When do colleges receive SAT/ACT scores?

<p>When you register online, you have the option to select which colleges you want your scores sent to, right? So how long does it usually take for the college to receive your scores?</p>

<p>Each testing company says you should allow 3 to 4 weeks for scores to be delivered. They have been saying that for about 50 years. However, with the electronic age the usual process is the following:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Each college has a secured on-line file with the College Board and ACT. Its purpose is for putting into the file test scores of students who have requested that the college receive the scores.</p></li>
<li><p>If you designate a college to recieve your score as part of your application for the test, then when that test score comes out, CB and ACT put the scores for all the students who have designated a college into that file for the college. CB actually does it a day or two before you even learn of your score on line. ACT a day or two afterwards.</p></li>
<li><p>When the college actually gets the scores is then entirely up to it since all it has to do is go into the file and download the scores. Colleges vary but most will do that about once every week or two weeks.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry for hijacking the thread.
Is it okay if I’m applying ED and want to ensure that my October SAT results get there in time, if I send them before I get the results myself? The rest of my application will be submitted several weeks later… I guess what I’m asking is does it matter that different parts of my application are being received at such different times?</p>