Should I apply ED or wait and improve SAT score??

Applying to College
1

<p>I am trying to apply to UPenn (Wharton) ED but I know my SATI and SATII scores are too low to get me in. But there is only one more SAT test date before the ED deadline. So I'm trying to decide if I should.</p>

<p>A. Take SATII Oct. 10 and only send in my ACT and SATII scores (Penn only requires the SAT or ACT but I am not sure if only sending one in would be a red flag on my application)</p>

<p>-or-</p>

<p>B. Apply regular decision and take my time improving my scores (there would be three more test dates be regular decision)</p>

<p>Basically I'm trying to take into account how much of an advantage ED would give me in applying and also how bad it would look to only send in my ACT score (which I am happy with) and then weigh which is better. </p>

<p>Please give opinion on my two plans but if anyone has another idea it would help a lot!</p>

2

<p>What are your scores?</p>

3

<p>ACT: 33</p>

<p>SAT: 2050</p>

<p>SAT II: 790 - U.S. history, 680 - English, 580 - Math 2 (retaking 2 of them)</p>

4

<p>I think the RD option looks best.</p>

5

<p>I would apply ED because it seems to give applicants a boast at UPenn, which may be really, really helpful for you. I think a 33 in ACT corresponds to something like 2200 SAT— not that bad at all. Just retake SATII in Oct and make sure you improve upon your MathII score.</p>

6

<p>xrCalico, do you think I shouldn’t send my SAT I score at all then?</p>

7

<p>not with a 2050</p>

8

<p>Probably RD. What’s your math ACT score? If it were engineering or arts and science, maybe, but Wharton needs a flawless app.</p>

9

<p>no, don’t send in the SAT I score unless you retake and get something better. Well, it’s not a big deal if you do send it in because they’ll just consider the higher of your two scores, but since ACT and SAT are supposed to be weighted equally, what’s the point of even sending in the lower score? If you like, you can still take the SAT I in Nov and perhaps send it in if it turns out to be a better score.</p>

<p>Just to show that ED helps with your chance of admission, here’s the UPenn admission rate. It’s only 16% for RD, but 29% for ED!! I know some people would say that people with legacy and hooks apply ED and thus driving up the admission rate, etc., but still, why not seize every opportunity possible?</p>

10

<p>hmom5, eng - 32, math - 32, reading - 34, science - 34. I’m retaking the ACT at my counselor’s reccomendation just to see if I do better.</p>

<p>I’m thinking about retaking the SAT II’s in Oct. and then (pending good results) applying ED with just sending my ACT score. </p>

<p>Would it look bad to just send ACT in?</p>

<p>Thanks for everyones help!</p>

11

<p>Why would it look bad to only send in ACT? </p>

<p>As to what hmom5, noreally, and onthefly said… Yes, Wharton is extremely competitve, but you must also consider how much you can really improve in your SAT. It is hard for most people to increase your SAT from a 2050 to something… say like beyond 2300, so if you don’t get an optimal score in your SAT I in Nov, you also miss that boast you get from early decision.</p>

12

<p>A 32 in math will make Wharton all but impossible. Wait.</p>

13

<p>I bet if you studied effectively and efficiently from now until november you could break 2200</p>

14

<p>I’d clean up the SAT score.</p>

15

<p>Why not study for the ACT, which you can take in September (take with writing)-- if you do better this time around send it, in lieu of SAT and subject tests for ED.
You still have 2 more chances to take it. (October and November)</p>

<p>Penn does NOT accept score choice, there is no way you can suppress that disastrous 580. I wouldn’t put any more effort into the SATs. The ACT is your friend.</p>

16

<p>So ACT score isn’t really good enough either now? I was going to retake it anyway but wasn’t going to put too much worry into it, maybe I will now.</p>

<p>And even SAT subject tests must all be sent? I thought that those can be chosen which ones you want to send. And doesn’t UPenn just take your best test score out of all the ones you send in anyway? I think that’s what they said ata a college meeting I attended.</p>

17

<p>I think your ACT score is strong, but hmom5 has direct experience with Wharton and she seems to think that the math subscore is low for Wharton admission.</p>

<p>Penn wants to see ALL your SATs including subject tests. Yes, they do superscore the SATs, but I would be worried about some of the other scores. If it were me, I would focus on the ACT. Study for it and take it at least one more time. You CAN use score choice there, just send your best one.</p>

18

<p>Why not just send your ACT score? They don’t need to know the other ones.</p>

19

<p>^^Late registration for Sept ACT ends 8/21.</p>

<p>If Penn does not take score choice, then doesn’t OP have to send in all scores including the SAT I along with the SAT II?</p>

20

<p>^yes, all of the sats get seen.</p>