<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>All the juniors in my area were required to take the ACT as part of a state mandate. Before, I was convinced I would just take the SAT and not even study for this mandatory administration of the ACT. When I got my scores back last week I was shocked. I received a 35 composite score with a 36 CR, 35 M, 35 W, 34 S. Now I am considering not taking the SAT at all.</p>
<p>Will it look bad if I only took this one administration of the ACT and send no SAT scores? Is the ACT considered easier by top-tier universities?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>They are treated equally by virtually all colleges, including places like Harvard.</p>
<p>Traditionally, the SAT was more popular on the East and West Coasts while the ACT was popular in the mid-west. It’s much more blurred now, though at least in California, the SAT still holds its dominance. But colleges don’t care either way. Most students score about the same on the two tests. But go with the test that you score highest on.</p>
<p>Make sure your ACT has an essay score though. Hopefully you took it with the essay.</p>
<p>From Harvard’s webpage:</p>
<p>We require the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT Test with Writing, as well as two SAT Subject Tests. Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English should ordinarily not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet the two Subject Tests requirement.</p>
<p>I did take the ACT with writing and scored a 9. This brought my overall English score to a 32 though, so I am not sure if I should retake or not since I am primarily interested in engineering and science-based schools.</p>
<p>A 9 is a very so-so score for schools like Harvard. Personally, I’d retake and try to get an 10 or 11 without losing points in the other sections of course. But it’s also a risk - you may score lower. Talk to someone at the school you’re hoping to get into and see what they say.</p>
<p>Keep in mind though, just because you’re doing eng/science doesn’t mean you should have too low a score in English. Now a 32 is still very respectable…but when you’re competing with the best of the best, then you probably want at least a 10 or 11 on the essay.</p>
<p>Great job so far!</p>