<p>Hey, I know the SAT is more standard, but my school does practically nothing for the SAT, because pretty much everyone goes in-state to U of M or Michigan State and I did pretty good on the PLAN test (32) and abysmal on the PSAT (I think I got somewhere in the low 1800-range), but then again I didn't know a lot of the math section of the PSAT. </p>
<p>I think I might take an online course on the SAT, and if I show some potential, I'll go through with it. But I'm scared that even if I just submit my ACT scores, no matter how good they are, my chances will be severely hurt. </p>
<p>THE MAIN QUESTION: Would submitting very good ACT scores (let's say I get a 33) be better than submitting okay SAT scores (2000)? Should I train myself on the ACT or the SAT?</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore, so I have some time before I start signing up for those rather-pricey prep courses.</p>
<p>Thanks guys!</p>
<p>Why not take both and see what happens? That’s what many kids do. I know of a CCer who has a perfect ACT, and she called her SAT score something like “awful”. </p>
<p>My D took both (and actually took both on a standby basis, with no prep at all…we don’t think you can really RE-LEARN what you’ve already learned AND…it’s mostly reasoning skills anyway, that you’re born with). Some kids do better at one, some the other. Your predictive scores are often not even close to your actual scores. I’ve heard this a lot (in both directions). Though my own D’s PSAT was EXACTLY the same as her SAT, oddly. And she took both of them in the same month.</p>
<p>If you’re planning to major in something science/math related, you might consider taking the ACT. I’m sorry, I can’t seem to remember where I read this. Or you could do what R1246 suggested, and take both.</p>
<p>I’m going into a history major, possibly minoring in biology. I’m going to become a journalist. </p>
<p>And I’m not so into taking both because then I’d have to take two clinics and that would just be A LOT of money. And I don’t want to spread myself too thin by being okay at two tests instead of excellent at one. (I know I won’t have a perfect ACT score.)</p>
<p>“Clinics”? Do you mean studying/prep type classes? </p>
<p>I noticed that our school offers those and they are CRAZY expensive. I can speak only for the kids I know but we find them to be a waste of money. These are supposed to test what a student already knows. </p>
<p>My D decided at the last minute to do both the SAT and the ACT, showed up at the testing center with zero prep and got 2210/34. Now…everyone is going to get different scores, and maybe hers would have been higher if she’d done some prep, but…I think a person (for the most part) gets pretty much what they SHOULD get. The SAT tests your inate ability to reason. My D actually did take the SAT in 8th grade, so I guess that was a sort of “prep” (but MUCH cheaper than the classes offered!), and she got a 670 in math without even having studied much of what was on there. She is NOT great at math, and doesn’t even like it. But she said it was fun to try and figure out what they wanted her to do to solve it. And…the ACT…same thing…there is a science section but she said it’s not really science knowledge. They give you tables with information and you answer their questions based on what is in front of you. </p>
<p>So don’t think you HAVE to take “clinics” (unless it’s required for some reason). And there is no reason to think you’d be spread too thin. It’s nearly all the same material, presented in different ways. It’s not like the APs or SAT IIs. </p>
<p>I know another girl who has a perfect score in BOTH of them! Honestly, it’s no harder to take 2 than to take 1. </p>
<p>OR…go ahead and do your studying for whichever one you decide on AND then ALSO just throw the other one in there for good measure. Don’t “study” for it. You might be amazed! </p>
<p>You say your pre-tests say you’ll be better at ACT so go forward with that - then take the SAT for fun, or for practice, or whatever. </p>
<p>Lots lots lots of kids take both. It’s just 3-4 hours…2 Saturdays. AND…the ACT gives a test in June after school is out so that’s probably a free Saturday anyway.</p>
<p>YOu mentioned that pretty much everyone goes in-state to MI schools, does this mean you’re looking for more elite OOS privates? Because you should know that you might ALSO need to take SAT IIs/subject tests. I don’t even remember but Columbia requires SAT IIs even if you take the ACT, right?</p>
<p>Hi everyone… I guess I’m mainly wondering if sending in just your ACT scores would hurt your chances, and, if so, how much.</p>
<p>Well think about it.</p>
<p>You NEED to send in two SAT IIs, and Columbia requires you send all your scores, and the SAT automatically does so…so if you take the SAT I, no matter what you get, it will be sent in.</p>
<p>But relax, Columbia will take your best scores.</p>
<p>columbia superscores, and only accepts your highest score.</p>
<p>so they take the highest individual sat section you took. </p>
<p>they also will convert your ACT to an SAT score, and compare it to your highest superscored SAT. whichever is highest is what they assign to you.</p>
<p><a href=“http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/tpcounseling/Web_Pages/SAT-ACT_Conversion_Chart.htm[/url]”>http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/tpcounseling/Web_Pages/SAT-ACT_Conversion_Chart.htm</a></p>
