<p>i'm going to send the ACT . i got 33 but i think i can get 35.</p>
<p>I think that if one lives in a state (particularly in the northeast) where the SAT has always been most popular and is applying to an elite school, and submits only the ACT, even if that college indicates they take the ACT instead of the SAT, the college would wonder if in fact that student took the SAT and did not perform well. I therefore think for example that where two students apply from an area where the SAT has been more predominant at highly selective elite colleges,and both have comparable high scores although one on the SAT and one on the ACT, the college could possibly look more favorably on the student who submitted the high SAT scores. The student who submits the ACT only and took the SAT and did not peform well not only has the advantage of not having to show the colleges the low SAT scores, but also has the added advantage of only having to send the highest ACT scores. While this may look more attractive on the application, the student who submits the SAT scores is able to give the college a really good indication of how they performed. For the student who submitted the ACT score only, the college is left to wonder.
Where the student submitted the ACT and just the SAT II subject tests however, the college is not left to wonder, and that student will look strong if they scored well on the ACT even if they are coming from the northeast or a state where the SAT is more popular with the ivy league and other elite schools. The reason is that the college clearly knows in that instance that the student did not take the SAT I. Thus, they know the student is not hiding poor SAT I scores.
I think that where a student has taken both the SAT and the ACT and has performed fine on the SAT but better on the ACT, they are better off to submit all scores especially if they are applying to elite schools. I think that the schools will view this in a positive way. Most colleges if presented with both the ACT and the SAT will accept the higher of the two.
There are circumstances however in which a student who has low SAT I scores but high ACT scores from an area where the SAT is predominant will find that submitting ACT scores will not be questioned. I imagine these circumstances to be where the applicant is a recruited athlete or a legacy.
Of course if a student has taken the SAT and not performed well and taken the ACT and scored high and is from an area like NY, NJ, CT ect and is applying to an ivy league school, that he or she should just submit the ACT score. (ie. and not submit subject tests if they are not required as the SAT I scores will be sent) They may very well be accepted, but there is a possiblity that the college may wonder.</p>
<p>A few observations --</p>
<p>Most colleges don't "prefer" the SAT.</p>
<p>The recent changes of the content in the math and verbal portions of the SAT changed it to be more like the ACT.</p>
<p>The test people usually take in one area of the country is a matter of historical artifact -- dating from the time when schools did have a preference, even absolute requirements for one test or the other. Since colleges CAN have a preference if they want, and all but Harvey Mudd have chosen to move away from that, I see no reason not to take them at their word.</p>
<p>I took the ACT more than 30 years ago. It had been around for quite some time already.</p>
<p>There are test prep books and programs for the ACT. </p>
<p>The ACT and the SAT are essentially equal in their correlation with how students do in college. So there is no reason for colleges to prefer one over the other.</p>
<p>I would type more but I have to drive my daughter to the airport to go back to her Ivy League school -- to which she got admission using the ACT, even though we live in SAT country.</p>
<p>The ACT is fine...you could give the SAT one more shot, though. Maybe get a tutor for math. If you raise your math score about 100 points, then you'd have a great total score. It's possible.</p>