SAT v. ACT

<p>supposedly, usc only looks at your highest test score, right? i'm worried, because i did terribly on the SAT (1580 on the new one!), but got a 29 composite on the ACT (11 Writing). I would hope that they only look at my ACT, but since i'm sending in my SAT 2 scores also, they're going to see my SAT score. (And I'm not going to put my SAT score when I fill out the online app). Do you think this SAT score could somehow haunt me? Maybe the admissions officers will think the ACT score was a fluke or something</p>

<p>If you are willing to study & think you could bump up your SAT score, you might consider doing that. Good for you in getting the 29 on your ACT; that should be a help. If your grades & SAT II scores are consistent with the 29, you'll probably be OK anyway. You may wish to call the USC admissions counselor for your area & speak with him/her about this situation. Check the link below to find out contact info for your counselor. Good luck!</p>

<p><a href="http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/counselors/admission_counselor/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/counselors/admission_counselor/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Nah, I also scored higher on my ACT. Don't worry about it.</p>

<p>I was just curious as to why you were sending in the SAT II scores? If you left them out of the mix, they wouldn't see your SAT...</p>

<p>Most people send SAT II scores. It would possibly hurt your chances if you didn't have them. Plus, high SAT II scores could bump your chances.</p>

<p>i didnt send my SAT II's. They dont require them, it wont hurt you. If you got great SAT II scores though, id send them but if they are just so so then there's no point</p>

<p>you guys mention that if you dont have sat IIs it may hurt.....
I didnt do sat IIs
but i did act and sat......</p>

<p>Like most schools will the act take the place of the SAT IIs(even though there not required)</p>

<p>Thnks</p>

<p>by sending in my SAT 2s, i'm hoping that it might tip me over the edge for admissions. I'm retaking them next week, and i've been studying like crazy so hopefully my SAT 1 will not hurt me</p>

<p>If you're in doubt you should call your admissions contact as the poster above says...but I did notice on the USC website it said SATII's were "strongly recommended", so we sent them even though the SAT R is slightly weaker than the ACr, and they will now see the SAT-R</p>

<p>...however, it's true that some schools will take the ACT in place of the SAT/SAT II, so it's def a valid question to call admissions about
ie if you are submitting ACT do you still need SAT II's? let us know what they say..</p>

<p>yeahh but you know they're probably just going to say "well, since SAT 2s are not required, there is no disadvantage in sending your ACT scores and not your SAT2s"</p>

<p>...but it can't hurt to ask.</p>

<p>Our son is currently a freshman at USC, but last year when he (and others) were applying to various colleges, his Guidance Counselor recommended to all seniors (who were applying to USC) to send ONLY their best test score. If your best test is your ACT then only send that. If your best test was your SAT then only send that. If they are both good, no harm to send both. USC does not require both. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/admission/freshmen/standards/#scores%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/admission/freshmen/standards/#scores&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Standardized Test Scores</p>

<p>Scores from the SAT or the ACT (plus optional writing exam) are required from: </p>

<p>All freshman applicants (including international students) who are attending high school in the United States (and strongly recommended for students in Canada); </p>

<p>All freshman applicants who attend overseas American or International Schools;</p>

<p>All international freshman applicants to programs in architecture, cinema or journalism; SAT Subject test results are optional, but they can be very helpful in evaluating scholarship applicants; </p>

<p>For students who take the SAT more than once, USC records the highest sub-score achieved, even if achieved in more than one sitting. For students taking the ACT, USC will record the highest composite score</p>

<p>yeah, but usc also says that sending SAT Subject Test scores are optional but are helpful for evaluating scholarships so i dunno. i doubt i'll get a hefty merit scholarship with a 29 ACT and 700 on two SAT 2s, but it couldn't hurt to try right? I think it's better to send the SAT 2s rather than nothing at all</p>

<p>And anyways, since it's optional, it can't hurt you, it can only help</p>