Kebree

Should I retake a 1520 (800V/720M)? I think I could probably raise the math by at least 40 to 50 points, but I don't know how much it would factor into admissions.

• I last took the SAT I test in May.
• The deadline for the January 22 registration (the last one Princeton accepts) is Monday.
• My SAT II's don't need retakes.
• I'm an ED deferree.

athlonmj

I think a 1520 is a solid score and retaking for a score 40-50 pts higher won't make a difference. Lots of people with scores higher than you also got deferred so I don't think that an increase in SAT score will affect your decision too much.

Anyways, I saw your artwork and I've read many of your posts. You seem like a wonderful person. From a fellow RDer, I really hope you get in come April

kinetic

I think that since you were deferred, you might want to retake just to show them that you're boosting your app in one aspect. But, only do it if you're confident that you'll get a higher score. Otherwise, it would be pointless :\

Kebree

Thanks, athlonmj...and congrats on becoming a [potential] Yalie! I see you're still keeping your options open. That's always a good thing when there are schools like Princeton out there, lol

I believe I may go ahead and do a retake...I hadn't thought of the adcoms noticing the extra effort (as kinetic mentioned). Plus, last May I focused on the verbal section when I studied, so I think the math score could definitely rise a bit with some preparation.

athlonmj

Hey thanks. Thats cool that you're retaking.... hope you get a 1600 .

Yeah, now that winter break is here, I think I'm on CC 24/7

mercurysquad

Yeah, kebree, like someone else put it... "retaking [a 1520] just makes you look anal"

EDIT: whoa, i replied without reading the responses and i'm running against the majority.... but thats my humble opinion..

Kebree

Haha, I'll try....we'll see what happens. =)

edit: I don't know about a 1520....a 1550 or might would be "anal," as you put it , but a 1520 may still be in the viable retake range. But who knows. At least they'll see I tried, if nothing else. Also, it should get rid of the disparity between my verbal and math scores.

Kebree

Just don't pass my post count, okay? Haha...

athlonmj

Oh, we'll see about that.

philntex

haha. 1900...455...yeah, that's do-able *claps and spreads pudding on the walls*

mercurysquad

Don't tell that to someone who got a 1250 and is dying to retake.....

Of course, take the test again, considering it takes like what...30 bucks and three hours... I think it's worth it if you can get that 1600 So I take back my argument.

cookiemom

The SAT scores of the accepted and deferred students is virtually the same. This means that it was other factors that made a difference in acceptance. I would focus more on getting them your complete transcript and finding out if there's someone in the art department interested in your work.

Dizzymom

Kebree,

I had a conversation about this with someone just last week. Dizzy-son only took SATI one time, getting a mixed score: 800v, 680m. Under normal circumstances he would have retaken it to improve the math score -- he ran out of time, left problems blank, etc. Also only took SAT II's one time, three at a sitting, two that came out well, one that should have but didn't. Had he retaken, he could have considerably upped the math SAT I and his Latin SAT II .

I wonder if it's possible that a fairly decent -- low 1400's to low 1500's -- on the first try is worth as much as hitting a higher score on the second or third try? No way to know what goes on in the minds of the sage adcoms, but it is worth contemplating, at least if you are planning to spend months or years bypassing your true passionate interests in order to simply improve SAT scores that may or may not make a difference.

I would love the link to your artwork, having seen others rave about it!

Kebree

Thanks--I think I'll leave the scores as is and focus instead on getting in touch with my regional rep and the art dept. I guess that would be more important than a higher SAT score.

http://artattack.to/display.php?artist=1000001376

That's the link, Dizzymom Thanks again!

It has about 1/2 of my paintings on it; I've been too busy/lazy to upload the rest. Maybe I'll be able to do it during the holidays (and there should be a couple more "Princeton" ones by then, too )

Dizzymom

Kebree --

Wow! Your artwork is amazing! Thanks! (Need you to be at P so I can introduce you to Dizzy-son!!! You are adorable!!!)