<p>Nobody really even takes the ACT where I’m from. I never took it, though I guess I could have if I’d thought about it. But even the counselor at my school will just mention taking the SAT because that’s what everybody does.
There’s hardly anybody that even scores over 2000 though in my school. I’ll tell people I got 2010 (which I know is definitely on the low side for Vandy) and they’ll be shocked. There’s probably been less than 15 people in the last couple of years to get 2000+. I might even be the only one in my grade. Granted my school is tiny, 100 students per class, give or take 10, but still…</p>
<p>It’s definitely mixed where im from. A lot of people think that the ACT is easier (it isn’t) and kind of put it down, yet they still take it. I actually only took the ACT, im not sure if i would have been better at the SAT. My mom told me to take the ACT and the first couple times i took it my scores were low but i spent a lot of time studying the last time i took it and got a good score! I never did any testprep, just took LOTS of practice tests!!</p>
<p>I only ever took one practice test a couple of days beforehand. I mean, I’d been doing vocab in my English class and I actually saw a few that I’d learned, but I didn’t practice a whole lot mainly cause I didn’t have access to anything. Only took the SAT once too, cause I just didn’t get another chance, what with having to take subject tests the next time and all. How many times did everybody take either test?? I’ve been told it’s weird that I only did it once.</p>
<p>Ya we have an PSAT class that’s offered at my school and it’s a really intense course (probably the reason we have so many national merit scholars)! But because of that almost everyone focuses on the SAT. I took the ACT once and got a 31 and I wasn’t happy with it because it wouldn’t even put me in the middle 50 at Vandy but my SAT score was a lot better so I’m hoping that they will just disregard that ACT score… I took the SAT 3 times and my super score is a combination of the last two</p>
<p>It’s also pretty mixed at my school, but I’d say more focus on the SAT. However, we have to take the ACT to graduate, so all juniors take it. It’s also uncommon for students at my school to score above 2000/30. My school doesn’t really have any prep, so I ordered some books on Amazon and took practice tests for both. I ended up taking the ACT twice. I did better on my ACT overall because my SAT composite was cushioned with my 800 on the Writing- of course the section schools don’t care about haha. Because of that, the composite was higher than it should be, but my CR+M was still lower than my ACT. I only sent my ACT to Vanderbilt, but I sent both to most of my other schools. </p>
<p>Oh my gosh @Elizabeth1315, that is exactly what happened to me! People would hear my previous score (2200, 1400/1600) and think it was so great but then I would have to tell them I got an 800 on writing which no one cares about! (Of course writing is what I want to go into in life so I’m a little bitter that my skill in language and will go unnoticed, but anyway…) I ended up staying with the SAT though because it was a little late to learn the whole ACT, but had to study my butt off to get my CR+M where I wanted it to be. Hopefully it will all be worth it! :-SS</p>
<p>I was initially so shocked at how high their middle 50% was. Definitely one of the highest in the country!</p>
<p>Do you really think they don’t look at the Writing at all? I know they emphasie the CR+M, but if they consider Subject Tests wouldn’t they look at Writing like a Subject Test. I just find it hard to believe that other schools use Writing and Vandy dismisses it entirely. Why? Does anyone know the philosophy behind it?</p>
<p>@bsalum apparently studies have shown that it does not offer an accurate analysis of a student’s writing skills. I personally think no better analysis can be taken, but maybe I am a bit biased!</p>
<p>Agreed. How else do they know for certain that you are the author?!</p>
<p>My school definitely focuses more on the SAT. Hardly anyone in my class has taken the ACT so it’s hard to compare my score with other people at my school. I only took one ACT practice test and got a 32 the first time which surprised me. My math and reading ACT sub scores are better than my SAT CR/M scores though. </p>
<p>@cawledgehopeful Congratulations! I know exactly how you feel! I absolutely love writing and want to double major in English, so it is really frustrating. I think I remember seeing, too, that more people get 800 on reading and math than writing, so it’s more rare. I actually also got a 36 on my ACT English, so I think that’s ultimately why I decided to only send my ACT because I still had the perfect score in that area. (Still super excited it happened haha)</p>
<p>I’m not sure they completely disregard it, but it certainly isn’t something they put emphasis on- although, I would hope a perfect score would catch attention. Everywhere I’ve gone, the admissions counselors have said it simply isn’t a good indicator of how students will do. Even more, because the writing section is becoming optional, they may care even less unfortunately. I may also be biased, but I think writing should not only be required, but also one of the most important. After all, you write in every single class in college. If it isn’t a good indicator, change it so that it IS a good indicator, don’t get rid of it. Writing is an essential foundation. </p>
<p>Ya I agree, writing was my highest score too and definitely inflated my overall SAT score. My writing section has always been consistently higher than the others. When I went to the Vanderbilt admissions tour, they mentioned that they do regard the writing section but just differently. for example, If a student had a 630 it would be an obvious red flag and if a student had an 800 it would be impressive, but it is not as heavily regarded as the other sections. The school still lists their middle 50 writing scores on websites, and I doubt that Vandy, like any other school, want to have a low average! I’m applying to the peabody school because I want to double major in Economics and HOD! Whuch school are you guys applying to?</p>
<p>There are some article (studies?) that say that the writing section is culturally biased and that puts some students at a disadvantage. I think that’s why quite a few schools discount the validity of that section as a standardized measurement. They have everyone’s application essays which are more personal anyway so they certainly get a sample of each applicant’s writing ability–one that they’ve had a chance to edit and revise versus an off the cuff draft for the SAT test. Even now the College Board is getting ready to roll out the redesigned SAT in which the Essay portion is optional. I’m curious to see if Vanderbilt changes its requirements/consideration of the Writing/Language section or possibly even the Essay portion once the test is revamped.</p>
<p>Can one apply to CAS and Peabody?</p>
<p>@bsalum I’m not sure you can apply to both but I applied to CAS with Peabody as my second option!</p>
<p>@rebeccaAnn I’m thinking the exact same thing! Except I put my first choice as Econ so I applied to CAS with HOD in Peabody as my second option. I’ve heard it’s a really good combination, especially with the required internship for HOD. Apparently it’s not as difficult of a major as some, so it’d be easier to double major in it!</p>
<p>ya my sister did it and it worked out really well for her! She is a senior and got an internship working for Nissan and now has a job offer to work at the Nissan headquarters in Nashville on their marketing team. She also said that double majors are way more common at Vanderbilt than they are at most other schools and it was really manageable for her! I did the same as you guys but I applied primarily to peabody and put CAS as my second option.</p>
<p>That’s awesome. 16 more days… It kinda surprised me cause 20 days still seems a ways off, but below that it’s like woah, when did that happen?! Haha</p>
<p>I’m hoping only 13 more days!!</p>
<p>are you guys watching the game? We are making a comeback!</p>