<p>So, I just got my Dec. scores back and here's the breakdown:
CR: 800
Math:790
Writing:720
Essay: 8
Composite: 2310
I'm aiming for top tier colleges, but I'm wondering if my essay score will hurt me.
Any suggestions? I will post back if you have a retake thread!
Thanks guys!!</p>
<p>Honestly, I think you are done. As long as you have a good/great college essays, I don’t think your SAT essay will count against you. There’s already been some discussion about this topic before. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>Great, thanks jk511!
I was mostly disappointed b/c I thought I was a pretty good writer (my English teacher actually asked if she could keep an essay of mine) until <em>dundundun</em> the 8.
But now I’m just curious as to how Ivies, etc. weigh the essay.
Any idea where I could find the thread about this topic?</p>
<p>idk but hahahah i got 800 on writing twice =PPP rubbing it in</p>
<p>gchadrox, the SAT essay is unlike any sort of practical writing you will do in school or even in your life. You can be a really strong writer and still do poorly on this essay. What matters is that your essays (common app and/or supplements) were strong, which I’m sure they were. </p>
<p>With scores like what you have (congrats btw), there’s no need to worry about the 8 on your essay.</p>
<p>Whew. thanks trance :]
Actually, I haven’t submitted the other material yet, since I’m still a junior.
Kinda stressing b/c my other friend got a 2300 (10 or 11 on the essay) and she actually will retake it (probably because two other friends got perfects)…</p>
<p>OI!! why are you stresssing over your essay (of all things) ??? you could only get 90 more points and the chances of you getting a higher overall score if you take it again are pretty much nil. you did awesome. stop worrying.</p>
<p>If you want to go for a perfect, there should be nothing stopping you, as long as you realize you’re against the odds and are confident you can keep your scores up. As for your competition, your admission into top colleges will be based on other things (volunteering, jobs, essays, clubs, etc.). </p>
<p>Remember that most people applying to top colleges have a certain SAT score as it is, but they’re distinguished by their other activities. You still have time, so keep busy and build up your resume. Good luck!</p>
<p>My scores are pretty similar–really high overall but an 8 in essay. Which was an improvement from the 7 I got the first time, lol. Of course I’m not an authority on the subject, but I don’t think the SAT essay will matter much compared to the Common App essay…so I wouldn’t retake it if I were you. (Plus I would just hate to have to write another essay in 25 freaking minutes, wouldn’t you? :))</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice guys 
Glad to know I’m not alone chinatown!
And YES I despise trying to answer a totally morally ambiguous question while simultaneously demonstrating my vocabulary/ability to organize thoughts/varied sentence structure in only 25 minutes (shudder).
But this was my first time, and since people usually take it 2-3 times, I was kinda bracing myself to get a ton of “retake if you can” posts.
Glad to see other people don’t think a 25 minute essay determines your life either :)</p>