<p>We just got November SAT score and D got 2300 (780CR, 750M and 770W). She made one mistake on math section that resulted in 50 points deduction. This is her first time taking SAT. Should we stop and this point or try to raise her math score?</p>
<p>Probably not necessary, as she has to take the Math II subject test anyway for Mudd. Have her focus on getting an 800 on that (D2 took 2 tries for that). Take care of that. If she wants to take one more shot at the SAT I in the fall next year for a better superscore, she could do it then.</p>
<p>I’m going to say that it’s probably not worth the time or money or stress. Of my two HMC daughters - both retook from around that math score range - one actually got 800 the second time and the other raised it to 770. However, I don’t think that incremental movement in the SAT score had much to do with their acceptances. HMC and other colleges will also see the SAT II math score and your child’s high school transcript. All that will tell them if she can do the course work. The rest is the elusive “fit” the colleges discover through the essays & interviews.</p>
<p>So, if your D really wants to redo the test and you can afford it, then sure. But, I think her math score is excellent, fits within the range of acceptance for HMC, and along with her great CR & W scores paint a picture of student who can do the work. I think she should work on her college essays instead.</p>
<p>Good luck to your D! </p>
<p>Mostly agree, although if there is any softness in her high school math grades, a later retake of the SAT I might not hurt. My kid didn’t have perfect math grades in high school (nothing lower than a B+ but some B+s and A-s). So for her, I think rock star test scores (SAT I & SAT II) did help. I’d still focus on the subject tests first, though.</p>
<p>Wow, I forgot that this is a High School Jr. Ok, different suggestion - she should take the ACT instead if she’s feeling like taking more standardized tests. But, I still think there is a threshold of scores that your D meets that means the admissions folks will be looking at other markers when deciding on your D. And, as Intparent mentions - if your D has been taking higher level math classes and getting good grades then that is more important. My D with the lower SAT math scores was actually at a higher level of math in High school than my D with the 800’s on SAT I & II. Go figure. </p>
<p>@intparent and @Mom2kids
Thank you for very valuable information. As of now, mid junior year, all of her math and science grads are fine (no final marks for this year yet). What concerns me is that she is not that deeply involved in math related activities as probably most of HMC applicants do. She does not participate in math Olympiad, AMC, etc. The pure math does not appeal to her. She is more of the science – engineering kid. And with 750 in math SAT1 I am afraid that HMC will confirms that she is not a good fit. She will be taking SAT2 math and physics later this year. And yes, SAT1 was a very stressful for her perfectionist personality. Not the test itself, but waiting for results. This was her first and only attempt so far.
@Mom2kids D is in AP Calculus now.</p>
<p>If it helps, neither of my D’s did any sort of math related clubs. They did have other interests – music, Quiz bowl, badminton, one sorta dabbled in robotics. But, they weren’t super freaks, just normal smart geeky kids. Don’t fret too much. Honestly, your D’s math score is fine – not all HMC students are math geeks. My older D came into HMC thinking she might want to be a math major with her 800’s and walked out of her first math exam a CS major. (She is now in her first year of a CS PhD program.) </p>
<p>It is easy during this process to think that there is a perfect formula that will mean entry into the college of your D’s dreams. But, there isn’t – she should apply broadly if possible (has she looked at Olin?) and remind her that sometimes it is just luck where the acceptance line is drawn on any given year and how many of what kind of student they are looking for. I think she has a great foundation – she just needs to keep doing well in her classes, and do what she enjoys, and be true to herself. </p>
<p>Of course, I wasn’t this zen during the process myself. So – I feel you!</p>
<p>Agree, my D2 had no math related clubs or activities. She was in FIRST Robotics for a couple of years (her school only had a team her junior and senior year), she did quite a few wildlife biology related projects for 4-H over the years, and she went to a 3 week summer engineering camp after junior year. That was pretty much it for STEM related activities. I wouldn’t worry about not having any math-specific activities. Although pretty much all Mudders are strong math students, they aren’t all math wizards.</p>
<p>I am not sure what the current Mudd policy is on sending test scores, but if they don’t require all test scores, she could skip sending that Math I score if she ends up with a better Math II score. Also… if she has strength in subjects other than math/science, there is nothing wrong with her 2nd subject test being a non-STEM subject (my D2’s 2nd was Lit).</p>