Our son is a high junior and just received his scores on the Dec. 5 SAT. They are well-above where they need to be for the six schools he wants to attend and he will not be taking them again. According to each college’s merit aid calculator, he will be eligible for merit scholarships in each of these schools. He has visited them all during open houses. So here is my question: should he get on their radar screens in early 2016 by submitting his scores through www.collegeboards.com? I posed this question before he took the test and people said to wait for his scores to come in, and that colleges were busy dealing with seniors. But, when do admissions counselors begin to focus on the junior class? I guess I thought this would be a good way to get a dialogue going instead of waiting until the autumn. I would love to hear opinions on this. Thank you.
@csggirl :
I don’t believe that there is an issue with sending in SAT scores before actually applying. However, it still doesn’t if you wait until a little closer to the application deadline. The schools won’t even look at the scores if he sends it now. They won’t look at it until he submits his application and they are reviewing it.
Also, between now and next fall, his college list might change a bit, so it might be worth waiting.
there is reason to send them before he is a Sr, as colleges wont open an admissions "file"for him to put them in until the Fall of 2016, at the earliest.
It saves you about $11 per school to send them now. That is the advantage. Nothing lost if the list changes.
Check to see if they have summer programs for high school students to keep the dialogue going or visit again and make appointments to speak with key faculty and staff. Or just wait until next year when the real action begins.
I wouldn’t worry about missing out on the colleges’ efforts to reach out to your son. As you’ve said, you’ve already visited. See if there are any summer or fall programs that might interest him. As for the scholarship track, they’re very transparent (it’s part of their marketing) – just make sure you guys make the deadlines. Will it help that he gets on their radar early? In my experience, no. Until he actually applies, he’s just another name on a list of wanted students.
By the way your post is written, it sounds like you think colleges would be so impressed with the scores that the colleges would be keen to nab your son or at least to start recruiting him. I don’t think sending straight 800s would be so impressive as to entice adcons to recruit your son unless he is a highly ranked athlete. Colleges are not really interested in establishing a dialogue with your son-unless he is a highly ranked athlete that is or unless the school never gets strong candidates. I’d simply encourage your son to apply during the regular application season when he is a senior.
If it is not too late to use the free score reports, use them. There is very little downside to sending a great score during junior year. We did and received application waivers from 3 of the 4 schools. You do not mention which schools he is interested in, but send to his safeties at very least.
If the student took the SAT on 12/5 - how would the score report still be free?
“You receive four score reports every time you register for the SAT. These four score reports must be used at the time of registration or up to nine days after the test date. We highly recommend that you take advantage of these score reports, as additional reports are subject to a fee.”
OP, if you are paying for the score reports, then I would wait. The colleges won’t see them until you apply, and a lot can change with your son’s list between now and next fall.
@Cheeringsection: I wish I had even considered the “wow” factor in the junior year score reports, and the subsequent waivers that might follow. Not too late for the others to come though, so thanks.
We did the same as @Cheeringsection did. Our son’s SAT II, SAT were very high and he received several score waivers. It also helped with an invite to Rice’s SOAR event. If you have a high score, and you know you will apply, go go for it. We sent his last year and when he applied to Harvard yesterday, the scores were already loaded. No stressing over SAT transmit times!