This coming fall i'm looking to apply to top schools. (Stanford, MIT, Ivies, etc) I have taken the SAT three times. Once as a freshman for applying to a high school program, and scored an 1830. I took it in December as a junior because I missed the PSAT and scored a 2050. I was unhappy with that score so in June I took it once more and scored a 2240 (800M 780CR 660W). I took the ACT once during the Illinois state test and scored a 34 (32E 35S 35M 35R 8E). I'm unsure if I should take each one to boost my english/writing score on the test. I took the faulty SAT in June so I can get a free administration in October, however I need to take the SAT Subject tests and that would leave me only with the November test for my early action/decision school. As it stands I would only send my ACT except to school who want all tests. Would it look bad to schools that i've taken the SAT 4 times, and the ACT twice? Any thoughts?
I would not count the Freshman as really taking the SAT…
Here’s what you need to keep in mind: test scores (shockingly) aren’t everything. Top colleges take a holistic approach to their application process. Boosting your scores may be impressive and certainly won’t harm you, but you need to balance yourself.
How strong are you in other places? This includes your GPA, essay-writing ability, possibility of good letters of recommendations, volunteer work/extracurricular activities, leadership, rigor of secondary school, and other things (to varying degrees of importance).
Just to give you a small idea, I have a 35 ACT/2140 SAT and I’m leaving my stats as they are (ranging 4.30-4.57 GPA depending on what years you account, I took some of the hardest classes available at a small school without much opportunity, I had some personal reasons that stopped me from being able to do much volunteer work/extracurricular/sports and such.) But this is just because I would rather put my effort into things besides my test scores. If you really feel like you need the extra boost to improve your chances then you can take them again.
My stats are in this thread
So I think my ec’s are fine, and i’ve started some of my essays, and hopefully they will be strong