High school junior here not completely sure how to handle SAT scores for Harvard and similar institutions.
I took the January SAT and got a 2220 (770/740/710) but wanted to raise my writing/reading scores a little bit more so I could be closer to the higher end of the scale and not just about 25th percentile—I’d like to make sure I’m not at a disadvantage just because of test scores. I ended up taking the March SAT and unfortunately, my scores came out as a 2170 (720/720/730) so I wanted to retake it in June, since I’m doing subject tests in May.
Will Harvard care if I take the SAT one more time? And since I was told Harvard allows score choice & super score, would it be best if I just don’t send my March SAT at all (assuming I do better on the June one)?
Just for the ease of it all, I would send everything; it’s easier than trying to keep track of what was sent to whom. Since Harvard will consider your best scores, your less-than-best scores won’t matter.
And I’ll take it they won’t penalize me for doing worse on the SAT second time around (instead of the usual increase in scores between attempt 1 and attempt 2)?
Honestly, i wouldn’t bother taking the SAT again… those scores are excellent, and definitely in the range for the elite schools. Your time would be better spent on other aspects of your application than trying to eke out a few tens of points more on the SAT.
If you need an awesome score to win a merit scholarship somewhere else, Harvard won’t mind. Do it.
But if you’re trying to impress HYP further, don’t bother. Your highest score (a little higher, even, when superscored) is already enough to get the rest of your application a second look, and that’s what matters.