<p>Hello, I was wondering if the huge gap between my 1280/1990 SAT and 32 ACT would hurt me on college applications. According to the College Board site, my ACT score is equal to a 2100+ SAT score. I will be retaking the SAT but I don't think I can improve very much. If I can't close this gap, will my top score be counted or disregarded as a fluke?
Thank you,
~Sarah</p>
<p>It does not matter. The admission office will look at the better score of the two.</p>
<p>At most schools you can choose to send only the results from one or the other…send only your ACT</p>
<p>You can submit your ACT only. Many test takers do better on one or the other. I’ve heard some very selective schools ask for all standardized test scores but then use only your best one or superscore. I wouldn’t worry about retaking the SAT. Maybe you should retake the ACT if you think you can improve.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, my school automatically sends both scores. Will they only look at the ACT even if both are submitted?</p>
<p>OP do you mean your HS sends your test scores to colleges? I have never heard of that. Usually the student has to request scores to be sent to each college they are applying to and can choose to send different scores to different colleges. Pomona, e.g., requires all scores for both SAT and ACT but that is not the norm. More often a school allows you to choose what to send but they may want to see all scores for the test you choose – ACT or SAT. Your AP scores may be on your HS transcript esp if you attend a private school, but again, you should check about the issue of your school “sending” your scores. Do they have access to your CB and ACT accounts or do they do it through Naviance? That is a terrible policy if it is in fact the case!</p>
<p>They are sent on the HS transcript along with, as you mentioned, AP scores. I don’t think they can be taken off but I will look into it.
As for how they get a hold of these scores, I don’t quite know as I certainly never reported them, but they are available through Naviance to the counselors, who then put them on our transcripts.
I’m sure they mean it as a way to facilitate applications but it is quite stressful, especially since they have list of colleges which still require that we <em>actually</em> send the scores through CB/ACT and not the transcript.</p>
<p>Sarah, I think virtually every college and university in the country will simply consider your ACT and disregard your SAT. In fact, I am so sure of this that if you were my daughter, I would tell you that if you’re happy with your ACT score, retaking the SAT would be a waste of your time and my money.</p>
<p>But, there’s a moral here. Other CC users take note: you do not have to allow ACT or College Board to send your scores to your high school, and this story illustrates why you shouldn’t!</p>
<p>^ At least in some cases, you cannot block the high school access to your scores. For instance, many states have mandatory ACT or SAT tests as part of the graduation requirement. To report it or not on the transcript is up to the high school policy.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, OP should not worry at all. Colleges would look at the better of the two tests. There are hundreds or thousands reasons to score low in a test, but there is only one reason you can score high. That is what they are looking for.</p>
<p>Oh, that’s true. (Well, I knew about mandatory ACT testing. I didn’t know there are states that require students to take SAT.)</p>
<p>OK, then, you shouldn’t voluntarily report your SAT or ACT scores to your high school. They don’t need them (unless, as billcsho said, they do need them), but if they have them, they can divulge them, whether you want them to or not.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for reassuring me! 
I feel a lot better now.
I’ll just retake the ACT then, and not the SAT. <em>whew</em>
~Sarah</p>