Question: My daughter is in Middle School and is in a talent program through a well known University. In order to qualify for another program, they request that she take the SAT. I am concerned that taking it too early and perhaps doing great on one part and doing poorly on another will “stick” with her through high school. Can you shed some light on how Colleges/Universities view SAT scores sent prior to high school or if they will show up on her SAT record given the time lapse. I’ve heard some schools require ALL SAT scores.
WHAT DID “THE DEAN” SAY?
See https://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/sats-middle-schooler/
Ideally, I would like to keep my 7th graders SAT scores thru his sophomore year of high school. But since this is not an option, how do I decide if they should be kept at all.
His scores would allow him to enroll in CC classes after this year, but he is not socially ready, but should be in a year of 2. I also think his scores may influence course selection in early HS. He is currently taken Algebra (was in the class for about 5 wks when he took SATs). He wanted to advance in math and we were told he would have to wait until high school and while he could take college course they would not count for HS credit until after he finished middle school. Also, I was hoping to talk them into taking PSAT in 9th grade instead of required PSAT 8/9.
Scores are good, not great (680 reading and 650 math). What do you suggest?
@Mom24boys -Those scores are very good for a 7th grader, and you have some sound reasons for wanting to keep them around for a while. But, since you don’t have a “Two-Year Only” option, just tell the College Board to save them. (How-to info is here: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/special-circumstances/younger-students)
Your son will still be able to choose which scores he sends to colleges when he applies in four or five years (he doesn’t have to send middle-school results to “All Scores” colleges unless he wants to), but–even if colleges were to see this set–they won’t officially “use” them but will be impressed that he did as well as this when he was just in 7th grade. Thus, there aren’t any negatives to sending the “Save” request.
Thanks, I know they are very good for a 7th grader, just not great for college admissions. His identical twin choose not to study (which I was 100% fine with) and scored 1190 (600 reading and 590 math). I am equally proud of both.
No one should save their middle kid’s SAT score for high school. (And I say this as someone whose kid had a top 3 score out of 10,000 8th grade SAT takers in her talent search program). Hang onto the paper copy (or print one from online) in case you need it for some talent search programs that extend into early HS years (e.g., Davidson THINK) or a CC requires them (but I doubt they will).
Colleges don’t care how kids did in middle school, and your kid should get a much better score in high school.
I looked into this when my kids were middleschoolers over 10 years ago, but the rules might have changed. Back then, any tests taken before the age of 13 were automatically purged. So even if you submit all scores in the future, the purged scores do not show up. You should reconfirm this with college board.
@YoHoYoHo -Still true (although based on the grade when the test was taken, not on actual age). If you read the “Ask the Dean” column, above, which spawned this discussion, you’ll see the policy explained in more detail.
I did this when I was in middle school and it didn’t affect my college apps (got into top Ivys). Just have your child retake them in high school when it actually counts.