The value of submitting both ACT and SAT

Applying to College
1

<p>As I head into the oh-so-important application process, I have come upon a problem of sorts. The singular problem is whether or not to submit both my SAT and ACT, or just one or the other. However, I think that the decision would be made easier by having some information from individual questions. I understand that anyone should be grateful for the scores I have, and believe me, I am. I know that any of these scores make me a competitive applicant anywhere. I simply want to maximize my chances of gaining admission. Though I hope this doesn’t come across as bragging, these are my scores:</p>

<p>ACT: 36 (36E, 35M, 35R, 36S)
SAT: 750CR, 800M, 770W
SATII: 4 of them (math, bio, world history, chemistry), all strong, details unnecessary</p>

<li><p>Do most or some colleges consider ACT subscores, or do they only consider the composite? I understand that virtually all colleges use SAT section scores. The reason for this question is that my SAT math is perfect, whereas my ACT is not.</p></li>
<li><p>If I were to decide to not send my SAT scores, would that prohibit me from sending SATIIs? In other words, are SATs and SATIIs reported on the same sheet of paper? If they are, this essentially settles the question of whether to send SATs, as SATIIs are required at most colleges I am looking at.</p></li>
<li><p>Is the ACT really given equal treatment at the more technical schools? It is my understanding that some of the last schools to begin accepting the ACT were technically focused schools on the coasts, which is where my interests lie.</p></li>
<li><p>In reference again to the math score disparity, will submitting the ACT harm my chances at the aforementioned schools versus only submitting the SAT? I have read that colleges typically use only the strongest scores, so I would think not.</p></li>
<li><p>The big question if anyone cares to give input: submit both, or one or the other? I am pretty sure i should submit both, but if this discussion brings up something relevant, I would reconsider.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>In your case, since you’re at the tippy top, either or both won’t matter. It’s six and one half dozen. Any time spent worrying “which looks better” is time wasted. Any college that accepts both will readily infer what they need to from either set of tests – that you’re at the very top of the pile.</p>

<p>Congratulations and good luck to you with the rest of your application.</p>

3

<p>Both scores are so high that you should send both and let them determine which one they like. You are really dealing with a non-issue. Many colleges consider the math and english portion of the ACT, and the math and CR sections of the SAT, to be the more important sections, but again your scores are so high it is non-issue. </p>

<p>Technical schools give equal treatment to the ACT as the SAT. Of all colleges, CalTech was the last hold-out college to accept the ACT (about two years ago). Wake Forest and Harvey Mudd did so a year before it, and Princeton went from limited acceptance of the ACT to full about a year before that. (Wake Forest has now gone to not requiring any test.) Otherwise essentially every other college had been accepting the ACT for many years before that. By the way, the last standing hold-out of any kind was actually Brigham Young which did not take the SAT until a couple years ago.</p>

<p>Under the College rules effective this year, you get to choose exactly which SAT scores you send, whether SAT or SAT II. That does not end the issue however because a number of schools have declared they will require applicants to submit all scores.</p>

4

<p>Agree that with the fantastic scores you have, it’s a non-issue. If money isn’t a big problem, I’d send both, just because for the schools you’re likely applying to, every little bit helps. To save $$, you could just send the ACT to match and safety schools.</p>

5

<p>Thank you all for your input, it is greatly appreciated.</p>