I’m finishing up my AA degree at community college but am looking forward to transferring to a 4 year program next year. I want to get my degree in Chinese and stay near where my partner and I live so I’m looking at University of Vermont, Dartmouth and Middlebury if any of them will have me (an my online class and at home dictionary if they won’t).
Way back in the days of dial up modems and pine email I went to a 4 year college but my life got in the way and I had to stop. I took the SAT and the ACT more than 10 years ago. I think I got in the 1400’s and - I don’t know - something comparable on my ACT. So now, the colleges tell me that, if I’d like to, I can take the tests again before I apply (and take 2 SATIIs if I want to). The person I talked to was fairly noncommittal in saying if the schools preferred a fresh set of standardized test scores or not. Does anyone here have an opinion? Should I get my number two pencils ready and start making flashcards?
You might find that you do better on the new SAT/SAT Subject Tests. Some of the sections have been tweaked, and the logic/analogies section has been eliminated. Try taking a practice test, or taking a test prep class.
Some schools wont accept scores older than a certain number of years (I assume it varies by school). For instance, Columbia GS doesn’t take scores older than 8 years. Also, apparently some schools don’t accept scores from tests taken while you are in college. So before you spend the money make sure that the school you are applying to will actually accept the scores.
Thanks for the feedback. Dartmouth said that some of their non-trad students took the SATs and the SATIIs before applying, but I’m not sure about Middlebury.
You don’t mention it, but are the SAT’s even necessary for transfer students at these schools? If they are not required, then very little to no weight will be put on them if you send them in. If they are required then it would be to your advantage to retake them. Transfer admissions are usually more competitive than regular admissions and a 1400 SAT is about average.
At a school like Dartmouth, admissions expect to see an SAT plus two IIs from every candidate. I think, if you do decide to retake the test(s), you’ll find you do significantly better with you extra experience and focus.
It’s worth the time if it puts you in range with other applicants.
Oxgirl…I attended City college of San Francisco at age 39. I completed all the core sunjects in 18 months with a gpa of 3.9. I asked my advisors if I should take the SAT to try and get into Stanford and Berkeley. They said it was a waste of time, they were right I applied to both and was accepted at UC Berkeley(entering as a sophomore), where I have already graduated. Complete the general requirements with a stellar gpa, and nothing should stop you from gaining entrace into a top university.
BTW, I’m at SJSU, looking to go to Berkeley for grad school. Stanford’s Religion department doesn’t offer financial aid for MA candidates, so it’s not an option.
I am about to finish up my AA soon also and I am going to be transferring to a 4yr SUNY university. My only problem is that I NEVER took my SATs, come to think about it I wasn’t even offered the chance to take them. I was in Special Ed classes in HS & I graduated in 1991.
I think it’s worth re-doing them. I’m an international nontraditional student and while I didn’t have the option to do SATs, I did do A Levels but am still taking SATs and 3 subject tests. I just think if you’re applying after a break in your education it shows that you’ve been dedicated to studying by doing SATs in your own time and helps ease you back into the learning process as well.
I do not think it is necessary to take SATs if you have had A’s in your Community College classes. Your old, high, SAT scores are there if anyone wants to look at them.
I was accepted in May as a non-trad transfer (26 y.o. vet) by Dartmouth. My SAT’s were 9 years old.
Let me crystal clear: THE SAT IS A COLLEGE SUCCESS INDICATOR TEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Yes, 17 year-olds - as in, kids who just got their driver’s license and don’t have their braces off yet.
Like bezerkely said - a waste of time. Admissions crews (Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth, UVA, Brown, etc.) uniformly told me not to bother.
Actually Biat & Switch, these are direct quotes from an email I received from Stanford
“<b> All applicants, including transfers, must submit results from either the new SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with Writing in order to be considered. Also, though we don’t require the SAT II Subject Tests, it can be helpful to submit results from at least two SAT II Subject Tests.</b>”
and
“Yes we will take recent SATs and consider your highest score”, when asked if I should retake my SATs
Syrinx: And you are how old? How old are your SAT scores? How long have you been out of college?
OH, here’s an answer, from another post of yours:
“I am now 20 years old looking to transfer to a UC in fall 2010. Is it wise to take the SAT and ACT again for an improved score??”
You’re a 20 year old. You’re not a non-traditional student. Stanford gave you the answer appropriate for your age and situation. If you were a 43 year old returning to college, they would not have suggested you take the SAT. G’wan, ask them.
We’re a featured topic, so we’re getting people who think “non-traditional student” means someone with pink hair, or a unique personality.
From Wikipedia, non-traditional students are:
Students who are older than the historically typical undergraduate student (usually aged 18-25), and had interrupted their studies earlier in life
(Less common usage) Students of traditional age but attending colleges or programs that provide unconventional scheduling to allow for other responsibilities and pursuits concurrent with attaining a degree
So non-traditional students are usually over 25, or have been out of school for usually 5+ years, or are part time, have families, etc.
Being a community college transfer, a lot of great public universities don’t require SATs at all, so double check. Private schools tend to still require them.
Bottom-line: Check with each school you’d like to apply to individually, so you don’t get any surprises! Schools usually state how old your SAT results can be. I think they tend to allow you some slack - you’re not studying medicine, so your scores are still good. If anything, with your added years of study, most schools know you’re better than those older scores now. Which is why so many schools don’t even require them of transfer students.
I’ve actually wondered about this too, with an even more extreme example. I was a National Merit Commended Scholar back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. My SAT scores are still stored in the attic, if they haven’t rotted from old age. I’m sure I wouldn’t score as well if I took them again!
I earned a BA in Education and a JD, and have worked for 30+ years as a lawyer. While I’ve had a good career with some wonderful Fortune 500 companies, I’ve regretted not being a high school teacher. I’ve browsed on-line and have noted that teaching programs now require different classes than were needed in the 70s. I’ve been considering trying to update my degree and pursue certification. While we have a glut of teachers, our newspaper has reported that there is a lack of sufficient numbers of substitute teachers because of the poor pay, particulary in inner city and rural school districts.
I’d love to get admitted to a local university and take the necessary classes for our state’s teacher certification. My goal would be to sign up to be a substitute teacher. We didn’t have to be certified to teach Neanderthal children in the Pleistocene era!
I guess the first step is to visit the local university and talk to admissions for the programs that we want to pursue. I’m hoping they have an outreach program for adult students that will make retaking the SAT unnecessary!
I considered doing so back during my “initial try” at college with an eye on transferring to one of the Seven Sisters or Mills, and was told not to bother.
Neonzeus: You’ll find that pretty much all the schools that will accept you won’t ask for the SAT. They tend to put much more stock in references and your essays/life experiences. I think you should go for it! I regret not returning to school 10 years ago!
