rragard

I know this a somewhat stupid question but my guidance counselor is useless and never ceases to confuse me. When a school requests your SAT scores is sending them through Collegeboard.com sufficient?

drusba

Yes, you can order your scores sent on that site and those will be "official" scores.

An0maly

If a school receives scores electronically, is it safe to assume that they will receive them in a few days through collegeboard rather than 2-3 weeks?

drusba

No, it is not safe to so assume. Likely it goes into the computer file for that school within days after the order is received. How long thereafter it takes to get to the college depends on when the college does downloads which can be weekly or bi-weekly.

If your question is will the college timely receive your October scores which you ordered sent at end of October for an EA or ED application to a college that had a Nov 1 application deadline the answer is yes except for a very few exceptions since almost all of those colleges do not require the score to be there by Nov 1 and if they get it by mid-Nov you are fine. In fact, most of those colleges even take scores from the Nov SAT test.

An0maly

Thanks. I understand that it could take a while for them to update it as "received," but I just wanted to make sure that the school gets them fast if it's electronically submitted.

blaw

I just got a USC brochure which said you should mail or fax your copy of the SAT score as well ... just in case your score gets lost in the shuffle? I haven't heard that from any other college.

R124687

rragard:
I wonder if your counselor was telling you anything about how THEY (the high school) might ALSO send your scores to schools. I know this sounds backward of what you're asking, but...if you're questioning what is "official"...maybe this is what you mean.

I know that I just recently learned that my D's high school records her standardized test scores. They send them, along with her transcript, to colleges. They said SOME colleges will accept this as "official". Because it came FROM the official place (ACT or College Board) TO an official place (school) and then to the college (student couldn't "cheat" scores).

But, I don't know how one tells if this is considered "official". I guess contact each school individually. Collegeboard sure isn't going to prepare a list for you, because they'd lose a lot of money. I didn't want to hassle asking, and risking the person who answered the phone/e-mail giving me incorrect information. I felt it was worth the .. what?...$9-$12 or so to go ahead and send the scores to each school.

drusba

^Colleges generally tell you on their site whether they require the official score from the testing agency (most now) or accept scores listed on high school transcript (minority now). Years ago majority would accept the score on the transcript but that has changed over the years to most now want official scores from the testing agency.

rragard

thanks for the help..and yes i believe that is what my guidance counselor was referring to. included in my transcript was a record of the SATS i took when they were given at my school. However the second round of SAT scores were not included because they were at a different location. I have recently applied to college and sent them through college board. Its $10 a pop so not bad at all. I'm just an anxious and impatient person. but thanks to everyone for their responses.