I sent a low SAT score, and then another SAT score 140 points better. Will this hurt my chances of acceptance?
No. They will use the higher score
It depends–do you trust your college to only consider your highest score, as most colleges claim to do?
In a perfect world, you would have waited until earning your higher SAT score, and sent that score only. Otherwise you’re taking the college at its word that it will only consider your highest score, which is risky. Colleges tend to use all the information at their disposal.
^I completely agree with you. I find it hard to believe that when a college says it will only consider the highest score, they’re totally honest.
Let’s say a student provides these SAT scores:
3rd try: 1020
2nd try: 1550
1st try: 1000
As @skypeme noted, do you really trust your college to only consider your highest score?
I applied to CSU’s, 1 UC, and USC. The CSU system superscores so I think I’d be fine, but idk about the others
They were spaced 5 months apart, I was hoping they’d see it as growth rather than a struggle
Why would they lie? What benefit do they gain? Nothing.
@tylerhuff: CSU’s superscore and UC’s will take the highest SAT score from 1 sitting. The only school where you SAT scores will have a large impact on your chances is USC. USC likes high tests scores and your SAT scores are on the low side for USC. Your New SAT of 1200/1600 converts to the Old SAT of 1670/2400. Low end for USC on the 2400 scale is 2040.
@tylerhuff The truth is that you should be fine–even if your colleges do see the lower score, then they will likely chalk it up to effort and growth, as you mentioned. In many cases, the issue is a matter of internal procedure and bureaucracy–by the time your application makes it to committee, the application has already been processed and summarized by the office staff, and in many cases, your highest SAT score will be the only one visible to the important admissions officials who are making the ultimate decisions to accept or reject.
I do think that colleges have something to gain from this “trust us, we’ll only look at your best score–even when we require all scores” policy–more applications and more money. Students who know that their low scores will be considered are less likely to apply.
However, this idea of going through your application with a fine-tooth comb applies less at the big state schools, and more at the very selective ones. That’s why certain schools still ask to see all scores–they want all the information on the applicant that they can find.