing is that they were both disappointed with their Math Scores. This go around was a dry run for them to see where they needed to focus their prep efforts. Now we know which is really helpful. But the question is when do they retake them? They are taking the subject tests in June and my thought was to recommend to them that they spend the summer prepping and take the SAT again in October. Any thoughts on that schedule? Right now they plan to apply EA to any school on their lists that has EA. If they need to retake again after October I guess that'll mean they'll apply RA to a couple of schools right? </p>
<p>Jeepers... how do people who don't start the process till Sr. year fit it in without giving their parents coronaries?!</p>
<p>My Sons had identical scores on their ACT tests. And they were only a few points off on the PSAT as well. OF course that meant one was a NMF while the other was commended. NMF son of course rubbed it in a little (sigh)</p>
<p>My 3 completely different kids (different ages, and different interests) had identical ACT scores (all 3 took the test only once). I doubt this means much...</p>
<p>Son and his different state, different years, cousin had the same high composite EXPLORE tests in 5th grade (gifted talent search) and the PSAT as juniors.</p>
<p>They can take the SAT again in Oct, see what their scores are, and then decide of they want to apply EA, which does not need to be done until early Nov.</p>
<p>"Right now they plan to apply EA to any school on their lists that has EA."</p>
<p>menloparkmom suggests that your daughters wait to decide whether they want to apply EA in November. I actually think that you have the right idea in applying EA to any school on their lists that have EA. My D had just one school like that and we found that doing one application early made a huge difference in two ways. First, she got the common application and a supplement (which included a second essay and many short answers) done in October. That made completing the other RA applications much easier and less stressful, particularly those that were due near to her finals. Second, she had an acceptance in hand on December 26th which made the wait for the rest of the admission letters far more bearable.<br>
Oh, and one last suggestion: if they do re-take the SAT in October, after you have already sent the scores, you can always send them again if there is a significant improvement. My daughter took one last SAT II in the fall and sent both the official scores and a letter highlighting the score increase to each of the colleges.</p>
<p>Deciding whether to hit the "submit" button until after the second week in Oct. does NOT mean waiting to fill out the applications. The smart thing to do, as far is possible, is to have everything ready to submit, pending the Oct SAT scores, IF an increase in Math scores will help to make your twins applications more competative.[ If they are taking more math their senior year, their math scores will probably go up on the Oct test]
Many of the more selective colleges that accept EA applications will often "skim the cream off the top" in deciding which students they accept early. At those colleges, how early the EA application is submitted is immaterial, as long as everything is in the hands of the ad-coms by mid Nov.. Often the strongest students will also apply early to their school of choice. So if your Twins scores do not put them in the 50% range or above, they may be at a disadvantage by applying early at HIGHLY competative colleges. This is an entirely different from colleges that have "rolling admissions", or at less competative EA colleges.</p>
<p>menloparkmom makes a very good point about highly competitive colleges. I was thinking of the question more logistically than strategically. The EA school my D applied to was more of a match than a reach so the timing of her application didn't make a difference.</p>
<p>Aww, twins are so fun. I have twin piano students and it's remarkable how similar they are, yet you can see very unique differences in their expression, attack, interpretation. </p>
<p>My sons were a year apart but they scored identical scores in 5th and 6th grades on an IQ test. And they weren't too far apart on their aggregate SATs, except their scores differed in the parts.</p>
<p>I think the idea of taking the October test is a good one. If you send in applications before that, then you actually have the opportunity to choose whether or not to send the 'new' scores in if they are higher (or not). My kids did not take the SAT after spring of their junior year. I feel that they would have increased their scores had they tried again in their senior year, but they would have no part of that. It didn't matter in the long run- they're at college now and having a wonderful life.</p>
<p>So the consensus seems to be to prep over the summer and take again in October. If they still aren't competitive enough for a couple of school apply to them RD and retake in November. Sound sensible???</p>
<p>If their Oct scores aren't competative then the chances of their scores going up enough to make a difference in 1 month are remote. The collegeboard data confirms this. I wouldn't advise them to take it again after Oct. That's too much stress, IMO. They[ and you] will have enough on their plates during the first semester of Senior year.
Re SAT subject tests- will they have taken all the subject tests needed for the colleges they are interested in by June? If they are taking any AP classes now I recommend they take the corresponding SAT II subject test in May, while the material is still fresh in their minds from the AP exam.
Students aren't allowed to take both the SAT AND and SAT II subject tests on the same test day. So if they want to retake any of their subject tests again in the FAll, then they could take in in Nov.</p>
<p>I think your schedule now sounds ideal- it's how I wished I had done SATs. I had the SATIs done by the end of junior year- Took them in winter and then again in June, but I wish I would have done the subject tests in June, instead of leaving them til October (I applied ED so if I hadn't done well then, it would have been baaad).</p>
<p>Also agree with menloparkmom on the subject of the Nov. test date. November is a busy busy month, especially for ED/EA applicants- getting interviews, overnight vists, etc.</p>
<p>Like menloparkmom suggests, my son took his SATIIs in May of 10th (Bio) and 11th grade (Chem, Math IIC, USHist) to correspond with his AP exams. He took his SATs in Mar/Apr of junior year to see what to focus on, expecting to retake them in June of junior yr. Fall was set aside for makeup exams (if sick) or retakes of the SATIIs.</p>
<p>Would your kids be ready to retake by June? If so, I would recommend taking the SATIIs in May and doing the SATs in June. Have the kids use the summer to write essays, begin apps, begin scholarship searchs and maybe get a job. </p>
<p>Senior yr can be really stressful. Kids feel pressure to keep their grades up, while writing apps. Most are taking multiple APs. Having testing over lets them know where they stand when selecting colleges - rather than selecting schools with the anticipation that their scores MAY increase 100 points, etc. Talk about pressure walking into the test.</p>
<p>We were shocked at how quickly senior yr flew by. There were many more trips/interviews for schools and also scholarships - some involved weekends away. There were trips to visit college campuses. Oh, and of course, the deadlines to get those EA apps done and the FA paperwork done as well. It really can be crazy - some kids fall apart under the pressure. My dad died during this period and my son had to fly home, by himself, to make it to his Yale overnight (and on campus interview) and get his app written and submitted in time (EA deadline). Tough for a kid to do, esp when under 18 and can't rent a car, etc.</p>
<p>thanks to all ...how hard is it to switch a reg for the subject test to the SATI in June? I think that's a good idea jerzgirlmom and menloparkmom. Then we can use October for if they still aren't where they want them to be.</p>
<p>You have to register for the subject tests. You can get a credit from the collegeboard if you have already registered for the SAT, which can be used for the subject tests but it takes a phone call.</p>
<p>They already registered for the subject test in June but it now seems that they should take those in May and leave June for the SATI. Thanks for letting me know about the phone call...saves me searching through the webpage looking for my answer. :-)</p>