<p>As unhealthy as I realize asking any questions on College Confidential is to my mental health, it's Thanksgiving, and I can stave off any lingering feelings of inadequacy with turkey. So, here goes: Should I retake the SAT?</p>
<p>That's a 2210, BUT I really want to apply early action to Yale. I plan on taking the Math II this spring -- would a good score on that make up for a low math score?</p>
<p>The Obligatory Background Paragraph:
I go to an extremely competitive boarding school with a rigorous curriculum. I'm taking 4 APs this spring: Calculus AB, Biology, English Lit, and US History. I'm on the Honor Roll. My extracurriculars are good: I debate competitively and have won several tournaments; I write for 4 on-campus publications and play three instruments -- violin, piano, voice (quelle surprise!). As for community service: I'm part of a pen pals program, I volunteer at my local library over breaks (around 75 hours a year), and at school, I help organize fundraisers that, for example, sponsor the education of children in Bangkok. I've played field hockey for three years. Every summer, I participate in those standard academic programs -- Duke TIP, law/journalism at Cambridge, etc. This summer, I plan on searching out an internship. </p>
<p>Not many leadership positions to list, because none of the boards turn over until April; right now I'm just an Associate for my debating society, and an Arts Editor for the student life magazine. </p>
<p>I know that Yale is a long shot for me, but am I totally hopeless if I don't retake my 2210 SAT?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance; try to be both honest and nice.</p>
<p>You didn’t get a perfect score? I dunno if you’ll get into college…
Honestly, it sounds absolutely fine to me, but if you take the Math II and its 30+ points higher than the SAT Math, why not? Worse comes to worse, you just don’t count it. I don’t think that SAT score is gonna make/break you though.</p>
<p>If you are applying early action to Yale, that is next year, and you are a junior? Most would advise repeating the SAT senior year, as there is a rise in scores overall. The College Board data, however, show that for higher scores there is hardly any rise.</p>
<p>i dont think it matters, I think the 2200+ is a pretty good score in general anyways, it shows you are human.
just focuson everything else. A really good essay will make up for your sat’s</p>
<p>I have two main concerns: (a) that my CR and Writing scores might get worse with a retake, and (b) that the overall “bump” in my score will be insignificant, the difference between a 2210 and a 2250. If I wanted to break 2300, I’d have to perfect my math score, and I really doubt I could get much higher on the writing. </p>
<p>I’ve gotten an 800 on the CR, before, so I know that could improve… but that’s still a 2250. I don’t want to take the test again if I don’t have to. My question wasn’t: How imperfect is a 2210? I realize that the score isn’t ideal – the ideal is a 2400 – what I meant was (sorry for not being clear): is the difference between a 2210 and, say, a 2250 significant enough that I should retake the test, bearing in mind that I want to go to an Ivy League school? </p>
<p>Also, a 710 is within Yale’s middle 50%. It’s not great, but it’s not outrageous, and it’s not below the range. Again, if I were to a get a 40 point score bump to put me at that median score – would that matter? 2210 to a 2250?</p>
<p>Sorry, I was just messing with you. To be serious, your M/CR could be better, and you should retake if you’re just a junior. I took in Oct '07 and got 2100 and improved to a 2250 in Oct '08 (due to more intensive math classes, among other things). I would retake one more time, in October of senior year, prepare a bit for math and writing. If you don’t do any better, it’s okay because it will be superscored. Everything else will be icing. $40 for a better score and more piece of mind might be worth it.</p>
<p>Do you have a hook? Keep in mind that 40% of the class is comprised of recruited athletes, URMs and legacies. Being at the 25th percentile is much more likely to be doable if you’re in one of those categories.</p>
<p>Who wants to take the SAT if they don’t have to? But a 710 is not even median for the easiest ivy to get into and they expect more from those who have had the privilege of an elite education.</p>