Please don’t shoot me for asking this. Since I’m applying to some of the most selective colleges, I was wondering if it is worth is to retake the SATs after getting a 1520 (780 V, 740 M) in my first sitting. I think I could increase my score 20-30 points if all goes well. I wasn’t considering a retake, but since I keep hearing about how much of a crapshoot everything is, I was wondering if this would make a difference at all? Thank you!
<p>A fair question, given how competitve the process has become. If it helps you any, I got a 1530 and I've decided not to re-take. If anything, spend the time bumping up your SATIIs (IMHO, that is).</p>
<p>i wish i had your problem, but hey, if you have a saturday to blow, go ahead and do it...i guess it cant hurt</p>
<p>If you are considering MIT, Caltech or CMU College of Computer Science, I think that improving your math score might be worth a shot. Other than that - I think your SAT II's and senior year grades would be most important.</p>
<p>I'd say do not retake. You scores won't keep you out of any school in the country, you will be above the median at all. Higher won't help you. I think it looks funny to retake at this level.</p>
<p>I'm a parent of a kid who applied last year to selective colleges and was a very good student. If you were my kid, I would say, NO, you do not need to retake the SAT and your score is terrific and well within range of every top school. That is your goal, to be in range for your chosen schools test-wise. It is not going to matter if you are 30 points either way once you are in that high range there. You have the test scores solidly in line now for all schools, so put those aside and say, "check", "got that part done" and now the rest of your application is the difference. Many kids have great scores so the rest will matter. The difference slightly this way or that on the score is not the difference. Now your GPA, rank, ECs, essays and recs will also have to be competitive to be considered but on the testing end of things, you got it. My D's SAT overall was lower than yours and she got into very selective schools. She had the rest though and so that is where I would now focus your energy and not devote another single day toward testing because you got it in that area. Well done. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your thoughts. It does seem that retaking the test might look funny at this point, and that to worry about it would just be a waste of energy. I really appreciate everyone's help.</p>
<p>I got a 1510 last November and just retook this past Saturday. A lot of people told me not to retake it but I decided to for various reasons (scholarships, emory scholar program, wanted to see if 11 months would help, etc.) </p>
<p>I agree with other people that your scores won't keep you out of any school, but I decided I wanted my scores to help get me into any school.</p>
<p>oh my gosh i got the same exact score in my first (and only) sitting too! 780v/740m! i'm at duke.</p>
<p>I got the same combined as you did too the first time I did it. My practice tests had been averaging higher though so I retook it and it went up by a significant amount. If you think you can do better, then by all means try one more time. Higher scores can never hurt, especially if academics and test scores are the strongest part of your app.</p>
<p>At Caltech or MIT you are pretty much expected to get 800 on math. Anywhere else it will not make any difference, so put your energy into your essays and SAT IIs if you haven't taken them yet. Some admissions officers may see retaking SAT with your score as a sign of unnecessary competitiveness. And if your score goes down for some reason, it will not look good.</p>