<p>Originally I scored a 1980 (best scores put together) on my SATs. I'm sort of thinking I should but I'm not sure. Should I take them over again? I will be applying for schools for fall 08. Any input would be appreciated. </p>
<p>P.S. Schools that I am looking at include: NYU, Tufts, Cal, Stanford, U of C, Northwestern, USC, Pomona College, Columbia, Georgetown, Penn</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind is that all your scores (on all the SATs you've ever taken) will be seen by the college even though you're sending the new one. My overwhelming inclination is to suggest that you SHOULD take them again. The colleges will consider them, and even if you don't score much higher, just showing you care enough to try again probably shows them something. Also, your score isn't where you would want it to be for your bigger reach schools (Stanford, Columbia). I think you should study and take them again. Look on collegeboard to check the average scores of the schools you're interested in. Remember that SAT scores aren't everything in this process though. A lot of it is how you present yourself in your application (passionate essays, good teacher recommendations, etc.)</p>
<p>I understand that six of those schools would be reach schools. Would the deciding factor between me taking them again depend on my other numbers as well such as gpa, ecs, etc?</p>
<p>I've been wondering this same thing. I start school (as a freshman at UCSD) around September 20th-27th and I'm wondering if I should take the ACT again... or even come home for a weekend to take the SAT/SAT IIs again... since I'll have time to study during the summer...</p>
<p>Well I think no matter how good your GPA/ECs are, it's to your benefit to retake the test to see if you can get a higher score. This all of course depends on whether or not you think you can get a score which has improved enough to be worth the effort. I wouldn't drive myself crazy with SAT studying as you have to keep your GPA up as well. But if you can devote time to studying, and believe you can improve, I think it's to your benefit. Some of the schools you've listed are clearly looking for higher scores. Now SAT scores aren't the be-all and end-all. You may get in with that score, but if you can strengthen the application so that you're within their desired score range, you're in a better position.</p>
<p>^^ good advice. to the op, make sure you are prepared to take the test again, and honestly believe you can fare better the second time around. remember, the sat's test nothing but how well you take their test. the scores really do little to illustrate how well you understand a subject. remember, you can always score lower the second time around, as i did (from the 2300+ range to the high 2200's).</p>
<p>I'm worried though because I took the Sats in high school three times. I hear that schools frown upon students taking it more than three times. I'm really worried and I'm willing to put in the effort to get into a school that I want to go to. Any other input? Would posting up my stats and ecs help people out making a judgment call?</p>
<p>I've never taken the ACT before either, if that information helps.</p>
<p>do colleges want to see sat2s retaken also if one did poorly in high school? or just the sat?</p>
<p>Pomona's average SAT scores for accepted students this year were 740M, 750CR, 740W (2230 total). This school would be a reach for you unless you significantly increase your scores. My advice would be to take actual practice tests for 12 weeks in a row, then retake the exam. Like anything else, practice makes perfect.</p>
<p>Does anybody know if I've never taken the ACT before and I decide to take it, if I can send those scores and have them count? I would be a second year when I take the test.</p>
<p>To answer your earlier question, the commonly held claim is that colleges don't really like to see you take the test more than 3 times. But, whenever you hear that it refers to high school SAT takers. I think that if you were to take it one or maybe two more times it would not be all that detrimental. I wouldn't go 3 times more. Remember that a number of colleges will take your highest score from a section in any sitting. So you might be able to take a good score on a section of your first sitting and combine it with better scores in the second. Posting your stats and ECs won't really be necessary. That's because even if they are good, your SAT scores aren't in the range of what the colleges you've named are looking for. You really want to make an effort to be within their score range because it's a plus for your application.</p>
<p>To fight_on1: I would call the colleges to see what their view is on the SAT II. I tend to think that SAT IIs are really the least of your worries on an application. They're more specific tests to judge how well you'll do in college. You've been in college and have grades for that, so it becomes less relevant (much more so than SAT Is). Still, call the colleges and see what their opinions are on it.</p>
<p>To lilkrnq again: If you take the ACTs most colleges will look at them in the place of an SAT, and if you send them in time for admissions committee review it should be fine. I think they're more concerned with whether you've made an effort to improve, rather than the fact that you're taking the test as a college student.</p>