Which score is better?

Applying to College
1

I scored a 1950 on the SAT (Cr: 660, M: 640, W: 650) and a 28C on the ACT (E:32, M: 31, R: 24, S: 25)

Which score is better? Would sending both be a good option?

2

Your SAT is the 91st percentile and your ACT is the 90th. Technically it’s better to send the SAT but both test scores confirm each other so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to send both.

3

Okay, thank you! Any other opinions?

4

also what about colleges that require subject tests with SAT I?

5

ACT of 28 is 1860-1910 on the concordance chart. 1950 is equivalent to 29 according to published charts. You can google it.

6

So you wouldn’t recommend sending both? I think my ACT score shows that I do have some math skills, while my SAT Math score is the lowest subscore… Also, I want to major in political science, so my bad science score wouldn’t hurt that bad, right?

7

They are close enough (agree that the SAT is somewhat better overall) that I don’t think you are doing yourself any harm by sending both, and your ACT Math score is substantially better than the SAT one.

8

I’m applying to some schools that require SAT IIs with the SAT I. Would you recommend sending the ACT only there?

9

I would send both, for the reasons I mentioned above.

However, I looked at the list of schools you plan to apply to, and frankly, I think you are aiming too high with those test scores. Standards vary by country of origin, but I assume from your name you are from Germany, and I don’t think you are going to get a break based on that.

10

Many of the schools that will require SAT IIs are elite schools, and they will likely want to see higher SAT/ACT scores than yours, sorry to say.

Some schools will accept the ACT in lieu of SAT IIs. Are you a junior or a senior? What schools are you talking about?

11

I know. I expected a better score on the ACT (received my scores just a few hours ago) and had to submit all applications without knowing the score.

I’m applying to Bowdoin, Brown, Colby, Colgate, Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, George Washington U, Vanderbilt, USC and U Michigan.

I already graduated from a German Gymnasium (a high level high-school) with an average of 1.5 (= UW GPA of ~3.85)

12

According to other threads, you already have acceptances across the pond. At this point you should be done and waiting for the outcome… Good luck.

13

At the most selective schools on that list (roughly Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Brown, Columbia), I think you are pretty much drawing dead…

I am going to assume with that list that you aren’t dependent on financial aid, so you probably have a shot at a couple of them (GW, NYU, maybe Colby?).

Germany is not a particularly under-represented country in the US, so my assumption is that you need have qualifications at least on the same level as a domestic applicant for those schools, and I think that is going to keep you out of most of them.