I am planning on applying to very selective schools in the fall and I took the May SAT and didn’t too good. Therefore, I am retaking it in August and I’m already studying really hard and practicing for it and I’m very sure that I can get the scores higher than the scores I got previously. However, I do not know whether to go ahead and send those schools my SAT scores without seeing the scores beforehand because I get a fee waiver or to just hold on until I see the scores. My friend told me to send the scores to my safety schools but I am just thinking that since I am still going to use whatever scores I get this August for my colleges irrespective of what I get because it will be too late to take another SAT if I decide to take a third one, so why not just send it to them now…
I know this was just a messy rant but I hope someone is able to understand it.
Let’s first start with your assumption that it will be too late to take another test after August. Be aware that the October test is also possible for early action and early decision at colleges with a Nov 1 EA or ED application deadline, including because the test scores do not have to arrive by Nov 1. Also be aware that many of those same colleges with EA and ED even take the Nov test scores for EA or ED.
With each test, you get four free sends, but only if you identify the colleges in your test application as ones to receive scores upon release and thus you do not see the scores before they are sent. Whether to use the free sends, particularly for an Aug test that can easily be sent to colleges on time after you get the scores, is purely a financial decision since waiting to send until after scores are released requires a fee per college. If you want to see the scores first and have no problems with paying the fee for sending, then do not use the free sends. If paying the fees is a problem, then use the free sends.
And in making your choice, the consequences for using the free sends, and then finding out your scores are lower than expected, are really none if colleges are to be believed, as long as you later send a test with higher scores. Colleges uniformily contend that if you send multiple test scores, they will use the higher scores to determine admission and not hold the lower scores against you.