<p>Sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but I'm an international student and I'm not familiar with how the SAT works. I'm a rising junior and I just registered to take the SAT in December (I know it's early, but because of other exams it's the only test date I'll be able to make this year). The College Board website says it's free to send my SAT scores to up to four colleges if I request to send them within nine days of taking the test, but after that it will cost me to send my scores. I'm not going to be applying to colleges until next fall, so surely this is far too early to send my scores? Basically I'm worried that if I send them now, colleges will either a) think that I'm applying for admission this year, or b) end up losing my scores between now and next fall, and I'll have to pay to send them again anyway. Any advice?</p>
<p>Seriously guys, I could really use some help here :/</p>
<p>It’s never too early to send your scores. If you are confident that you ace the test send them, you’ll save the money.
However, there are more cons of using these free score reports:
- do you really now where you’ll be applying next year? There’s a lot of time to change your mind
- what if the test won’t go so well and the result is below your expectations? Sending scores later will allow you to retake the test and let colleges see only the best score that you’ve achieved
- and finally, score choice and sending scores later don’t cost that much ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I guess you’re right, I probably am better off just paying to send them next year. I know it won’t cost that much to send them off, I just think it’s cheeky that they make you pay to send your scores after you’ve already paid for the test 
Ah well.</p>
<p>Three options to send scores:</p>
<p>–designate the colleges in your application for which up to four are free sends; if you send them in junior year colleges hold them until your senior year and they will be matched with your application when it comes in as long as your identifying information is the same, e.g., don’t change your name before applying to college.</p>
<p>–do not designate and get your scores. If you later take another SAT test or SAT subject test, you can designate four colleges in that later application to receive scores for no extra charge. CB, whenever it sends scores to colleges, always sends all SAT and SAT subject test scores it has for you including all prior scores unless you specifically choose to delete a particular test score. Thus, in that situation you can send the subsequent test score plus your December score for no extra charge.</p>
<p>–do not designate colleges in your application, get your scores, and later pay the extra fee per college to send the scores to each college.</p>