<p>Hi guys,
So here's a little, hopefully brief background on my testing history:
I'm a rising senior and on my first ACT attempt achieved a 36 (subscores: Math 36, English 36, Reading 34, Science 36), and 8 on the essay. This was completely surprising for me because all junior year I prepped for the SAT1. The ACT test was only required by my school. Despite the 36, I still want to retake the SAT this October. My previous 2 SATs were in the 2200 range so this time I'm shooting for at least 2300s (and maybe 2400 if i'm lucky, I mean a girl can dream right? -.-)
So is retaking the SAT worth it? I know colleges say they don't value one over the other, but wouldn't having both be even better? Plus, I'm applying to a ton of those "elite", ton 10 schools so I'm hoping another test will improve my chances.<br>
And if I do retake the SAT, what score would be considered on the same level as my ACT score? Obviously a 2400 is ideal but we all know how hard that is. Would any score between 2300 and 2400 be adequate?
Thanks in advance,
T</p>
<p>There is absolutely no reason to retake the SAT.</p>
<p>If you hadn’t already taken the SAT I’d say take it. But since you’ve already taken it twice and scored in the 2200’s it just isn’t worth your time to take it again. Honestly, what is different at this point in how you score on the SAT versus when you first took it? I just don’t see how you could have improved so substantially, but I could be wrong. If I were you, I’d settle with my ACT and call it a day.</p>
<p>I just never had time to prepare as adequately as I had wanted the first 2 times due to my school classes, sports, etc. Now that it’s summer break I can really focus all my energy on the SAT. So I really believe I can make it to 2300s. If this improvement is possible, do you recommend me retaking it? </p>
<p>No, no, no, no. </p>
<p>You have a 36 ACT. Stop. </p>
<p>You do not need an SAT. I think actually taking an SAT after you’ve gotten a 36 will make you look anal. </p>
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<p>Focus ALL of your energy elsewhere. </p>
<p>Go to the beach. Read a good book. Design a nuclear reactor. Whatever, just don’t study for the SAT. </p>
<p>True that ClassicRockerDad. And I can be very anal at times haha, but trust me, I’ll definitely be doing other things with my time besides SAT. I mean for example, I’ve become obsessed with the World Cup. So I doubt SAT studying will detract from a good summer. I guess my main reason for considering a retake is to feel incredibly accomplished. I just want to know what I’m capable of. I know, i’m a weirdo and it’s just a stupid standarized test. But it’ll feel good to finish high school off strong, ya know?</p>
<p>Reread @ClassicRockerDad’s post. And then read it again. Oy. </p>
<p>Actually, you are addicted to achievement and it’s likely going to be a problem for you when you finally get challenged to your capacity in college where you are liable crash and burn rather than rationally working your way through. Seriously, this happens a lot. I went to MIT and saw a lot of people addicted to achievement and so full of themselves that they had a lot of trouble handling the fact that they were no longer on top.</p>
<p>Remove SAT from your vocabulary. If a nuclear reactor doesn’t suit you, how about a time machine, or a crystal ball. I could use one of each. </p>
<p>Walking in the rain today my wife and I were looking for a repellor field. Try that.</p>
<p>Okay first of all, I’m open to all of your suggestions and I know they mean well. But truthfully, I am not one of those “addicted to achievement”, “full of themselves” people. Please don’t judge others just from a question they post on collegeconfidential. You think you know me. But you don’t. I just simply want to get into the college of my dreams. And in order to make this happen, I will do everything I can. I think this is the mindset that most people will have if in my shoes. I have no problem with failure. No, my worst fear is not doing all that I could have to achieve a goal. Now that being said, if I thought I were “perfect” and whatnot, I would not still be considering a retake. My grades (gpa), extracurriculars are all average. This ACT 36 is literally my only perfect score. So please don’t go around condemning motivation. What’s wrong with working hard? Having a good work ethic will only help someone in college and on. So post whatever you guys want. Everyone has his own opinions. But in the future, please be mindful of how inconsiderate your words can sound.
And, to others who are in the same shoes as me, take all of these comments (especially the harsh ones) with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>OP, getting a 2400 and a 36 will still not paper over shortcomings in your application. Do as you wish. I think you can do something more valuable with your time.</p>
<p>Colleges only ask for one, so there is no reason to take the SAT. You have to understand how it comes across asking this question when you have a 36 on the ACT, which is why people are commenting like they are.</p>
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<p>Nobody is doing that. But studying for a standardized test that has zero benefit for you or anybody else whatsoever is a total waste of a brilliant mind, and you need to find something better to do with your time. If you can’t find ANYTHING better to do with your time then I question your desirability to the colleges you intend to apply to. </p>
<p>The computer receiving your scores will take the 36, ignore all other scores, calculate your numerical index for standardized testing, to be the highest it could possibly be. </p>
<p>It’d be a waste of a Saturday. I know extremely boring people who got 36’s on the ACT and then opted not to take the SAT. For what it’s worth, none of them did well in college admissions, perfect scores and all, because their personalities (or lack thereof) shone through in their applications. So if you’re going to go ahead and be even more bland than they are, knock yourself out. I’d really try to find a more productive use of your time. There’s no need for you to take the SAT. </p>
<p>And umm, this is College Confidential, the most neurotic place on the internet. Believe me, if people on here are saying that it’s overkill, it’s overkill. </p>
<p>Blueoreos, the advice is kindly meant and people are trying to help. Try not to get defensive and take in what’s being offered. 
Coriander couldn’t have said it better.</p>
<p>I have a daughter who is similar. She’d take those darned tests over and over if I let her until she didn’t have a single error on a single one. What I’ve counseled her and what I will counsel you is that even if you aren’t the “addicted to achievement” type who is full of herself, retaking tests in pursuit of perfection makes you look that way to an outsider reviewing your application. Read some of the college websites and see what they have to say about repeated testing. There are some that simply discourage repeated testing and there are some that come right out and say that they look askance at taking a test more than twice. The 36 is as good as it gets. You’ve already taken the SAT more than once. It will only hurt you if you take it again, even if you get a 2400. </p>
<p>And now I’m going to add some naggy mom unsolicited advice which you can freely discard. Forget the standardized testing which doesn’t play as great a role as you might think or want. If you really want to maximize your chances of getting into your dream school, start doing some serious essay preparation and soul searching. This is a perfect time to do this because you don’t have the pressure of school affecting your time and perspective. </p>
<p>Organize what you want to say about yourself. Read past essays from admitted students–not to mimic them but to get a feel for what sorts of things you should be thinking about. Lots of schools make these available. Some will even tell you what specifically the admissions officer liked about the essay. Look at past supplements and see what the schools ask. Think about what you bring to these schools and what they offer you. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you. </p>
<p>Why… why would you even retake the SAT? I legit do not understand. I can guarantee you if I was working in college admissions and some applicant had a 36 ACT yet still felt the need to take SAT for the third time, I’d wonder what the hell is wrong with them. 36 ACT is great and means you’ve proven yourself to admissions and they’re going to start looking beyond your test scores to your GPA, extracurriculars, and essays. This would probably even hold true for a 34 ACT. If I were you, I’d just send in my ACT and leave out the SAT. Use the time you would be taking the SAT to focus on your essays, go to the pool, go to some fancy restaurant with the money you saved by not retaking the test, or just chill. Sounds like you could use a little time to relax. </p>
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You’ve stated that you would retake it to improve your admissions chances, to feel accomplished and see what you are capable of, and then back to improving your admissions chances. Schools are only going to input one score, so having 2 isn’t going to give you any more of a boost, just more of a boast. </p>
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Nothing wrong with working hard, but this really isn’t about working hard or having a good work ethic. If your EC’s and grades are indeed average, then focus on improving THOSE (maybe self study “worst subject” over the summer in order to get better grades in fall), or find some kind of EC to add to your resume.</p>
<p>ETA: People have posted their opinions, which you don’t seem to like. Think hard about what it was that you wanted them to say.</p>
<p>You seem really focused on getting into the college of your dreams. Nothing wrong with that. But instead of taking a test (SAT) to try for a perfect score, when you already have a perfect scores in another test (ACT) that is regarded with the same value, make yourself more competitive in other ways.
You can’t go back and change your GPA, or be more involved. But you can, right now: write an outstanding application essay, and then edit, edit, and edit it to “perfection”; get some sort of work experience, by either taking up a part time job, internship, or even starting your own business (which would show create initiative and highly recommend if you’re able to!); get involved in tutoring and other community service projects over the summer; start studying for the classes you’ll be taking next year, to help ensure you have high grades.</p>
<p>You’re much better doing just one of the above instead of spending time studying for the SAT.</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys. I’ll definitely reconsider and do some more volunteering, working, playing etc. over the summer. You guys all have some really good points and I hope I didn’t come off as too defensive haha. Also @ClassicRockerDad, you mentioned the computer taking the highest score? How does that work? In my mind I always pictured the admissions officers manually looking over every student’s application…never realized the role of technology in the process. </p>