Naturally

I'm glad someone asked this because I've been wondering the same thing!

GypsyJae

Being a community college transfer, a lot of great public universities don't require SATs at all, so double check. Private schools tend to still require them.

Bottom-line: Check with each school you'd like to apply to individually, so you don't get any surprises! Schools usually state how old your SAT results can be. I think they tend to allow you some slack - you're not studying medicine, so your scores are still good. If anything, with your added years of study, most schools know you're better than those older scores now. Which is why so many schools don't even require them of transfer students.

Neonzeus

I've actually wondered about this too, with an even more extreme example. I was a National Merit Commended Scholar back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. My SAT scores are still stored in the attic, if they haven't rotted from old age. I'm sure I wouldn't score as well if I took them again!

I earned a BA in Education and a JD, and have worked for 30+ years as a lawyer. While I've had a good career with some wonderful Fortune 500 companies, I've regretted not being a high school teacher. I've browsed on-line and have noted that teaching programs now require different classes than were needed in the 70s. I've been considering trying to update my degree and pursue certification. While we have a glut of teachers, our newspaper has reported that there is a lack of sufficient numbers of substitute teachers because of the poor pay, particulary in inner city and rural school districts.

I'd love to get admitted to a local university and take the necessary classes for our state's teacher certification. My goal would be to sign up to be a substitute teacher. We didn't have to be certified to teach Neanderthal children in the Pleistocene era!

I guess the first step is to visit the local university and talk to admissions for the programs that we want to pursue. I'm hoping they have an outreach program for adult students that will make retaking the SAT unnecessary!

MiChiamanoMimi

I considered doing so back during my "initial try" at college with an eye on transferring to one of the Seven Sisters or Mills, and was told not to bother.

TrinSF

Neonzeus: You'll find that pretty much all the schools that will accept you won't ask for the SAT. They tend to put much more stock in references and your essays/life experiences. I think you should go for it! I regret not returning to school 10 years ago!

jaykoblives

I'm a 26 year old transfer student. I did re-take the SATs, but it proved to be a complete waste of time even though I did quite well. The college that accepted me, which I attend this Fall, Amherst College, advised me not to bother submitting them because I was a non-traditional student applying from community college. I know every university/college has different requirements, but this is how it went down for me.

katytibbs

Check what your state's requirements are for substitute teaching. To substitute teach in NJ, you don't need certification, you need the equivalent of an associates degree and the pass the background screening. I am not sure what other states require.

nickeyjafari

If you think you'll get a better score, it's worth it. But generally it's for high school students. That's mainly the material you're tested over.

Bait&Switch

Getting a better score is only "worth" it if that better score is what gets you in. Seeing as how you won't ever know this going in, and most schools I've spoken with do not seem to care that I'm submitting old scores, I wouldn't hedge your bet on this one.

And to clarify, Stanford's "official" policy is for you to have taken the new SAT. Off-the-record, the assistant admissions Dean said they wouldn't care if I submitted my old results, as they view the whole application in context.