<p>I'm a junior in high school and I took the SAT this fall and got 2130 (760 CR, 720 M, 650 W). I'm considering retaking it in a few months as I'm looking to apply to Ivy league and other top tiered schools next fall. I currently have a 3.95 GPA, and I'm taking AP and honors classes. I think I can boost my writing score but I've heard getting a lower score can look bad for colleges. Would my scores now be accepted at competitive colleges?</p>
<p>Yes, if you’re aiming for the ivies, i’d say retake it. Your math score and writing scores need to increase to have a good chance at the ivies.</p>
<p>Sure - go ahead and retake. You should be able to get that writing score up some. Most schools value the CR and M score more than the W score, so you are in pretty good shape write now. You always want to have at least one safety school, however. The more competitive school require a lot more than a strong SAT score.</p>
<p>Are you serious?Of course you should take them again.</p>
<p>2130 is rather low to get accepted into super prestigious schools. I’d say take it again :)</p>
<p>thanks, I guess I was getting mixed messages before but if it wont hurt to take the SAT again I think I will</p>
<p>2130 for early Jr. year is very good, but you have potential to be a much stronger applicant.You could take SAT’s a couple more times if needed.</p>
<p>Just make sure you have enough opportunities to take your subject tests. Try to make a schedule of the various tests that you will take.
Also, avoid taking the SAT more than three times. Even three might be too much.</p>
<p>Aim for +2200 or even 2300 if possible!</p>
<p>Sent from my HTC One X using CC</p>
<p>^^ I have to respectfully disagree. Only a few schools in the country will even know how many times you took the test. Three is definetly not too many, there is no downside to taking the test 3 or even 4 times.</p>
<p>^Ok, I see what you’re saying, but I can think of several reasons to not take it 3 or 4 times:</p>
<ol>
<li>Some high schools report SAT scores on transcripts so colleges might see how many times it was taken</li>
<li>Some colleges, as you said, require all testing</li>
<li>It might be pricey depending on how much money the family has, and why do it if you can take practice tests at home?</li>
<li>Time. At least for me, it took time to study for the test, so it could suck up a lot of time</li>
<li>Scheduling. You want to leave a few test dates for SAT subject tests (unless you’ve already taken them), so depending where you are in high school there may not be time to take it that many times</li>
</ol>
<p>So I guess it depends on the individual and how much time/money you have, the colleges you’re applying to, and the test-reporting procedure your high school has.</p>
<p>If you want to add caveats about poor planning etc thats another matter. Assuming proper planning it would be foolish not to try and improve your score,even if the colleges see it.My Son did and he’s now a UPenn 2017 early decision admit.Penn is one of the few schools in the country that requires all testing be sent.The potential rewards far outweigh any percieved drawback.</p>
<p>Here’s an advice from a high school senior: Last year when I was a junior, I took the SAT on January for the first time with only one month of studying on my own and got 2150. Everyone at my school was pretty amazed since that was the highest score anyone at my school could get until that time. I decided to take the May SAT. My first-time SAT score had raised people’s expectations so much that everyone believed I would get a 2300. However, that didn’t happen. Stressed by the rigorous curriculum and never-ending exams, I couldn’t study properly and I was very very nervous that I wouldn’t be able to reach up to people’s expectations. In short, my score decreased a lot: I got 2020. Though disappointed and depressed, I spent that summer quite efficiently. No, I didn’t study for the SAT but I read so many books, wrote so many essays and spent time doing community service and internship that I believe I enriched my mind more than I would by merely studying for a test. Again after studying for one month, I took the SAT in October and got a 2200, with CR and Math scores exactly the same as those in January SAT and only with a higher Writing score. I was happy for compensating for the low score I got in May but more importantly, I was proud of myself because I knew that the junior taking the january SAT and the senior taking the october SAT were pretty different; the difference was more than 50 points, it was that the latter was more mature and experienced because she had spent those nine months improving herself in many ways and doing what she delighted in doing. (No need to say that I didn’t take the SAT again).
I know that many people at CC would find 2200 low for Ivy league schools but I disagree. I believe that how much you improve yourself in many other dimensions and whether you are proud of what you did are much more important than getting a 2300+ score.</p>
<p>So, go ahead and take the SAT again, but my advice is that don’t get obsessed with getting perfect scores but focus on what you actually enjoy doing. Don’t let a lower score discourage you; in my case, if I never got that 2020, I wouldn’t have spent such a great summer and I wouldn’t have gotten that 2200 in October. Aim for your dream school -a school that you love not solely for its name but for its unique qualities- and never let anyone tell you that your SAT/GPA/EC’s etc. is ‘‘low’’ for that school! Good luck!</p>
<p>Lale 2200 is above or near the avg score for Ivy admits. If you have a strong app. you will be in the mix. Good luck.</p>
<p>Like others have said, go ahead and retake. It can only benefit you in the long run, and it’s usually easier the second time around.</p>
<ul>
<li>Andy</li>
</ul>