You Can Send SAT or ACT, but Send Everything. Wh-what in Tarnation?

Applying to College
1

<p>Dear Sirs and Madams,</p>

<p>I come to you, humble and bowed, imploring for clarification. I am plagued by a troublesome dilemma: which scores do I send to [WashU, Cornell, Rice, Stanford, Yale, Columbia]? I've researched this topic for many hours, yet I find only answers that contradict each other. Preferably, I would like to only send in my ACT and certain SAT II (math II and the retake of physics) scores. While I do realize that most colleges claim to consider only the best scores for the application, it doesn't hurt to look better.</p>

<p>Here's some context: I have taken the ACT twice Junior year, and scored suitably well both times (34 & then 35), the SAT I five times throughout my high school career (ranging from high 1800s Freshman year to a climax of 2210 Junior year), and the SAT II twice (800 on math II, low 700s on physics, and a yet-to-be-scored physics retake, which I am positive will be higher).</p>

<p>After looking at admission websites and scouring the internets for information, I have come to the conclusion that I do not know what scores I can send to which school. </p>

<p>Washington University at St. Louis <a href="https://admissions.wustl.edu/apply/Freshman-Student-Admission/Pages/default.aspx"&gt;https://admissions.wustl.edu/apply/Freshman-Student-Admission/Pages/default.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"SAT or ACT scores"</p>

<p>It is implied that WashU allows for score choice and will allow me to send only my best ACT and SAT IIs (not going to bother sending in SAT I), but I am not sure as the language is not concrete. Does anyone know if my understanding of WashU's policies is true? I know SAT IIs are not needed for the application, but my Math II scores would look good for my major.</p>

<p>Cornell <a href="http://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/admission-requirements"&gt;http://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/admission-requirements&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cornell requires that one submits either ACT with Writing or SAT I.</p>

<p>"Cornell requires students to submit all scores from SAT tests taken." </p>

<p>So will I have to submit my SAT I scores even if I instead plan on sending ACT with SAT IIs (needed for my major)? </p>

<p>"You must submit your scores for either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT with Writing."</p>

<p>The "or" is very ambiguous. I've read that you can choose between sending your ACT or SAT I scores, but I've also read that Cornell wants every test ever taken. Which is it? If I have to send my SAT IIs anyways, would I have to send my SAT Is too? </p>

<p>Cornell Admissions blogs are rather confusing in and of themselves. Please regard the following:
<a href="http://blogs.cornell.edu/admissions/2012/06/13/standardized-tests-what-is-required/"&gt;http://blogs.cornell.edu/admissions/2012/06/13/standardized-tests-what-is-required/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"... Also if I send it my SAT subject test results, does that mean that I must also include all my SAT Reasoning test scores too?"</p>

<p>"... if you are submitting the ACT and not the SAT, you can send the required subject tests. If you send the SAT, you need to send all results from College Board."</p>

<p>And from a different admissions blog that contradicts the statements above:
<a href="http://blogs.cornell.edu/admissions/2013/11/07/sat-subject-tests/"&gt;http://blogs.cornell.edu/admissions/2013/11/07/sat-subject-tests/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"Hi, I took the SAT, ACT, and SAT IIs. I want to send my ACT (w/writing) and SAT subject tests. Do I have to send my SAT score too? When I tried to send scores, College Board told me I had to send all of them. So is the ACT (w/writing) a substitute for the SAT I?"</p>

<p>"Hi Rebecca – you’re required to submit all of your test scores. Cornell does not participate in Score Choice."</p>

<p>"I though you could choose between the SAT and ACT? So I can’t simply send my ACT and SAT II scores, I must also send my SAT I?"</p>

<p>"Correct, if you have taken the SAT I you must send that score as well. We will take the score that best supports your application."</p>

<p>What? Cornell admissions, why do you do ravage my mind so :(</p>

<p>Rice <a href="http://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Standardized_Tests.asp"&gt;http://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Standardized_Tests.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"All freshman applicants must take either the SAT and two SAT Subject Tests in fields related to their proposed area of study, or the ACT Plus Writing test."</p>

<p>Okay, so I think I'll be okay with only sending my ACT scores.</p>

<p>"Applicants should send all test scores to Rice." </p>

<p>Now I'm not so sure.</p>

<p>"... we require all applicants submitting the SAT to submit all scores to Rice." </p>

<p>Ah, so I don't have to send my SAT scores...right? If I want to send my SAT II scores to reinforce my application, would I have to submit my SAT I scores as well?</p>

<p>Yale <a href="http://admissions.yale.edu/instructions#testing"&gt;http://admissions.yale.edu/instructions#testing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"All applicants for freshman admission should submit either the SAT and two SAT Subject tests, or the ACT with Writing." </p>

<p>Awesome. ACT, here we go.</p>

<p>"Yale does not participate in Score Choice. Therefore, you need to report to Yale the results of all SAT and SAT Subject Tests or all ACT tests that you have taken."</p>

<p>I believe only sending in ACT is still okay. <em>Belief intensifies</em> I could be mortally wrong here though. If I wanted to send in SAT II tests, would I need to send in all SAT I scores?</p>

<p>"The ACT Plus Writing Test satisfies Yale’s standardized test requirement, and no additional SAT is necessary. Bear in mind, however, that some Yale departments may use the SAT and/or SAT Subject Tests for course placement."</p>

<p>This is reassuring. I don't foresee any problems here. Am I correct in my interpretation of Yale's admissions website?</p>

<p>Stanford <a href="http://admission.stanford.edu/application/freshman/testing.html"&gt;http://admission.stanford.edu/application/freshman/testing.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"Official scores from all test dates must be sent to Stanford directly from the ACT or the College Board (the reporting agency for the SAT) or both if the applicant has taken the ACT and the SAT."</p>

<p>Okay, I am pretty sure Stanford wants every test ever taken: ACT, SAT, and any variant thereof. </p>

<p>Columbia <a href="http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/first-year/testing"&gt;http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/first-year/testing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>"Applicants may choose to take either the SAT and two Subject Tests or the ACT."</p>

<p>Choices are a beautiful thing.</p>

<p>"Although SAT Subject Test scores are not required for students submitting the ACT, those scores are welcome should you choose to take the tests."</p>

<p>It was like I was born to apply to Columbia. From what I have read, it appears that I do not need to submit my SAT I scores. Is this true?</p>

<p>Any input would be most appreciated! Thank you for reading this verbose thread.</p>

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<p>just send all.</p>

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<p>Some of the web sites can be confusing but if you google [school] admissions testing you can usually find it. For instance for WUSTL

<a href=“http://bulletin.wustl.edu/about/admissions/”>http://bulletin.wustl.edu/about/admissions/&lt;/a&gt;
You can use score choice but you don’t have to.</p>

4

<p>I can answer for Yale. You can choose to send either SAT or ACT scores, but you must send ALL scores from whichever one you choose–and if you send scores from both, you must send all scores from both. So if you send them your ACT scores, you must send both. You would not be able to send ACT scores and some SAT II scores without sending all SAT scores. For Yale, at least, I would just send ACT scores (as long as it included writing).</p>

5

<p>The simplest solution to the mind-boggling and varying rules that exist among colleges is to send all test scores. All claim to consider your best scores to determine admission.</p>

<p>Also, before you decide what you are going to do, I would suggest you make a trip to your high school’s administration office and determine the answer to the following question: does your high school put all your test scores on the offical high school transcript sent to colleges? Many do, and thus you may be engaging in an exercise in futility in deciding not to have a testing agency send scores. Moreover, don’t assume the answer to that question lies in just looking at the transcripts you receive at end of each semester since full transcripts sent to colleges can have more information on them than those semester ending transcripts.</p>

<p>Otherwise, here are my answers, which I have previously confirmed with personnel in the admissions offices of the colleges you mention except Rice which has not provided an answer.</p>

<p>Columbia and Washington University allow you to send the test scores you want to send but encourage you to send all scores. Note that for Columbia that represents a reversal of policy that occurred just 1 1/2 years ago. Before then, Columbia required all scores from all tests. It officially changed that policy and now permits score choice.</p>

<p>Yale requires either all ACT scores or, alternatively, all SAT and all SAT subject test scores. If you want to provide any SAT subject test scores, you must provide both all SAT and all subject test scores. Your thought of providing ACT plus some subject tests to Yale doesn’t work because it will not consider those subject tests for admission unless you also submit SAT. That “placement” reference refers to using tests after you are admitted; example, a 710 or higher on the biology SAT subject test means you may be able to skip the first freshman basic biology course as a biology major. But in those placement cases you do not need to submit any applicable test scores until after you have been admitted.</p>

<p>Stanford requires all SAT and all ACT scores but you can provide whichever subject test scores you want to provide.</p>

<p>Cornell requires everything: all SAT scores, all subject test scores, and all ACT scores. If you are considering Penn, it is the same. </p>

<p>Rice has a rule obviously written by aloof academics who believe that the way to make others think they are intelligent is to speak in gibberish that no one else can understand. After reading its policy on its web page and in its application instructions to applicants, and re-reading it sveral times, I came to the conclusion that the only test for which it actually requires all the scores from all tests is the SAT test, and you do not have to send SAT if you provide ACT. Thus, you can send only one ACT even if you have more ACT tests and send whatever subject tests you want to send. Rice has not confirmed that though i asked the question a couple months ago. </p>

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Sorry to bring up this thread again…but can you @FabioLoren please tell me what you ended up sending? I’m currently stressing out about my dilemma which is slightly similar to yours.

I have a low SAT score (1740–yikes), but a good ACT (33) and fairly high SAT Subject score (Math:720-ehh; Chem: 780).

I’m applying to Cornell and a number of UCs and I don’t know if its worth it to send in only my ACT score or send in both my ACT score and all my SAT scores.

Since I’m going for competitive biology majors, I want to include the “recommended SAT subject tests” but I’m terrified of the impression my SAT 1 score will make.

Any comments are welcome :slight_smile: I’d greatly appreciate them.

7

A good question. Last year D had a 36 ACT and a 2040 SAT and okay subject tests. My advice is to interpret each college’s standardized test policy to your maximum advantage and send them the best scores you possibly can. Your 2210 is nothing to be ashamed of so if you absolutely had to send it - not a big problem. The language college’s use is not as crystal clear as it needs to be.

8

Also be aware that a college’s policy can change from year to year. I’m not sure what I wrote about Yale above (in 2014) is still accurate. Make sure you check.