<p>There is no reason for your son to sit for another exam. My son took the ACT one time, got a score of 33 and was finished. Over and done. It took so much pressure off of him. He was admitted ED1 to a top LAC.</p>
<p>This might shed some light on why retaking isn’t the best idea.</p>
<p>[MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: “What’s the big deal about 40^2?”](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/standardized_test_requirements/whats_the_big_deal_about_402.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/standardized_test_requirements/whats_the_big_deal_about_402.shtml)</p>
<p>Gevamna, that may be what a junior MIT admissions officer said in 2004, and presumably he believed it. It’s also consistent with how I had been viewing the world. But when I look at the data tables now on the MIT admissions site - [MIT</a> Admissions: Admissions Statistics](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/apply/admissions_statistics/index.shtml) - and the correlation they show between SAT scores and admissions rate, I’m not sure that Matt McGann’s statements are still valid (even if they were in 2004). And when I look at data tables from other highly selective schools showing the exact same type of correlation, it leaves me feeling like multiple tries are almost essential for these schools. I’d really like to believe otherwise, but look at the data tables for MIT linked above, and for Princeton, Stanford, Dartmouth and Brown linked below, and tell me what you think.</p>
<p>[Princeton</a> University | Admission Statistics](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/admission_statistics/]Princeton”>http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/admission_statistics/)</p>
<p>[Applicant</a> Profile : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/profile.html]Applicant”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/profile.html)</p>
<p>[Testing</a> Statistics](<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/facts/test-stats.html]Testing”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/facts/test-stats.html)</p>
<p>[Brown</a> Admission: Facts & Figures](<a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University)</p>
<p>what was true in 2004 is not necessarily still true today. There are thousands more “highly qualified” students applying to each highly selective college than even a few years ago.So it should not be a surprise that the SAT scores of accepted students have climbed as well.</p>
<p>If OP’s son felt that his score exceeded/matched his expectations and that he was lucky to score it, then I would definitely advise against retaking. In the aforementioned scenario, his score has a greater likelihood of decreasing as clearly stated by the figures provided by College Board.</p>
<p>However, if your son is one of those really high achievers who sees a 2340 as good but not his best, I see no reason why he shouldn’t retake. In my opinion, anyone who scores a 2340 without having a lucky testing day is quite capable of attaining a 2400. Just how much an improvement in SAT scores at the highest echelon truly affects college admissions has been discussed extensively throughout CC, but not many will argue that a higher score has absolutely no effect. </p>
<p>My personal anecdote: I scored a 2370 in January (Stupid mistake resulted in a 770M) and retook in March for a 2400. I spent no additional time studying, and the total time I “wasted” trying to reach a “useless achievement” was 5 hours on a Saturday morning. I’m sure my choice was not too detrimental too my ECs and “overall package”.</p>
<p>my s was in exactly the same position after taking the SAT 1. His guidance teacher told him that the difference between his score of 2350 and a 2400 was probably just getting one more question right instead of wrong. For the chance of making one less error, he realized that he would need to take some more practice tests and that his time could be better spent keeping his current grades up and trying to prep for the numerous AP and SAT 2 tests in junior year. However, he had to come to this conclusion himself (probably after listening to classmates complain that they had to retake it again and were already pressed for time).</p>
<p>Honestly, there is NO need to test again
I got a 34 on my first go on the ACT and was told to test again to see if I could do better with some prep, but for what? Stanford will reject some perfect 2400s and accept some 2200s, you just don’t know. As long as his score is GOOD ENOUGH (and it certainly is), leave well enough alone</p>
<p>
All 3 of our kids took the SAT only once. Two of them applied to Stanford and got accepted.</p>
<p>No school (HYPS included) that rejects your son with 2340 will accept him with 2390. At this point it is not about the scores. (I am also guessing that he got 800s on SAT IIs, since he is not considering retaking those…)</p>
<p>nngmm: good point that a 2340 reject will now not turn this in an accept at 2390</p>
<p>No need to test again. I talked to Admin officer from Yale yesterday (my son was accepted). He said the SAT test score is only a minor point. He looks at the score and says good score and looks to see what else you have. Focus on the other aspects of your package (essays, Teacher recommendations, EC’s). Build a passion and show it throughout your appliation</p>
<p>Hi-well after a lot of going back and forth and also taking a look at all the great advice we got here (many thanks) he decided against taking it again, he is a very busy kid, like most juniors and feels like if Stanford is going to take him, they are going to take him with a 2340 or a 2400, his bevy of EC’s will not change, nor will his excellent gpa, his outstanding history of long term community service, and other achievements. </p>
<p>In answer to someones question about the SAT II’s, he got 2 800’s and 1 780. He is finally satisfied with his scores enough to let it rest and channel his energies into continuing with his studies and other activities. He is a highly motived student, and his teacher recommendations will attest to this. In the end, all we can hope for is that all of the other very credible pieces of the pie will outshine those missing 60 points! Fingers crossed :)</p>
<p>In the OP’s situation, I could see opting to not retake the SAT. </p>
<p>But this statement… “Honestly I refuse to pay to have my child take it more than once.”… really surprised me. It may make sense for that familiy’s situation. But in most cases the test fees are a true nit in comparison to scholarships etc that might be at stake.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Is that a conjecture or do you have factual evidence to support your claim?</p>
<p>My son got a 2300 (800M, 760CR, 740W) on his first take (march). Plenty of people suggested he retake because his first choice was Yale. He decided not to retake, because he truly wasn’t interested in test taking (we can’t afford the SAT prep classes and my kids probably wouldn’t go to them anyway). His 3 May SATIIs were good (750-800) as was his 10th grade Bio SATII so we considered him done with testing. He might have reconsidered if his math was weak as he’s a science major. His writing score was a little low but he had a 12 on the essay so he was ok with the score. In my view, this scenario really showed the type of kid he was. He didn’t stress over tests. He challenged himself for the sake of learning. In fact, he took a bunch of “enrichment” type classes outside of HS, just because… I think that attitude was backed up by his teacher recs. He didn’t see them but he was told that teachers liked his passion for learning as he stood out from the kids who fought with teachers over every point (on homework, papers and tests) or as my son described, kids with 98 averages asking repeatedly for extra credit so they could have a 100 avg. They never cared about learning anything - just what grade they got…</p>
<p>Btw, with his 2300, my son was accepted to Duke, Brown and Yale - so I agree with those who say that your 2340 is good enough. Move on and strengthen the rest of your application. </p>
<p>OTOH, my son suggested to his sister who just got her first scores back (780CR, 740M, 680W) that she should “consider” retaking. She only had 2 errors in math, one stupid mistake she complained about when she got home. But her W score is a bit low as is her essay score. Not sure if she will retake. It’s up to her. I’d rather she just worry about her Stats, Chem and USHist APs (and SATIIs), track season and junior prom. She can always retake in Oct.</p>
<p>One and done! Mine also has a 2340, is looking at high level schools, and has been told by more than one source not to retake. He scored a silly 770 on math because he got one question wrong. I’m sure that admissions officers who see his AMC12/AIME scores, his 800 in Math 2 and his good grades in upper level university math courses, will forgive him the slip.
All that I have heard and seen says that breaking 2300 is more than enough.</p>
<p>^ Stanford, Dartmouth and Brown’s applicant profiles disagree</p>
<p>[Applicant</a> Profile : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/profile.html]Applicant”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/profile.html)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/facts/test-stats.html[/url]”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/facts/test-stats.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“Undergraduate Admission | Brown University”>Undergraduate Admission | Brown University;
<p>I only took the SATs once - and wasn’t fussed at all to take it again.</p>
<p>I honestly think that for the top schools once you reach a base level of “okay-ness” in regards to SATs, the actual differences matter little.</p>
<p>I’m reminded of something a friend told me - when committee meets to discuss the admission of a particular applicant, you will have members advocate for you - they can’t passionately advocate for a number, but they can passionately advocate for a person, a life, and a story. </p>
<p>In short - imho, the objective factors matter to a certain extent, but then the subjective factors will get you over.</p>
<p>^ See my above post. Obviously admissions are holistic and being a good person with an interest life/story will help, but objective stats do not only matter up to some arbitrary cut off.</p>
<p>I have no figures to cite Jersey13 - and I’m only offering my feelings on admissions.</p>
<p>I have seen many fellow accepted students with SATs far below 2400 (around the 2100 mark). My own admissions officer indicated that she was far less interested in my (great but not perfect) SATs than my essays and ECs etc. </p>
<p>Just my personal perspective, having just finished the admissions process.</p>
<p>ETA: Jersey - being that none of us are admissions officers, we don’t (well I certainly don’t) claim to speak with strong authority, and only submit what I acknowledge to be my personal opinion. Why is it that you, as a prospective applicant feel the need to speak with authority where none exists?</p>
<p>(This is not an ad hominem - I fully respect your opinions, however I question the rather assertive, authoritative tone of your many posts - because the truth is - we on this forum are not authoritative)</p>
<p>Over a year has elapsed since the newest post on here; after hearing back from schools do you former college applicants believe that you made the right choice to pass up or sit through another round of testing? I’ve just finished junior year and done what I’d like to think is sufficient standardized testing (2300 on SAT reasoning - 790R, 760M, 750W and 800, 790, and 730 on the Spanish, USHist, and Math 2 subject tests), but with Brown as my dream destination I don’t want to miss any opportunity to improve. Some people have suggested that it’s better to stay, that just having the one day of testing speaks better for the applicant, that scores go down after the first time, that SAT scores really don’t play that huge a role in admissions decisions. I have a very demanding roster lined up for next year though, along with a plethora of extracurricular activities and two jobs, so if I can skip the testing Saturday and all its accompanying prep, that’s definitely good news. However, if individual experiences dictate that it’s wiser to just suck it up and retake the test, I will make sure to get myself signed up.</p>
<p>@Jersey13</p>
<p>It is true that acceptance rates tend to go up as you move along the SAT score scale, even above 2300. It has been suggested numerous times, however, that this is a case of ‘correlation is not causation’ and that a score of 800 on the M section of the SAT does not in itself confer any significant advantage over applicants with slightly lower scores. Like, why would an 800 on the W section mean a higher chance of acceptance at schools that don’t care about the W score? Because on these tables, 800 W always seems like the most advantageous score–even though the W section is generally assumed to carry the least weight. It’s much more likely that the people who score 800 on the W tend to write better essays/stand out more in a pool of science-oriented applicants.</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way, after 800 these tables are almost always divided into broad categories like ‘700-790’ and ‘600-690’. A breakdown of the acceptance rates for every possible score, 800 vs 790 vs 780 and so on, would most likely reveal that an 800 is not much different from a 790 or a 780.</p>