<p>Hi I am taking my 2nd attempt at the SAT in October, and me being a concerned, fretting senior, am nervous about getting a lower score than I originally had. I had a 2040 my first attempt, and I am looking at schools such as USC, UMichigan, UMiami, UNC. Would these schools look down on me if I did achieve a lower score? (Say mid 1900's or something). Now, obviously I am banking on achieving at least a 2100 on my retake, but this is just a precaution that I would like to clear up.</p>
<p>I got a 2040 my first time and was really worried that I'd go down. I retook and got a 2340. </p>
<p>Relax, people tend to do better on their second tries if they've adequately prepared.</p>
<p>My kid had a higher overall score on his second pass at the SAT, but his score in one section actually went down, inexplicably. The other two sections went up, which explains the higher overall score, but the college considered the highest scores in each individual section anyway, so it all worked out. If you feel you'll do better on a second pass, by all means go for it.</p>
<p>Perhaps you should send the colleges your scores now, and then retake the SAT without having the scores sent to the schools as part of the free report. Then, if your scores drop, they won't see them. If they go up, spend the $12 or whatever it is to send the higher scores. Good luck.</p>
<p>Well, I went down. But don't worry - colleges usually take a combo of your highest scores.</p>
<p>If you study effectively, there shouldn't be a reason for your score to go down.</p>
<p>Damn a Jets fan with a 2000+ SAT. That's impressive enough. jk. You'll go up don't worry. Most colleges superscore anyway. go fins.</p>
<p>Superscore.</p>
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Damn a Jets fan with a 2000+ SAT. That's impressive enough. jk. You'll go up don't worry. Most colleges superscore anyway. go fins.
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<p>Haha, nice. Of course, if his sn was "Patriotsfan," the opposite would be true.</p>
<p>OP:I see where you're coming from, thinking that it's bad to show a "downward curve" in your SATs. Colleges consider your highest score or your highest superscore, and, unless you took the test 5 times, disregard the rest. They wouldn't think that the first attempt was a fluke and you deserved the second score, but rather that you botched the second attempt and wasted a Saturday--which would be the truth. Rare is the person who flukes their way to a higher score; and colleges know this.</p>
<p>The second time I took the SAT my total score went up 10 points but I dropped in two sections. I got really sick during the test though, so I guess it's atypical (even for me, who it happened to!).</p>
<p>Most schools superscore, so you should be fine. You only run a risk if there are drastic differences, they could possibly think the better scores were a fluke (or they could think the opposite).</p>