Will ACT essay 8, look bad even though Composite is 35. SAT is 2260 with essay 10.

Test Preparation
1

<p>Need some advice from "experts". Here is my S's test scores. He is applying to many BS/MD and few TopTier UG routes. </p>

<ul>
<li>Oct 2014 ACT Composite:35 (E:36, M:36, R:31, S:36) Essay:8</li>
<li>Sep 2014 ACT Composite:34 (E:34, M:36, R:31, S:35) Essay:8</li>
<li>Dec 2012 SAT:2260 (W:720, M:780, R:760) Essay:10</li>
</ul>

<p>SAT was taken long ago. Will colleges look the "long time ago" as a good sign or bad sign. Do they look for recent performance. Should we send both OR just SAT. We are back and forth. Let us see what readers think. ACT composite is helping and at the same time ACT essay is hurting. Confused. Any expert advice would be nice.</p>

2

<p>Hi! I really do not think the essay is that important :)</p>

<p>Plus, an 8 isn’t even bad!</p>

<p>I am only a senior who is also going through this process, but I would say that it won’t matter in the long run.</p>

3

<p>I don’t think it’s important, U of Chicago reps told me they don’t even look at it, I don’t know if it’s the case for all colleges but I’m under the impression most don’t look at it or don’t consider it important. Your 35 composite is what they’ll be looking at. Also 8 is pretty good ( 88%) and I don’t think that will drag you down. Your SAT is good too but I think your ACT scores are slightly better.</p>

4

<p>Thank you all for the feedback. We decided to send BOTH sat & act scores thus letting colleges to decide the right thing. </p>

5

<p>Neither set of scores will keep your son out of any college. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>They’re both really good anyway, I think it can only show well to send both.</p>