Will This Hurt? (Bad Third SAT Retake)

<p>I took the SAT I for the first time at the middle of junior year and got some bad scores, so I decided to take it again. The second test, I improved vastly in every subject and got CR: 630, M: 800, W: 650. Not being too satisfied with my score, I decided to sign up for a third retake.</p>

<p>Today, I got my scores back and it was CR: 640, M: 750, W: 590. Ouch, especially in the context of my first scores of CR: 560, M: 720, W: 610.</p>

<p>Will adcoms probably see that as just a bad day or some rot over the summer? How much would it hurt on my apps? I've already made it quite clear in my interview and essay that I did not study for the SAT and provided compelling reasons on why I chose to do that.</p>

<p>well calculating your scores...you basically have a similar score that revolves around 1900, give or take a hundred points. if you've taken the test 3 times already and still only improved a little, chances are taking it a fourth time would be the same scores. colleges would most probably just superscore your SAT which would mean a 2090 which is really good for 95% of the colleges out there....don't be so waived by all the geniuses out here on CC who only make 2% population of the applicants out there. most ppl would be thrilled with a score like that. </p>

<p>colleges won't see it as a rot, there are SAT tests that are sometimes easier in CR and W than math and vice versa. You also have to account for the curves in the tests. your college will just see that your best is over 2000, and like i said your superscore is really really good.</p>

<p>i would suggest that you don't make it clear in your essay that you did not study for the SATs however. you would have to provide a reason why you didnt' study for it and it shows the colleges you might be lazy or a procrastinator, no matter what reason you give as to why you did not study it.</p>

<p>they'd rather take someone who, even with a busy schedule still tried his best on the sats...colleges take applicants who try their best, not who did pretty well but COULD've done better IF they studied...they are not looking for that attitude.</p>

<p>I asked two friends the other day about their scores and one guy who is considered really smart at school said "i got 2070 but that was only cos i didn't study", and another guy next to him said "i studied and ended up with a 2100"</p>

<p>ok granted their scores aren't so diff even tho their gpas are the same...and the studying didn't seem to make much of a diff, but at least he's not going round saying "if only i studied" or "oh i just got a bad grade cos i didn't study, i COULD've done better IF i studied"</p>

<p>there are no IFs in college applications.</p>

<p>I mainly focused on how my ECs and real subjects were way more important to me, pushing the SAT down to a very low priority. As the stuff I get from my ECs and other subjects will benefit me for life, whereas a SAT score will only benefit me for college admissions.</p>

<p>Guess like I should rely on my significantly better ACT score?</p>

<p>Depends. What's your ACT score?</p>