Ten Points -- makes all the difference in the world

Test Preparation
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<p>.... at least in my case...</p>

<p>I have a mediocre score of 1390 on my SAT Is -- it's amazing what 10 points can do to the appearance of your application, from 1400 student to a 1300 student. (sigh)... 680V and 710M</p>

<p>Well I was going to take the January SATs for SAT II Literature.. I got a 690 with no prep just walking in and taking the test, because I had no other third subject to take. But I'm not quite certain if I can improve on this score. Only 10 points away from 700.. =[ Sigh</p>

<p>Well, my dilemma is this:
I can re-take my SAT Is, which would be my 4th time, so it won't look too great. But all for the chance at getting 1400. But I know I can improve on Math, but I've been plagued and cursed with stupid mistakes along the way.</p>

<p>OR I can also retake SAT II Literature, of which I only took once, for a chance at maybe getting a 700+?</p>

<p>Did that make any sense at all? </p>

<p>AND ALSO.. (sorry, I'm almost finished)... I was wondering if I should take SAT II Literature in January because I have an 800 for Math IIc and that might show the universities that I have the capability and capacity for higher level math? I also received a 760 for Writing, so that makes me think that I should just take the SAT Is in January because I think I have decent enough scores for the SAT II part of the admissions process. </p>

<p>OKAY I'M DONE :O) thanks for reading</p>

<p>So, with all your wisdom on private schools and the admissions process -- what are your thoughts?</p>

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<p>I would take the SAT II. From what it sounds like to me, you are not aiming for 100 more points on the SAT, just 10. Trust me, colleges will not categorize you into a 1300 student category. A 1350 and a 1360 are just as far apart as 1390 and 1400. Colleges know there is a flux of at least 30 points, so I would say take SAT II.</p>

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<p>hmm that's good information to have.. thanks. Anyone else interested in helping me out?</p>

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<p>Going from a 1390 to a 1400 doesn't make as much of a difference as you think.</p>

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<p>Ten Points -- Makes all the difference in the world to a stressed-out senior applying to college</p>

<p>Ten Points -- Means nothing to an experienced admissions officer.</p>

<p>Ten points extra on that literature test wouldn't matter much either. Take the test in which you believe you can raise your score the most, regardless of whether its the I or the II.</p>

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<p>I would suggest retaking the lit sat II test...since all the questions are grouped (and mis-interpreting one section can make the difference between a 750 and 690). I took a practice test and got a 650 (two hard poetry sections) and on the real test, I went up 110 to 760...So read, read, read, and good luck.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot :O)</p>

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<p>my friend's brother got into Brown with a 1390 while some of his friends were rejected with 1400+s. Just goes to show how the colleges truly weigh SAT scores.</p>

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<p>Hmm, that makes a smile :O) thanks</p>

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<p>depends on the college. at least for scholsrahips. I went to this college forum and looked at Baylor's scholsrahips. I could get 4 grand more if I got a 1400 ( i got a 1390 instead). They said i should jsut retake the test. I feel like cussing at them at the moment :-P</p>

<p>then again Baylor is a horrible school :-P</p>

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<p>Yeah, a 1400 is only significantly better than a 1390 for those schools that use mathematical formulas in admissions or for financial aid (which occurs to a slight extent in the UC system--since the equation wouldn't give you that much higher of a "score"--and to a larger extent in, as vtran talked about, schools that have SAT-scholarship cutoffs).</p>