<p>I also posted this in the SAT/ACT forum, but thought maybe more parents would see it here.</p>
<p>DS took the March SAT test. He didn't study for it really, but I'm guessing based on his PSAT that he will get around an 1800-2000. He has been doing lots of prepping for the ACT.</p>
<p>Would you send these scores to reaches, matches or safeties before you see it? Or not at all?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The schools we have looked at said to send them all. Most superscore or at least take your best score. Since you have a rough idea what his scores will be, and they are good scores, I would send them. If you were running totally blind and had no idea, I would wait.</p>
<p>We didn’t send them before seeing them for DD (now a college soph). Ended up not sending any SATs scores but both ACT scores (after comparing all 4 tests).</p>
<p>For DS, I’m going to do it the same way. He’s taken the SAT twice (haven’t seen the March scores yet) and ACT once (next one is April 14). I feel better knowing what we’re dealing with before sending.</p>
<p>It costs a little more this way, but not a lot in the scheme of things!! I just feel better doing it this way.</p>
<p>We sent the last set of scores without looking to the schools we knew were staying on the list (wrong!) and required all scores. Prior to what we knew was going to be the last testing session, we sent nothing. Given the cost of applying to college, sending SAT scores is relatively small, and it’s nice to have some control over the process. Just remember to send them much earlier than they need to be there. It takes a very long time for scores to actually be received.</p>
<p>We used the free scores on our safeties, and on the state schools. By applying early, we didn’t have to pay for many applications, so the free scores came in handy for the “sure bet” applications. We only sent to schools where we assumed his scores would be in the top 50%.</p>
<p>Do not send SAT or ACT scores without knowing them. There is no penalty for sending them after the test. And if a college requires them all, then you can send them all. Some colleges don’t superscore. That can be bad for you if you send a bad score. Also, some colleges penalize you if your SAT scores are lower than your ACT scores (in that case, you send only your ACT scores).</p>
<p>^well, the penalty is that you have to pass on the free score offer that only comes with registration and have to pay $10.50 a pop, iirc.</p>
<p>If you can afford it, wait and send after you know what the scores are.</p>
<p>I would only send them blindly to schools that require all scores, to the NCAA clearing house, or if it’s the last testing before the application deadline. </p>
<p>As far as the fees, compare $10.50 a pop to the cost of college and put this in perspective. Unless you qualify for a fee waiver altogether, this amount can’t be significant enough that it’s worth taking unnecessary risks.</p>
<p>For us, the 4 free scores were really no use until the last SAT. Both of my kids improved on certain section on their last SAT. If your son is taking SAT IIs or SAT again, you most likely will have to send them again to the same schools that you already have sent the first time. And you are taking ACT, so you may not want to send SAT at all even at safeties where you might be vying for scholarships.</p>
<p>I don’t know why collegeboard has to make things so difficult and excruciating. Why 4 free scores before you know the actual score? Then on top, they give you score choice, but what is the point of having score choice and free score when you don’t know your score yet? Somehow I think it is relating to maximising the amount of fee they can get from you.</p>
<p>There’s really no harm in sending the scores to safety schools - especially ones that are kind of on your radar. Take advantage of the free ones that way.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids is exactly right… We followed the same path as LINYMOM but in retrospect should have sent the scores to safety schools. It would have saved us some money.</p>
<p>You have to weigh the risk of safety schools receiving a bad score against the benefit of saving the money. If the safety school in question gives out a lot of scholarship based on SAT/ACT, you may not want to do that.</p>
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<p>Somehow 
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<p>^Right, and they are non-profit, wink wink…</p>
<p>Son used the free SAT scores for safeties. I wanted to save the $.</p>
<p>Just a word of caution - Investigate the safety before sending. If merit is given based on SAT scores, we were more cautious.</p>
<p>I would nt send scores anywhere before seeing them. Even at safeties they can, as mentioned above, impact merit aid. </p>
<p>I also think kids should not take the SAT before being fully prepared. Many schools still lok at al test scores and pay attention to the number of times the test was taken.</p>
<p>D#1 was excellent with standardized tests. We used the “free” ones on schools she was most interested in at the time, with full knowledge that her interests might change (which they did). D#2 had difficulty with consistency … some practice test scores great, some not so great. For her we devised a strategy … take the SAT and send no scores, then take the ACT and send no scores, then retake the one (i.e., SAT/ACT) she did better on and send those scores. If a student’s scores are erratic, it may raise questions with admissions staff. “Hmm, M+R super-score of 1410, but raw scores were 450/750 and 660/500. What do you suppose is going on there?”</p>
<p>Lots of great information here.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize that schools might use the lower score to determine merit awards - thanks so much for that information! </p>
<p>I definitely don’t want to risk losing a merit award over $40. We are looking at so many schools where app fees are $30 to $70 I thought we might save a few bucks - oh well!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>