<p>We are new to the application process and I have a question - my daughter is a Junior and receiving lots of college materials based on her PSAT scores. She just took the new SAT but did not list any colleges to receive her scores because she will not be applying until next year. Should she be sending her scores to colleges now, or should she wait until next year when she submits applications?</p>
<p>She should wait until she submits applications.</p>
<p>You have to pay for each set of scores you send, so it is better to wait and see where she is applying for sure. Also, that way her scores will be less likely to get lost.</p>
<p>No, I believe that the first four reports for any administration are sent free of charge. However, she might as well wait until she has settled on a list of colleges. All SATs and all SAT-IIs are now reported, and I believe, on the same score report. So when she is taking her last SAT or SAT-IIs, that would be a time for list the colleges to which she wants her scores sent.</p>
<p>This was rather a logistical nightmare for me to figure out also, so I wasn't wasting $7 fees. No you clearly do not need to list schools or send scores now to anybody. You should send scores when she takes her LAST SAT (assuming more than once), and assuming you know your final list of colleges at that time. However even if she never retakes it, you are always able to login to CollegeBoard, enter a list of colleges and "send scores now", whenever you decide "now" is the right time. (I can't remember if in order to get the 4 free, you had to add the colleges when you actually registered for that test.)</p>
<p>Here's what we did, as an example--Assume colleges #1-3 only needs SAT1 and colleges #4-6 require SATII as well as SAT1:</p>
<p>2003, First SAT: Sent no scores
2004, Fall SAT retake: Sent scores to colleges 1-3 (they see the first SAT and the retake scores but not the SATIIs.)
2004 Winter, SATII: Sent scores only to colleges 4-6 (they see SATII and everything prior)</p>
<p>Do be very careful, CollegeBoard links can be worded VERY confusingly. I messed up once and clicked on a "send scores" link which to them meant "send past scores, NOW" when I thought I was saying "send scores for the SAT I've just scheduled, after it's over". I had to call CollegeBoard and they were able to fix it immediately, thank goodness.</p>
<p>Hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>She should send the scores when they are "good enough." For example, she could send her early scores to a state school where her numbers and gpa make her a safe admit. For more competitive schools, she needs to look at SAT and SATii requirements. Send those scores when all the required tests are in, but plan the test-taking carefully. SATs and SATiis cannot be taken on the same date, and there are only four testing dates before most early admissions/early decision deadlines.</p>
<p>For your four free score reports, when you register, you have the option of indicating four schools to send score reports to. This list of schools can be changed anytime until the College Board's registration edit date, which I think is normally sometime the week after the test.</p>
<p>D took the SAT as a sophomore, didn't send scores (but did get a good idea of how she'll do this year).
D just took March SAT, will be sending scores to "safety"-type schools - it's free, don't want to waste the opportunity to send free score reports.</p>
<p>If the student is planning on taking both the SAT and the ACT, it may be prudent to hold off and send only the higher score of the two, as most schools accept either one.</p>
<p>My son had strong SAT scores (was a National Merit Finalist) but he wanted to improve one of his SAT II scores. He had completed all of his testing during his junior year. We decided to send his SAT I and II scores to all of the colleges he applied to in September of his senior year, and then he took the SAT II again in October. That way, if his score improved, we would re-send the scores to all schools he applied to. If not, then we simply would not send the scores again. This cost slightly more money than only sending the scores once, but it is a small cost compared to tuition, etc. (esp because he received a full-tuition scholarship to USC). I actually do not remember if he did better on the October SAT II test or not, but I definitely remember thinking of strategically sending the scores, with the option of re-sending them.</p>
<p>Like some of you, I wasted FAR too much money on sending scores. I forgot that the reports are cumulative with scores. After the second set of scores came in (and knowing we were going to complete a third round BEFORE regular admission deadlines) I ordered score reports to about 13 schools - PLUS I needed a rush to his ED school. Had my son not been accepted ED, I would have had to order another round of at least 6-8 scores. </p>
<p>TexDad1, all of her schools will eventually see this score anyway - as scores are cumulative (the history of ALL old test dates and their results show on each report). I wouldn't act on this set of scores. </p>
<p>When is she taking them again? Be careful here. She has already taken them once - technically. I'm interested to see what others think about how this test will "count" in someone's mind - not because of the actual score - but because there seems to be an unwritten 3X rule - don't take them more than 3X or you look like a super-geek with no life and an obsession with testing and scores. This is just the popular school of thought. Not all will agree, surely. Maybe I'm missing something about taking them this early. </p>
<p>If she takes them again in June, she only has one shot in Senior year. Are you planning on taking them 3 more times - or 2?</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you have to fit the SAT IIs in if she's looking at schools where they are
required. Planning it all can be a little tricky, espcially if she takes the SAT IIs more than once. There are only so many dates. So many kids get hung up on this and wind up not having scores they want or NEED come application time - especially if they decide on EA/ED over the summer - in sich case Sept/Oct can be a mad rush to test and score well - kind of like sudden death. </p>
<p>Plot out your testing schedule now - all the way though Nov or whenever you can get the testing done. </p>
<p>My S took his SATs 3X and his SAT IIs twice, except for Literature, which he took once. Max # of SAT IIs in a sitting was 2 out of the three possible tests for that day. The SATs IIs were hard for him, much harder than the SATs. Forewarned is forearmed.</p>
<p>The new SAT complicates things a bit as some colleges now require only two SATIIs and some are continuing with three. Two SATIIs in one sitting is fine, so it increases possibilities for retaking. It's good to check with colleges now as to how many they require. Their websites ought to have the information.</p>
<p>Why wouldn't it make sense to send early, great scores (assuming your child has them) to safety schools and those which might throw money at the student? Wouldn't knowledge of the interest of a top student generate scholarship offers from second and third tier schools? What's the downside?</p>
<p>Recognize that you will also be required to send scores to any non-school, independent scholarship organizations. Most of these organization have codes already set-up with The College Board, but they will add to your cost of sending scores.</p>
<p>It all gets very confusing, doesn't it?? Sending scores from different tests to different schools...etc.
We did it a little differently. Every college you send scores to gets all scores you have taken to that point. To avoid confusion, we just picked 4 schools that we KNEW D was applying to, and chose them as her 4 free choices each time she signed up to take any SAT test. That way, since we weren't sure when her last test would be (depended on what score she got), those four schools were taken care of-we were sure of that. After her realized that she had taken her last test (Nov. of senior year), she got online and sent scores to all other schools she had decided to apply to (no ED schools). Results showed up at schools much faster than we thought they would--no need to RUSH them. Good luck.</p>
<p>LA Attny:</p>
<p>I'm with you, with one exception. Instead of wasting money on possible safety schools, I think showing interest early to selective schools can be a big plus. Certain schools (not Ivies) want to see demonstrated interest, and three years of demonstrated interest can't hurt.</p>
<p>Assuming the scores are good enuf for a Soph and are within the range of the selective school that wants demonstrated interest, it's worth the $7.00 in my opinion; better yet, list those possible selective schools as one of the four freebies. We sent a score report early Jr year to such a school, and received a nice (form, of course) letter back from the school. It caught their attention, and a file was started. For a kid on the bubble, every little thing helps, again, IMO.</p>
<p>Slightly off topic, I want to caution everyone to make sure the schools receive the SAT scores. My friend's son sent scores on time, and very belatedly learned that one school had not received the SAT scores. All others had them. A call to the College Board got it all straightened out, and the school said that they were processing the application on the basis of the self-reported scores. </p>
<p>This came to light when one of 8 or 10 schools he applied to notified him that a teacher recommendation was missing. This prompted calls to all schools about the recommendation (which hadn't been received by any of the schools). I find it unsettling that only one school told them about the missing recommendation. Even his early decision school (from which he was deferred) never notified him of the missing recommendation. </p>
<p>So please check everything!</p>
<p>Thanks for responding, but why the worry about $7.00 here and there? Even if you send the scores to 50 schools, the possible upside far outweighs the $350.00 you've spent. Why hesitate when a grant or scholarship worth thousands may be offered? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.</p>
<p>Someone please correct me if I've overlooked something, but the idea of sending scores early--like right now, for class of 2010 students who aren't taking the SAT again--seems obvious. Which is why I posted here earlier and am seeking feedback here and elsewhere. If it's not something that commonly happens, maybe there's a good reason why. </p>
<p>Logically, though, it would seem that sending great scores early would generate interest in prospective schools, perhaps give rise to a dialogue which otherwise might not occur, especially were the scores sent later, along with the application, near the deadline. When the schools are flooded with App's.</p>
<p>A dialogue could lead anywhere, maybe somewhere good. As I wrote earlier, I don't see a downside.</p>
<p>But am I missing something? Thanks in advance to anyone who can speak to this.</p>
<p>I'd be really surprised if anyone at the colleges would look at scores, even great scores, that arrive unaccompanied by an application. Why should they use their time reviewing scores sent without any further evidence of an applicant? It's not as if most colleges right now are without their own (large) set of excellent applicants with great scores these days, so most schools won't need to go looking for such students.</p>
<p>They will receive hundreds or even thousands of sets of "great scores" from actual applicants in the fall and will evaluate grant/scholarship opportunities then, once they've made admission decisions. Until they have an application in hand, they won't have any context in which to put randomly arriving scores. You can surely send them now, but I wouldn't expect anyone to actually look at them until they have an application and know it's worth their time to consider the student whose scores they are.</p>
<p>lacrim:</p>
<p>like I said, I'm in almost total agreement for schools where demonstrated interest is an admission factor. </p>
<p>I just wouldn't spend the money for a safety school, since their acceptance rates are very high anyway, and if a kid 'needs' to show demonstrated interest, then it s/b a match, not a true safety, IMO. Also, I'd only send early score to schools that DO care about demonstrated interest; they usually state on their web site if they care. </p>
<p>Since the Ivies do not care about demonstrated interest, nor do public colleges, might as well wait until the final SAT II is in to send the whole package together; otherwise, it's a waste of $7.00 (or $56 Ivy dollars -- 7x8) -- several lattes at your favorite coffee store. :)</p>
<p>With regards to a market blitz of 50.....hmmm....IMO, it's all about fit (so I'd narrow it down some), AND the fact that there ain't 50 schools where demonstrated interest matters and fits your kid's profile. Sending scores will not start a 'dialogue'; it will just open a mailroom file under the kid's name, awaiting further inputs, i.e., apps and recs. </p>
<p>For example, the UC's won't do anything with the scores until next winter when they compare the score reports to the applications and accepted app. So, sending SATI now and SATII's later serves onlhy to enrich the CollegeBoard.</p>