I apologize if this is the wrong forum, it seemed like it could be the right one.
I took the SAT and the ACT both at the urging of my parents, because when my mom was in high school she took both and everybody just did this so I should too (Idk she ranted about it for a bit). I did well on both. I got a 1500 on the new SAT and a 34 on the ACT. Now, applying for colleges, I’m not sure which to use. I know people who took both and did significantly better on one, which made the choice easy, but that’s not really the case for me. I’ve looked up the equivalency charts and while my ACT score is apparently equivalent to like a 1530 on the SAT they are both on the same level.
I don’t know which one to pick or if I should just send both? My friend said sending both looks bad but I don’t know how to choose. There’s no real way to differentiate between them. I did the essay on both and got a perfect essay score. I did well on the same sections in both (weak in math, strong in writing/reading stuff). I don’t have a particular preference for either and all the colleges I’m applying to will take either test.
So should I just send both? Is that pretentious? Or should I just pick one at random and use it?
Thank you
I would only pay to send one set of scores, to meet the testing requirement.
Then, I would self-report the other in the testing section of the CommonApp.
There’s no reason to pay to send both. Since the scores match up so well, AdComms will have no reason to doubt the self-reported score.
I suggest self-reporting the scores you will officially send as well. This way all of your test data is together on one page in front of them. They will check that your file includes the required “official” score submit, but I think it’s a good thing if they can see all your scores in one place.
I agree, only send one- it’s just less money that way. Colleges don’t need to see both, and as @WhataProcess said, you can just self-report the other score on the Common App.
I would send both. Did you take the writing?
Your ACT score is a little better - I would send that.
Your SAT score converted from a 1500(new) to old is roughly a 33 on the ACT. So send the ACT since you did bette.r
What were the score breakdowns? My son’s composite scores for the SAT and ACT were comparable, but he did much better on the Math SAT and on the Reading/English ACT. Strong performances on both tests show consistency, since they are somewhat different. If the cost isn’t a burden, why not send both?