<p>My SAT score was a 2270, and I'm not sure if I should take it again because of school work. I am a junior. </p>
<p>Reading 720</p>
<p>Math 750</p>
<p>Writing 800</p>
<p>?? I think I can get an 800 on Math, but is it worth it if I don't get an 800 on writing again? Or if my reading score lowers?</p>
<p>You got almost the exact same scores as me except our writing and cr scores were reversed. I guess there’s no harm in retaking it but honestly I don’t think you need to. Your composite score is at or above the 50% mark for attendees at even the most selective colleges. In fact, your scores will no hurt you whatsoever. If I were you, I would focus more on SAT subject tests and your ECs. Hope that helped!</p>
<p>Those scores are fantastic, like the person above, I would reccomend that you focus on subject tests/APs/whatever else you’re involved in. 
congrads!</p>
<p>Take the test again.</p>
<p>If you aspire to matriculate at a top-tier college, you’ll want a score in the 2300-2400 range. Most of the top schools superscore, so your 800 in Writing is “locked in.”</p>
<p>I disagree with Bartleby’s advice. Read this: [What’s</a> the big deal about 40^2? | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/whats_the_big_deal_about_402]What’s”>What’s the big deal about 40^2? | MIT Admissions).</p>
<p>Even at the most selective colleges and universities, those scores are good enough to keep your application alive until you get to “committee,” where the whole admissions committee (or maybe a large subset of it) discuss your application and weigh you against other applicants. Once you’re “in committee,” they’ve already decided that you (and all the other applicants) are academically well qualified, and they’re really basing their decisions on things other than SAT scores.</p>
<p>I’d say youre set. Those are some pretty solid scores! Honestly there isn’t that much room for improvement and if you are going to retake it I wouldn’t make it a priority to do so. Like the other people on this thread said, I recommend focusing on other aspects of ur application, such as GPa, ECs, subject tests, APs etc :)</p>
<p>
@Sikorsky: The article to which you linked was published online in 2004. 2004! Things have changed a bit since then. Top-tier colleges are being inundated with greater numbers of applications. Even the structure of the SAT has changed. Nowadays, a perfect score on the SAT is 2400. Matt McGann’s blog post, while very informative, is dated by the fact that he refers to a “perfect” 1600 SAT score.</p>
<p>I’m giving the OP the same advice that I’d give any other smart kid who is capable of posting a score in the 2300-2400 range. Put in the extra effort. Take the test one more time. Max out the “standardized test” part of your application by breaking 2300.</p>
<p>Will earning a 2300+ score on the SAT guarantee admission at one’s first-choice college? No.
Are standardized test scores the only thing that admissions committees look at? No.
Are standardized test scores the most important factor in the college admissions process? Nope.
Should the OP continue to develop other parts of his/her application (sports, music, community service, AP/IB classes, etc.)? Absolutely.</p>
<p>The OP should consider a couple of other things…
1. If he/she is coming from a relatively “unknown” secondary school (not a top-ranked prep school or magnet public school), standardized test scores may take on additional importance.
2. The application process at certain state college systems (e.g., the University of California) is very numbers-oriented. Posting a higher SAT score may “compensate” slightly for subtle deficiencies elsewhere in an application.</p>
<p>What we’re talking about here is putting in a bit more effort to ensure that the student is putting his/her best foot forward. I’ve served on admissions committees before. You’d be surprised by the rather nit-picky comments made by various members of the committee. Standardized test scores aren’t the be-all-end-all…but they do matter. There’s a difference between an SAT score in the 2200 range and one in the 2300 range.</p>
<p>Chris, who works in MIT admissions, still stood by the principle of that post, if not the minute details, as recently as a year ago: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1193457-esse-quam-videri-how-do-college-applications.html?highlight=esse+quam+videri[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1193457-esse-quam-videri-how-do-college-applications.html?highlight=esse+quam+videri</a>. (See post #13.)</p>
<p>It certainly is tough figuring out when to say enough is enough…
For reference, here’s post #13 by MITChris in the thread in question:
If you read that post and his other posts carefully, MITChris never directly addresses whether a student with a 2250 should retake the SAT in order to break 2300.
My interpretation of his words is that anything above a 2100 (3 x 700) would not land an applicant automatically in the “reject” pile (for the standardized test score alone). That’s consistent with what I’ve observed in college applicants in recent years.</p>
<p>Even if we are to interpret the post to mean that any SAT score in the 2100-2400 range is considered “equivalent” in the eyes of the M.I.T. admissions committee, we should be very cautious extrapolating the words of one admissions officer at one college (even a great one, such as M.I.T.) to apply to all schools…particularly all of the top-tier schools.</p>
<p>A strong high school student, who has prepared properly for the SAT and already achieved a 2270 score in one sitting, shouldn’t have too many issues posting a super-score in the 2300+ range. We’re talking fairly minimal effort here. There’s virtually no disadvantage to retaking the test. (I really don’t buy the argument that it takes “a lot” of time and energy to practice for the test…although I suppose it’s possible our perceptions of “a lot” may differ.)</p>
<p>And, yeah, I realize that there’s no bright-line score above which top-tier colleges say, “OK, that qualifies as a ‘top’ score.”</p>
<p>All right, and I see what you’re saying, too. It would be a lot clearer case, of course, if we were talking about 2100 vs. 2300. I am still not persuaded that improving on 2270 isn’t gilding the lily, but I will concede that it’s a lot easier to say that with confidence when we’re talking about a whole population, and colleges in general, than when we’re talking about one kid’s applications to particular colleges and universities. </p>
<p>As you say, there’s no bright line. I still think the best use of time for an applicant who already has the OP’s SATs is to make the rest of the application as good as it can be. Those test scores will get you to committee; test scores don’t usually get you through the committee. Extracurricular accomplishments, glowing teacher recommendations and killer essays just might.</p>
<p>YMMV.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC</p>