I took an SAT test back in 2017 or 2018 and listed four colleges as the free score sends. I didn’t do so well on it so I focused on my ACT instead and am listing my ACT score on all the applications. I’m not listing the SAT score anywhere.
I recently turned in my UNC Chapel Hill Application and logged into MyCarolina and saw that they had received my bad SAT score from a long time ago. I’d totally forgotten about it! Luckily UNC doesn’t consider the official sent scores, only self-reported ones.
I am worried about the other three colleges I sent my SAT scores to. NC State, Georgetown, Duke. Will they use my SAT score when making their decision? Or will they not look at it because I didn’t list it in the self report section of the application?
First, UNC will use official scores if sent not just self-reported scores. However, like colleges generally, it uses your highest scores, either from one test or by super-scoring multiple tests, to determine admission so those old scores should not have any adverse impact…
Georgetown usually requires all scores for any SAT, ACT and SAT subject tests you have taken (but still claims to use highest scores when determining admission). There is some question as to the extent to which Georgetown is actually requiring all scores this year as it has created a lengthy covid-related rule for submitting tests applicable to those applying for 2021 admission. See https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/flexible-testing-requirements/.
In typical elitist academic-speak, where ambiguity rules and clarity is avoided, Georgetown states in one breath that no test scores are even required this year. However, it then says in relation to the SAT and ACT that it does not partivcipate in Score Choice and requires an applicant’s entire testing record – apparently saying that without realizing Score Choice is something that applies only to SATs not ACTs. Moreover, in the very next sentence, it says students who “are not able” to submit scores can apply without any test scores.
Then in relation to subject tests it states that it recognizes students may not be able to take them and therefore need not submit them, but then says, “Consistent with our policy on Score Choice, students with completed SAT Subject Tests are asked to submit their scores to Georgetown.” The key word there is “asked” which has a different meaning than “required,” a term used in prior years’ directives, i.e., subject tests may not be required this year even if you take them.
In other words, Georgetown may or may not require all test scores this year. It depends on how you choose to construe Georgetown’s new covid-related directive.
I interpret the Georgetown policy as if you have scores, you should report them, and that the flexibility is there for those whom the pandemic has prevented from taking tests. (This is also how it was reported in the WSJ and as I recall corrected from an earlier statement by the reporter that they were test optional.)
I would think that if some students from the same area and high school have been able to submit scores while others don’t, it raises questions about the reason for those who lack of scores. What I don’t know: is there any implication for not self-reporting a score when Georgetown can see that there has been one?
Not sure of the consequences of hiding/not reporting all test scores. Georgetown AOs certainly know which states require an ACT or SAT for HS graduation, but one can get around that by taking the test and then cancelling the score right away.
OP already sent the scores to all the schools, so there’s no issue of “hiding” them.
OP, as noted, most schools will just use your highest. GTown will look at all but I suspect a score from 3 years ago won’t carry much weight in light of a higher recent score.
Yes, you can be semantically correct to not do something a school might only “ask” you to do. But I would not recommend it.
Just not to worry about old scores. Adcoms know what to do to pick out your strengths and note weaknesses. (It might be a concern if scores from 2 years ago were all strong, then the more recent tests dropped radically.)
And we have to believe they will find a satisfactory way to review when no scores are reported. So, make sure the rest of your app/any supps is a solid representation of what they want to find.
From what we were told at a Georgetown info session a couple of years ago, they look askance at more than three attempts. So I think it’s mainly that - they’re less impressed by someone with the resources to keep plugging away multiple times until they eventually get a decent score.