<p>I'm a senior applying SCEA and received SAT scores of 800 Math, 780 Critical Reading, 680 Writing (8 on the essay) as well as an ACT score of 35 (also 8 on the essay). My concern lies in the essay scores. I have been in a selective, rigorous honors english program at my school for four years, am currently enrolled in AP English, and have long considered writing to be one of my main strengths. My scores, however, don't reflect this. I even looked again at my SAT essay online and don't see why it deserves an 8 -- it is nothing brilliant, but offers a straightforward, well-written, clearly organized essay. I was wondering if anyone here has had similar experiences and/or knows how much Stanford and other schools value the essay score, especially since it is so new. My transcript, letters of recommendation and essays should display my ability to write, but I fear the essay scores will seem to contradict this. I have already rushed my prior SAT scores and will probably rush my ACT scores tomorrow morning -- should I perhaps withhold the ACT scores, which are overall high, because receiving two 8's makes the scoring seem less subjective? Any thoughts are appreciated.</p>
<p>scores are scores, what you can do now is try and redeem yourself on the essays (I hear Stanford puts heavy emphasis on these).</p>
<p>Thanks. Anyone have thoughts on whether or not to send the ACT scores? (I haven't done so yet.) Do schools only look at whichever test scores they think are better?</p>
<p>Your SAT scores are golden. You prolly don't need ACT.</p>
<p>When Writing was an SATII, I got a perfect score on the essay by writing BS. I took a prep course that told us to do something similar to the following...</p>
<p>-Thesis-
"The first example of _________ is ___<strong><em>. This shows that...."
"The second example of _</em></strong>____ is __<strong><em>. This shows that..."
"A third example of _</em></strong>__ is _______. This shows that..."
-Rehash the intro-</p>
<p>I was shocked that the prep course told us to write in such BLAND style ("first... second... third...") because AP English taught me to sound "eloquent" and never write so laundry-list-like. But... it worked.</p>
<p>This, of course, isn't the only way to do well. Also, it's entirely possible that the grading has totally changed for the new SAT and my advice isn't even relevant ;) I have a friend who wrote a normal, very good, AP English-type essay and also got a perfect score. I have friends who wrote decent AP English-style essays and did so-so. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that it's difficult to know exactly what the SAT feels is a good essay, and it isn't necessarily what you've been brought up to think is good.</p>
<p>So make those admissions essays awesome, show who you are, and I think you should be all right =]</p>