<p>I have aspirations to attend HYPS and recently received my SAT scores from my first try at the test: 760CR, 780M, 800W(80/12). I have also previously taken three SATII tests with the following results: 800MathI, 800MathII, and 770Spanish (and I expect to take 2 more SATII's in the fall). I know my SAT scores are great, and I am thankful for them, but I do want to maximize my chances at HYPS. The argument in favor of retaking is that I'm below the 75th percentile for M (barely) and CR for HYPS, and I don't want to give the schools an incentive to reject me because I will hurt their statistics. Sadly, it seems from what I have read that, despite the expectable denials from admissions offices, gamesmanship plays a meaningful role in the admissions process at even the best schools. Based on a few practice tests and my PSAT results (80CR/80M), I think my chances of increasing both scores (and particularly CR) over 1 or 2 retakes are quite high. On the con side, I probably wouldn't do quite as well in writing (maybe 750-780 based on other data points), and am also leery of looking like a bit of a perfectionist. Still, taking the SAT another time or 2 is no big deal for me (and strangely, I actually sort of enjoy these tests), so it's not clear to me what is the right choice. I should also mention that otherwise, my academic record is quite strong as are my EC's. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>They aren’t going to reject you because you’re below their 75th percentile… It doesn’t make sense, you’re already above average (assuming your above the 50th) so why would they reject you solely based on that?
A 2320 is very impressive for the first time taken, I wouldn’t recommend taking it again. But if you’re sure you can get your math AND your critical reading up then go for it.</p>
<p>You’re not below the 75th percentile, you are at the 75th percentile for Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, and only slightly below for Princeton (theirs is a 790). In any case, it makes absolutely no sense to retake because you are below the 75th percentile, but in like the 74th – the majority of their students, are duh. Not only that, but it’s not like you really have much room to go. An 800 is not really significantly different from a 780 – that could be one question, on the math section.</p>
<p>Generally, if you are in the middle 50% of accepted students, you’re not going to get rejected because of your SAT scores. If you get rejected, it will be on the basis of something else. You’re NOT going to get rejected for a 2340.</p>
<p>If you want to retake for your own personal reasons – like if you want to get that math up to an 800 or want to try for the elusive 2400 – I can understand that. I took the SAT a third time not because I needed to, but because my CR was a 770 and I knew that I could make it to 800 (I did). But if you only want to retake it for admissions reasons…you’re being absurd.</p>