Is there a benefit to a college receiving test scores from a student who is still 2 years away from applying? Assuming the scores are high, does it show demonstrated interest in the school? Does it put the student on their radar? Or does the school not even bother to notice at this early stage?
My sophomore son took the Nov 7 SAT and based on his work on practice tests, he expects to do very well. He’s wondering whether to send scores to a couple of his dream schools. (He would do so after receiving his score to make sure they’re in line with his expectations.)
If you’re either way sending your scores after they release (and thus would likely be paying the score send fee,) I’d recommend waiting until senior year when you’ve finalized the schools you’re applying to. Also, not every school requires official test scores from applicants (but may from committed students) which can save money.
Score sends are also not retroactive, so waiting until senior year means he can include SAT Subject Test scores, if he decides to take any.
It likely won’t get any more interest than just signing up for the College Board service to release your scores to schools for marketing in general. Or just going to each school’s web site and signing up.
I certainly wouldn’t pay to send them, which you’ll need to do if you are waiting to see them.
Fwiw, my D used the free send on her first SAT, mostly just because she could, and her 1550+ didn’t yield an avalanche of data from the schools. Possibly because she was still young/early in the process.
My son’s early SAT caught the eye of Ivies, but he didn’t send. Top Colleges will pay College Boards for the top score names and you will receive a lot of marketing if your son has them.
The great news is that an early great score takes a lot of pressure off and more time can be devoted to studying for classes.
My D sent her scores junior year for the four free schools she was sure she was applying to. Two of the four never attached the scores to her application and contacted her that they were missing. Caused a lot of unnecessary angst. I would wait!
Actual scores taken under real testing conditions offer differ substantially from practice test scores.
The better use of actual test scores achieved 2 years prior to applying to colleges might be in applying to competitive academically oriented summer programs for high school students.
Thank you all for the replies. It sounds like there really is no benefit. With so much talk of demonstrated interest I wondered if that would show some. He did put down 4 schools to send the scores for free—our 2 big state schools which he is seriously considering bc they are both highly ranked in business and engineering. And two other top state schools in the region. But his dream schools are the usual top private schools that many motivated students seek admission to. So looking for any early advantages or ways to get him noticed. But sounds like if the scores are there, they’ll take notice from college board when they request names/scores that fit their targets. So we’ll just wait to send those and not waste the money now. Thanks!
The top private schools receive applications from many with extremely high standardized test scores who are ultimately rejected.
High standardized test scores tend to make the biggest impact at large public universities which offer stats (GPA & SAT/ACT) based merit scholarship awards.
Check out the Honors Colleges at the University of Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, & Florida State University for some indication of numbers which receive full or partial tuition scholarships.
By the time your child applies, the schools he thinks he is interested in now might be distant memories. If he’s applying to tippy top schools who don’t consider demonstrated interest, it isn’t going to do much good. And I agree with others that scores sitting around for two years without an application isn’t making a difference.
In two years time, maybe there will be more colleges than ever who are test optional, or who won’t even consider scores. Wait.
I actually work at a state university which my son will consider attending and he would receive half price tuition there. He would also qualify for decent merit there. Both of our state universities that he’s considering are extremely affordable options. But he wants to attend college in the East coast and since that’s where I’m originally from, I’m encouraging it. But it only makes sense IMO if he can get into one of his dream schools.
If schools do consider demonstrated interest, and fewer elite schools do, I think hitting the “send me info” on their web site, which gets data directly into their databases, will be more effective.
No benefit at all. He will not be “noticed.” Nobody is noticed until the 3-8 minutes the admissions officer spends reading the application. And high test scores at tippy top schools are not at all unusual, even if achieved in 10th grade. Everyone applying has top scores. Better that he learn how to write a great essay. That’s what will differentiate him.
Sending scores does not demonstrate interest. Demonstrating interest involves personal contact with the school. Anyway, demonstrated interest is not a thing for tippy top schools. It’s very important for schools that protect yield, e.g.,his safety schools.