Should I retake SAT for fourth time - International

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I've posted this in the SAT section, but I didn't get any replies, so here we go again:</p>

<p>My May SAT score is 2150. I've already taken the SAT three times, and I know that taking it for the fourth time is usually frowned upon.</p>

<p>However, I'd like to apply to top schools (Penn, Cornell, Duke, JHU, Amherst, Vassar, Grinnell), as well as to some mid-tier ones with the hope of getting merit aid.</p>

<p>Should I take the SAT for the fourth time, or move on? The breakdown is 690 CR, 690 M, 770 W (11 essay) right now. I've taken SO MANY practice tests, and always got 2200+ or even 2300+ on a lot of them, and I had a 2400 once. I really don't know what came over me on test day. So if I practiced even more, I'm positive I could get at least 2250+ the next time. And get CR and M above 700.</p>

<p>My previous scores were 1820 (my counselor told me to take it sophomore year, and I had no time to prepare) and 1980. I'm an international and my native language isn't English, so that makes matter slightly more complicated.</p>

<p>Also, my GPA is 3.95, I'm in the top 1% of my class and have good Subject Test scores, as well as A-Level scores. I'd like to study Film, if that matters.</p>

<p>Please, please, please help! :)</p>

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<p>If you are applying for financial aid at the top schools, the likelihood is, there are many more international students with a better SAT score. Perhaps you just need to enter the real exam like you do with practice tests. If everything else on your application is good, might as well retake it. </p>

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<p>@lellywang‌ Thanks! I was kind of thinking the opposite though. If everything else is good on the application, there is no need to retake it. Anyway, I’d prefer to retake.</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

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<p>@layrasparks What I meant was, if the others are good, you don’t need to spend time doing anything else. So if all you have left to improve is your SAT, might as well try it again. You get what I mean? :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>@lellywang‌ Oh, right! That makes more sense… My real worry about the how they tend to look down on people who take it more than three times.
Thanks for your help! :)</p>

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<p>@layrasparks You should’ve done more research haha you can pick and choose which SAT date scores you send to the university by using score choice I think it’s called. Look it up!
<a href=“Send SAT Scores to Colleges - SAT Suite | College Board”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board;

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<p>@lellywang‌ Well, I’ve done my research. Score choice is available at some schools, however Penn, for example, along with many other universities, requires all scores to be sent. Wish it was that easy, though.</p>

<p>Scroll down to Required Tests:</p>

<p><a href=“Apply For Admission | Penn Admissions”>http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/application-tips&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>@layrasparks how would they know if you only send them one score?
Anyways, if you don’t think you can up your SAT score, just don’t bother. you don’t have a terrible score anyways</p>

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<p>Most and maybe all of the schools you mentioned DO NOT offer merit aid. A 2150 is at the low end of the admissions spectrum for these schools as well. I think you need to at some slightly less competitive schools. </p>

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<p>@lellywang‌ Well, if they require all scores, then I have to send all. I’m not going to lie on my application. And I know they’re not terrible, but I’d like to get 700+ on each section. That is feasible.</p>

<p>@soze‌ JHU and Duke do. I’m looking for merit aid from USC, Occidental and Emerson.</p>

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<p>Yes, but you are not at the top of the applicant pool for JHU and Duke. You’d be lucky to get in at all, merit aid is not going to happen.</p>

<p>Emerson maybe, but have you checked to see if they give aid to international applicants?</p>

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<p>@soze‌ Yes, scholarships are available to everyone at Emerson. </p>

<p>I don’t want merit aid from Duke & JHU, I’m just saying they offer it. I even said I’d hope for merit aid from mid-tier schools, not top ones. Also, like I said, besides the SATs, my stats/LORs/Subject tests/essays are fine. I’m not expecting to get into all of these schools, obviously. USC is my top choice, but since it’s for film, and even though I’ve got international prizes in film/writing for film etc. my chances there are low.</p>

<p>Sorry if I sound rude, I don’t intend to. It’s just that I’m very upset about my scores.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help! :)</p>

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<p>No need to be upset about your scores. Maybe that is all you need to get to where you need to be. Scores are just part of the application.
That being said, have you tried taking the ACT instead? Some of the schools on your list require the SAT subject test as-well, so you have to take 2 SAT subject test, if you want to apply to some of them like Cornell, Vassar, JHU ETC.
For whatever reason you are not able to retake the test or even if you do, I would say add Oberlin and Macalester to your list, and keep Grinnell on your list as well… they might actually be great choices for you.
Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>After you take the SAT 3 times, your score either stays the same, or goes down. It’s not worth it</p>

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<p>@ccco2018‌ Thanks so much! I have actually decided to take the ACT instead. I’ve taken several practice tests this past week, and I always score 30+ on each section. So maybe that’s the test for me. Also, I’ve taken four subject tests already, and apart from Math L1 (will retake), they’ve all turned out great (790,790,800). I’ve considered Oberlin, but I’ll take a look at Macalester too. :)</p>

<p>@AnnieBeats‌ That is generally true, however, the first time I took it (in sophomore year), my counselor made me do it and I had about a month to prepare. The second time I messed it up, I admit that, but since my practice tests are usually 2300+, I thought I could perhaps do even more Math + CR practice, and get a 2300+ the next time. But I’ve decided to take the ACT, so it doesn’t really matter any more. Thanks anyway for your help!</p>

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<p>Your 2150 is fine. It is your CR and math combo that aren’t so hot</p>

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<p>That’s good news.
Do the ACT, if your score is great, say a 32 composite, then replace that with the SAT or send both depending on your schools options, if its below that… send your SAT.
As soon as your ACT is done, start working on your essay and recommendations if you have not done so yet, and polish your extracurricular list including (voluntary services, research, leadership, and other skills such as instrumentation etc.), and apply to at-least one ED, one EA, and the rest regular. The just wait for the Miracles. Remember, “anything” is possible, even (Penn and Cornell).
Best of luck.</p>

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<p>@ccco2018‌ Thank you for your help!! :)</p>

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<p>^ My pleasure.</p>

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<p>Do you need financial aid? If not, Grinnell would probably not be very difficult to get into because it is actively recruiting full pay internationals these days. Your SAT scores are good enough. To get into any of these schools would require more of a compelling application rather than simply dry numbers.</p>