Terrible essay score- Should I retake?

<p>I got my score breakdown for the March SAT today. Turns out I got a 80MC with a 6 essay, for a total of 730 on the writing section and a 2330 overall. I'm terribly unhappy with myself, but more than that I'm afraid that colleges will look at the essay/writing score and go like "wow this kid sucks at writing." So the question is, should I retake? Will the elite colleges like the Ivies place a lot of consideration onto such a horrible essay? I'm aware that 2330 is considered to be a pretty good score and to some it may seem that I'm complaining about nothing but my essay is the one thing that kept me from scoring a 2400. :(</p>

<p>I’m not an expert, but I would say not to retake. It might look like you’re score-obsessed. In addition, they will notice your writing skills in your personal statement(s).</p>

<p>Yeah, don’t retake it. A lot of colleges such as Cornell don’t really consider the writing section. And besides, you still got a 730. That’s still pretty good!</p>

<p>Eh, that’s not such a terrible essay score. My essay score was a 9, but I still got the same complete Writing score as you. It doesn’t really matter much, and colleges should know better than to judge all of you based on a twenty-five minute scrawl.</p>

<p>Alright, thanks for the advice guys.</p>

<p>Agree. Talk to your college counselor, but you can’t tell much about anyone’s writing ability by a formulaic, 25-minute essay.</p>

<p>For now, your essays for school application would be the one you need to work on. :-D</p>

<p>Sent from my NookColor using CC</p>

<p>You can try and contest your essay score I guess.</p>

<p>I mean was the essay really that awful? Full 2 pages?</p>

<p>I got a 10 on mine, but I think it was one of the worst things of I’ve ever written and I can barely read my scrawl after I got it back.</p>

<p>I say take it again. If the essay score frustrates you–and you wouldn’t post to this forum if it didn’t–, go for it. The downside is time invested, and only you know what your time is worth. Good luck!</p>