<p>DD'S SAT SCORES CR800 MATH800 WR720 (2320). SHE IS SITTING FOR THREE SUBJECT TESTS TODAY (MATHII, USHISTORY, BIO).
SHE IS SIGNED UP FOR ACT W/WRITING NEXT SATURDAY. SHE IS THINKING ABOUT CANCELING ACT NEXT WEEK.
SAYS SHE "DOES NOT NEED BOTH." APPLYING (UPENN, CORNELL, GEORGETOWN, HARVARD, BC) FOR BUSINESS.
GIVEN THIS INFO, I HAVE TWO QUEST.
1. SHOULD SHE TAKE THE ACT?
2. SHOULD SHE TAKE THE SAT AGAIN TO TRY AND BOOST UP HER WRITING SCORE?</p>
<p>No and no in my opinion. She has already proven herself to colleges that she is great academically. She should spend time on other parts of her application</p>
<p>If she’s already registered for the ACT, I’d say take it(what has she got to lose? ), but send it only if it’s near-perfect. Of course, don’t take the SAT again.</p>
<p>I AM UNDER THE BELIEF THAT IF SHE TAKES IT (ACT) THEY WILL WANT TO SEE THE SCORE. I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN HIDE THE FACT OF TAKING THE TEST. IF SHE WERE TO DO WELL FINE, IF NOT, THEN YES SHE HAS SOMETHING TO LOSE. SO I AM INCLINED TO GO WITH STUDENT03 SO FAR UNLESS SOMEONE CAN CHANGE MY MIND.</p>
<p>No need to take SAT again (you have CR+M=1600, don’t mess with it), Writing is ok.
No need to take ACT, if she does good in subject tests (750 aprx
Explanation:
Some Universities want to see all test scores and some let you choose. Even when they want to see all it means all attempts for SAT or ACT, some tell you to send them all attempts and also all SAT or ACT. You have to check each University web site on what they require.
There is absolutely no need to take ACT, if she does good on SAT subject tests also.
BUT
There are some schools that can just use ACT instead of SAT and 2 Subject tests so if she does poorly on SAT subject tests you can just use ACT there.
So I think it depends on the college. I know you have provided a list up there but you will need to check individually. I know Harvard lets you choose what to send and Cornell suggests send everything and they will use your best combination.</p>
<p>WOW I DID NOT KNOW THAT SOME SCHOOLS WOULD LET YOU JUST SEND THE SCORES YOU CHOOSE TO SEND. I GUESS SHE CAN PUSH OFF THE ACT UNTIL HER SAT SUBJECT TEST SCORES COME BACK. </p>
<p>Let her take it, then you can brag about that too. And why are you shouting?</p>
<p>I am sorry for the shouting, not the asking of a question that you may consider bragging sylvan8798. Why comment unless you have something constructive to say?</p>
<p>Because the answer to your question should be obvious to you. The D has a 1600 CR/M on the SAT. Why would she need to take the ACT as well? What would you advise another parent who asked that question? This comes up all the time: “I/D/S got perfect/near perfect score! Is that good enough???” In fact it’s one of the cliches of CollegeConfidential.</p>
<p><a href=“Urban Dictionary: College Confidential”>Urban Dictionary: College Confidential;
<p>I am pasting some links here as they maybe helpful to someone but in your case, forget ACT, forget retaking SAT, focus on SAT subject tests, EC’s and Essays.</p>
<p>Here is a compilation by Collegeboard that states which universities let you choose what SAT scores to send:
<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat-score-use-practices-list.pdf</a></p>
<p>For ACT search for each school:
for example yale: <a href=“Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Standardized Testing Requirements & Policies | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions;
you can substitute ACT in general but some Yale department may require SAT subject tests</p>
<p>here you see unlike Yale, Georgetown requires Sat subject tests, even if you have ACT with writing.
<a href=“http://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/preparation#TestRequirements”>http://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/preparation#TestRequirements</a></p>
<p>You will also see above that Yale requires you must send them all SAT and ACT scores.</p>
<p>for other universities do a search in google with following:
University name admissions standardized testing </p>
<p>@sylvan8 I am sorry if i have offended you.</p>
<p>@sanwal That is great insight. Thank you very much. You have answered the question, and explained why.</p>
<p>Yes she should definitely retake. Keep retaking until your daughter gets a 2400. 2320 is an insufficient score. </p>
<p>Yes that 2400 is essential. Colleges do not care how many tries it takes to get there. She can the take the SATs all of her Senior year and if she still doesn’t get the score she can take a gap year so she can finally achieve that big ole 2400.</p>
<p>@JohnSmith52 and @ooohcollege OK OK I get it! Enough from the peanut gallery. I was only asking because her guidance counselor is giving her questionable advice, and this is my oldest so it is all a learning experience for me. Her counselor told her to take the ACT also, and to retake the SAT to try and boost up her writing section. I found the advice sketchy and wanted advice from people that have been through the college game. So please refrain from the sarcasm, unless you really can not help yourself.</p>
<p>A score of 2400 won’t make her any more appealing to a college than her already fantastic 2320. If you just have an itch to reach for that perfect score, by all means do so, but it won’t be about improving her chances to get in to a college of her choice. Most schools seem to accept SAT or ACT these days so you don’t have the need for her to take the ACT since again, her existing SAT scores is already on the way out of the ballpark. I have been through the process with two kids now and have two more to go. Neither of mine are at HYPS or M but they are both at top schools and at their first choices. I personally would check testing off the to-do list and focus on developing her passion/s. Authentic applications -not ones trying to be the be all end all but ones which show an applicant who is developing a sense of who they are, of what they can contribute and what a particular school offers that shows they are a good fit for them-have the most value. IMHO.</p>
<p>Also, not all schools even consider the writing section score.</p>
<p>I have spoken with DD today after she got home from taking her 3 SAT subject tests.
We both agreed that she will not sit for the ACT next week (although I paid for it, because her GC told us she should take it). We also agreed she will not sit for the SAT again. Although we are not sure exactly how the PSAT National Merit awards work (PSAT 2250). If she is awarded a semi-finalist does her SAT score decide if she gets awarded the scholarship? We do not know enough about that program, and our GC isn’t much help because she has never dealt with a student that has ever been awarded more the “commended status.” We would like to know more about the National Merit scholarship program, but I guess it is not of the utmost importance.
I guess I should ask how that works on another thread.
She also felt she did well today on her subject tests. She stated the US History was the easiest, claims she didn’t have enough time for the last 3 quest in the MathII, but otherwise feels confident, and claims BIO was probally the hardest of the three tests. If she does well then she may be done with all this testing, at least until next years AP exams. My oh my these kids work hard.
Thank you all for the information. We did read that some of the schools do not count the written section. I believe a couple of the schools she is applying for do not look at it (supposedly). </p>
<p>Good call. No point in retaking or taking the ACT.</p>
<p>As for National Merit, after she makes NMSF, she sends in an application with her SAT score and some other stuff (transcript, essay). If her SAT corresponds to her PSAT, which it clearly does, then she’ll become a finalist. After that they assess her application and there are 8000 National Merit Scholars in total. This page (<a href=“http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php”>http://www.nationalmerit.org/nmsp.php</a>) has a good overview. </p>
<p>@An0maly Thank you for that page. I read the page and it does allude to the fact that her SAT score will help decide her eligibilty for a scholarship should her PSAT score get her into the semi-finalist category.
Thanks for clearing that up.
This 1st time college parent is learning tons from the people that are good enough to engage with meaningful insight. It is worth the readings of a few that choose to be sarcastic. Thank you. All these years, and I still wish I was fortunate enough to attend college. I want to afford my children every opportunity. Thank you all!!!</p>