Should I Retake The SAT?

My score is currently a 1490 highest, with a 790 in mathematics and a 700 in reading +writing. I’m gonna major in computer science, and I’m thinking of super competitive schools like MIT and Princeton.
Although my SAT is in the lower percentile for admissions, my GPA is pretty good, and I’m confident I can make it to the top 5% in my senior year (currently a junior). Additionally, my resume is pretty strong - I had 2 internships at GE and Nokia, learned quantum computing for free from MIT researchers, and am currently analyzing research data for the University of Alabama. I have other experiences under my belt too, such as club leadership positions.
I’m trying to stay optimistic in the hopes that schools will not reject me over a few points, but it’s really getting to me - should I retake the SAT this August in hopes of a higher score?

My opinion…I think you should retake. You are wanting two highly highly competitive colleges and a very highly competitive major…where there will be plenty of high achieving applicants. You don’t want to regret not retaking aiming for for mid 1500’s. My opinion.

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Would it be ok retaking so many times, though? If I choose to take it again, it’d be my fifth time

Only if you plan to prep for the test. Did you try the ACT?

Didn’t try the act, and I feel like it’d be too late for it though. I could maybe try to prep again for the sat, since all I need to improve in is reading!

If you have taken it 4 times and prepped for some of those other tests, I would not retake. I don’t think there is a way to increase scores for reading, honestly- not the same as prepping for math. IF you meet the benchmark for a school, admission is about other things. Make sure the schools you apply to are good fits and have a range of selectivity.

Cool, thanks! Would you say 700 in reading + writing meets the benchmark for competitive schools? I see that score in the 25th percentile or lower in the schools I mentioned but I’m not sure if that’s enough to get me through :’)

5 times? You need to do something drastically different to improve that score. Get a private tutor and figure out where you are going wrong in reading.

I am a test prep tutor. There are definitely ways to improve the reading section, but there’s only so much improvement you can make if you’ve already taken the test four previous times, assuming you have already had tutoring.

Personally, as all those colleges are likely to be test optional again this coming application cycle, I see no advantage to submitting a 1490. That score isn’t going to really help your application, IMO.

Do you think it would hurt my application to include my score for schools like these? I’m not quite sure how test optional schools evaluate SAT scores so it might be a dumb question.
I don’t want to have a tutor - in my (possibly wrong) opinion, I should probably be focusing on my essays and senior year gpa.

Yes, you should focus on those things. So why take the test again? Only take it if you have a very good chance of improving the score. Doing the same thing for a fifth time is a waste. Yes, I think that score might hurt your app. Unless you are hooked in some way, that score won’t help you. Just my opinion.

I agree with lindagaf…I wouldn’t retake the test unless prepping in a different way than you have in the past, nor would I submit that score to schools where it is below the 25%ile score of admitted students (use matriculated if you can’t find admitted data).

Between the 25%ile and 50%ile is a gray area…but really ask yourself if that score strengthens your app. My sense is that it probably doesn’t (talking about highly selective schools).

Lastly, make sure you have a balanced college list, with several reaches, a handful of matches, and at least one affordable safety. Run net price calculators at all the schools on your list to make sure they are affordable.

Good luck.

@Lindagaf, you raise two interesting points about testing:

  1. How is a test tutor different than one of the big companies (like Kaplan, PR)? Are there are any links on CC or elsewhere comparing the pros and cons of the prep services? At 5 tests, I would think you’re right: OP should get individualized tutoring on reading. As someone very wise once said, everyone taking these tests can READ. It’s the tricks and the close comprehension that is the key.

  2. Praying that all goes ok with COVID, but assuming tests aren’t canceled, wouldn’t going TO be a red flag to colleges? AFAIK, SAT and ACT are open for registration now. From my uninformed perspective, I would think that an Admissions Committee would wonder why a candidate took the TO route rather than taking the test(s).

(Personal observation relevant to nothing: it is so sad that we’re talking about a 1490 being a score that needs improvement. Decades ago, when I took it, I was so proud of my 1400! Something is just not right with these tests.)

Yes, this is what I’m worried about as well - this year nearly all test centers in my area have been open just fine, so would it raise a flag if I wouldn’t report my score?

Oh definitely - I have a super strong chance at a bunch of schools in my state, these are just a few “dream” schools I’m worried about!
I’ll keep the SAT score in mind - I’m debating submitting the score because on one hand the 790 in math is great in my opinion, it’s the 700 in English I’m worried about.

If your family can afford it, I personally think there is merit in having a few sessions so you know the “tricks”. As I said, everyone can read, but that’s not what they are test you on. A tutor would help guide you on the stuff that the College Board doesn’t publish about their tests.

ETA: most of the “top” schools allow you to superscore. You already have a superb math score, so if you focus on the reading (perhaps get personalized tutorial), you can join the “1500 club”. Again, I think you have a fine score, but unfortunately, unless you’re hooked, it will hurt you at your top, top reaches, from what I know.

Play the game and go for the “superscore”, literally and figuratively! But boosting for reading is different than boosting for math.

Yeah, that makes perfect sense! The only reason I’m debating between submitting and redacting my score is because the major I’m applying to is STEM, so my 790 in math would look great. You’re right when stating that my 700 in English is cause for concern though.

No, test optional means test optional. I have every confidence at the highly selective schools that there will be no second guessing about why someone didn’t send a test score.

I get the thought process about sending the scores because the 790 is a great score, but the 700 is below the 25%ile at many of the highly selectives. If the 1490 is also below the 25%ile (again of admitted students) I would not send. Full stop. It will not help you, whether or not it could hurt your app I don’t know.

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@Mwfan1921: by no means am I disputing what you’re saying, as I really don’t know. But many students ARE going to be taking tests and submitting (a) if they are required to; and/or (b) their scores are stellar.

Just keeping in mind MIT and Princeton as OP mentioned, lots of students are going to be submitting test scores. Isn’t it basic instinct that an AO would wonder? I appreciate what is on paper is one thing, but if I were confronted with an application, if I see something that was an option that wasn’t taken, I do question why it wasn’t taken.

Again, I really don’t know. I’m just wondering about how a policy can override human nature.

Yes.

@mynameiswhatever There are so many cons about professional test prep companies. I used to work for one, so I know. These first two cons are deal breakers IMO.

  1. Horribly expensive. You usually have to buy a package. WAY more expensive than a few sessions with a private tutor.
  2. No test prep company is allowed to use official materials so you are also paying for their books, which are poor subs for the real things.
  3. Test prep companies have to tutor according to their methods and generally in a sequential manner. So if you call a Kaplan tutor for example, they will prob make you sign up for a minimum number of expensive sessions (maybe 10?) and the tutor will have to use their materials and their methods to tutor. The tutors are supposed to work within the constraints of what the company allows the tutor to do.
  4. Classes are a complete waste of time and money. Just no. They are unable to help you individually and will teach generic stuff to a group of kids.

CC is not a review site for businesses. You can google and find those types of reviews.

If the college says you can choose to submit scores, take them at their word. Do you second-guess them? Why would they bother to give that option if they didn’t actually mean it?

The general rule of thumb with applying to elite super selective schools is don’t submit anything that isn’t going to improve your app. You have no choice about submitting, for example, the C you got in 10th grade, but you have an option not to submit a test score that doesn’t compare to the 75th+ percentile of unhooked applicants.

As to speculation about “what would they think if I don’t submit?..” If they bother to think of it at all, maybe you or the family had covid, maybe there was no money to pay for the tests because the family lost jobs due to covid, maybe there was a covid outbreak at your school, maybe you haven’t been able to get vaccinated and don’t want to risk getting or giving covid,…" Do you really think they are going to count how many test sittings your school offered? No, they do not care.

You can use this advice if you like, or you can ignore it, but you asked. So I say again, as a person who knows more than the average Joe about these tests, I see zero point in retaking if you don’t do something very different this time. Don’t waste your time and money.

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My daughter really improved her reading scores with the help of her tutor! She was very strong in math so mostly worked on that. All of my kids did better on the ACT than SAT.

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