Hi everyone,
I am applying to some schools that require that I send all my SAT and ACT scores. My first SAT score was a 2110 w/o studying, then a 2050. I was very sad by the score decrease, because I actually studied for the second one. I then decided to try ACT and got a 33. I am planning to try again in Sept and actually study, but I do not know if I should also try to improve my SAT score. SAT is just very difficult for me compared to the ACT and I’m really worried that I will do worse again. I would rather spend my time improving my ACT score but I’m afraid that my point decrease for SAT will hurt my chances at admission a lot.
I am also hoping that there is a way to only send my 2110 even if I am required to send all, but I am too scared to risk it. Will the college find out if my high school does not put these scores on my transcript? Should I do that? Or should I only send ACT? Or should I just send all of them without improving my SAT? Also, I may want to send my SAT II Math score but I do not find it very important that I do. I just really do not want to do the Oct SAT because I have a strong feeling that I will still do worse, regardless of how much I study.
First off, which schools are you applying to that require you to send all scores? They might have meant either all SAT scores or all ACT scores, unless I’m mistaken. Your high school does not send your test scores, you have to send those scores yourself through CollegeBoard or ACT.org. Check to see if any of those schools superscore the SAT which would mean you could only send in your 2110. Using a conversion chart a 33 ACT is technically better than a 2110 SAT. Send in your SAT II Math score if you feel it will help your application, otherwise leave it, unless the school you are applying to requires it. Hope that helped
Don’t waste your time retaking the SAT or the ACT. You are not likely to improve much and your ACT 33 is around a 2180 - a bit better than your best SAT but still in the same ballpark. So far, nothing you’ve said indicates that your current test scores are wildly off base. And you send in whatever they ask for - not more, not less. If they want an ACT or an SAT, you send your ACT and that’s all.
Rather than obsessing over test scores, focus on things you have more control over - your essays, finding the right schools to apply to, giving your teachers the information they need to write good recommendations, getting the most out of your ECs, etc…
Taking and retaking tests with little or no change in the test scores just look obsessive.
From what I have read, both UC’s and Stanford require all tests sent, although Stanford will superscore your SAT while UC’s will take your best composite score. You are just required to send them all scores.
Colleges SAY that they only consider the highest; for UC’s that would be your 2110 and for Stanford that would be your superscore, so in all honesty, it shouldn’t even matter that you sent them another score. Of course, we aren’t there during admissions, so maybe people do notice it. There’s just no way for anyone to know. And like Erin’s Dad said, it’s a decrease of 60 points. Maybe you hit your peak score and your low score, and if you took the test 20 times you would average between 2050 and 2110.
Honestly, if you think your time will be better spent doing things besides studying for standardized tests (and it will be spent better without studying), then don’t. I got a 2140 (or 2130 for UC’s) SAT and 35 ACT, and although there is a bit of discrepancy in score amounts, I don’t see the point in working hard for a couple more questions right. So if I were you, just leave it. Good luck with the rest of your college applications!
Look at the breakdown of your M & CR SAT scores. If either are below the 50th percentile of the school you are applying to, send your ACT score instead.