<p>I am a junior.
I took the SAT for the first time in December and got an 1890, second time in January and got a 2090. (690 in CR, 670 in Math, 730 in writing 11 essay).</p>
<p>I was planning to take the SAT a 3rd time in May, but a friend told me that a 3rd time just "looks bad."</p>
<p>So I was wondering if I should just keep the 2090 and take the ACT and see how that goes. Eventually I'll send both the SAT and the ACT if I do "better" on the ACT.</p>
<p>If I take the SAT for a 3rd time and get a 2200+, I will nto take the ACT.</p>
<p>Is this a good decision? My top choices are Brown and Columbia. I have a 3.85 ish GPA
UW.</p>
<p>Honestly, I agree with your friend. That does look bad. I mean, having to take the SAT 3 times? That would throw me off as an admissions officer. Do try the ACT. Maybe the ACT is a better fit for you than the SAT. Hope I helped.</p>
<p>If I were you, I’d focus on Subject Tests for now - maybe study hard and take them in June. Then I’d do a ton of practice SAT tests in the summer and aim to consistently score around 2200 or above on them, and then retake the SAT in the fall. Or, try a few practice ACT tests and see how the scores compare - if you’re doing well on the ACTs, then stick with them and prepare during the summer, then take them in the fall. Don’t rush to complete your testing in your junior year - it’s not necessary.</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with taking the SAT three times if you improve significantly by the third time. Most colleges will just look at your highest score. The other scores don’t say anything - maybe you were just having bad days or hadn’t figured out the test yet, which doesn’t say anything about your college preparedness.</p>
<p>I would give the ACT a shot if I were you. Just don’t report your scores and you have nothing to lose. Like the others said, it may be a better fit for you.<br>
I don’t think taking the SAT 3 times is that big of a deal either though.</p>
<p>^Well, some colleges don’t allow Score Choice. Plus, the OP is much better off trying out a few practice ACT tests first rather than just going into the actual exam not knowing what it’s like, and then just not reporting the scores after.</p>
<p>Really guys? I would say retake the SAT! you seem to be getting more familiar with the format and how to answer questions. STUDY more. do more practice tests.
Dont waste all that effort you’ve already spent to improve your score.</p>
<p>Dont worry too much - 3 times is fine. >3 is a cause for concern, but 3 is perfectly acceptable. OR else why would schools say 2-3 times is fine if it isn’t?</p>
<p>just give it your best. if that doesnt pan out, try the ACT. and think about superscore. focus the most on your weakest section, to give it a boost. you’ll do fine.</p>
<p>@adissaddddd –
Do you have a list of colleges that don’t allow score choice? I know Stanford is one, but I don’t know any others. That can become very expensive.<br>
Of course, he/she should try a practice test first, I didn’t mean to imply that he/she should go in to take the test cold.</p>
<p>Yale doesn’t allow it either. Not sure about others.</p>
<p>Thing is, Yale’s stated reason is that it’s not expensive, since you can report all your scores at once for the same price. You don’t have to report your scores each time you take the test - report them all at once and you’ll save a lot of money/time.</p>
<p>I would take it again and then only report your best scores. Your colleges won’t know how many total times you take it, just the number of SATs you decide to send.</p>
<p>I don’t think it would be bad to take the SAT again. However, here is a major reason to consider instead taking the ACT: for both Columbia and Brown you can submit for admission the ACT without any SAT subject tests (Penn and Yale the same).</p>
<p>From smokymtngirl above: “Do you have a list of colleges that don’t allow score choice?”</p>
<p>See <a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf</a> and the ones that are anti-score choice are those listed as “All Scores” colleges. List is from last Aug and you must check any college when it comes time to apply because colleges do change. The trend has been that every year some more colleges come to their senses and drop their anti-score choice position. Also, that list only tells you whether they require all SAT scores and not whether they also require all SAT subject tests scores or all ACTs, or even require any SATs if you submit an ACT. The all scores colleges vary as to whether the policy also applies to those other tests and whether SATs are required to be provided if you submit ACTs, e.g., Stanford requires you to provide all SAT and ACT scores but you can submit whatever subject test scores you feel like; Yale requires you to submit all SAT and SAT subject tests or you can instead choose to submit just all ACTs.</p>
<p>take SAT again. i think that your friend’s claim is just a myth. of course, don’t take it more than 5 times, but anything less than that is valid. You don’t want to regret not taking it again when you knew you could score higher and get into you dream college, just because you friend said that it looks bad to take it more than 3 times.
I am personally taking the ACT for the 4th time next year. (i got a 31 my third time)</p>
<p>Rhythm,
I think you should do both. I don’t think taking the test 3 times is going to look bad. Plus, your scores right now are a little low for both Brown and Columbia. Both of my kids took the SAT 3 times. Each of them increased their scores on the 2nd and 3rd tests. I think you should shoot for the September test. Between now and then, do every single math and writing question in the blue book. Do the problems you missed a 2nd time and then again a 3rd time. It sounds like a lot, but you have a lot of time. I bet anything your score goes up, especially in math. </p>
<p>Some people do a lot better on the ACT, too. If you don’t have it, get the red book and do the three practice tests in there. Look on CC for some tips about strategies specific to the ACT test. See how you do. You never know. I’d take the first two fall tests. After all, you’re just going to keep getting smarter between now and then right? </p>
<p>And, spend the next few months reading. A lot. It will make a difference. </p>
<p>Obviously, if you are thinking of applying ED or EA, waiting until fall might not work; it would depend on deadlines.</p>
<p>"If I were you, I’d focus on Subject Tests for now - maybe study hard and take them in June. Then I’d do a ton of practice SAT tests in the summer and aim to consistently score around 2200 or above on them, and then retake the SAT in the fall. " - Adissaddd</p>
<p>I agree with this. Get a couple of subject matter test under your belt, then work on the areas of the SAT that you missed. You already have familiarity with the format and taking it for a third time (only once senior year) will not look bad.</p>
<p>I agree with scubasue. Take both of them. A third time on the SAT is not too bad, although I wouldn’t take it more than three times. Who knows, the ACT might be a better fit for you!</p>
<p>Just take both. Don’t choose between one and the other.
If you significantly improve your third time, then great! If you do great on the ACT as well, then great!
If, for whatever reason, you don’t improve your third time (you most likely will), then you have the ACT to rely on (some people do better on the ACT than on the SAT). </p>