brarmon

I've heard a lot of different stories about which ones colleges want to see. A majority of colleges that I want to apply to all say ACT OR SAT are acceptable. I'm looking at colleges like Columbia University and Johns Hopkins, for instance. I've even spoken with admissions counselors and they say either or works. However, I'm still skeptic that some colleges won't hold a grudge against ACT applicants. I received a perfect score on the ACT but haven't even considered studying or taking the SAT yet. Anyone ever hear about unwritten score preferences that colleges have?

cheerioswithmilk

Nope, I haven't heard of any unwritten score preferences. The official policy of most schools, like you said, is that they take both. I haven't heard of any schools secretly holding a grudge against ACT students.

brarmon

that's a relief! do you think it's a better idea to take the SAT and not submit the score or to just not take the exam at all?

drusba

If you get the score desired and needed for colleges to which you will apply in one test there is not a reason to take the other. Also be aware that many colleges require you to provide all test scores so don't take a test under the assumption you can hide it from colleges if it is not good.

efirestone14

Since you received a perfect score on the ACT (Nice job!), you should probably not take the SAT because you may not score as well. I haven't heard of colleges preferring the SAT or ACT, so I think you will be fine submitting your ACT score.

Sikorsky

Wait....

You've never read anything credible about colleges preferring one test over the other. In fact, you've read exactly the opposite on college web sites.

And you've asked college admissions officers, who say they don't prefer one test over the other.

But if some strangers on the Internet say there's no preference, that you believe?

Sikorsky

I should be honest, brarmon: I do that kind of thing all the time.

But you should be honest: it makes no sense at all.

sylvan8798

Why would they? Really...Why? I mean think about it - you're sitting there in your little admissions office, your eyes glazing over from the latest stack of boring "what I learned as a volunteer in Africa" essays, and across your desk comes the applicant with a 36 ACT score. You leap back as if burned, dropping the application, which just "happens" to fall into the trash bin. "Oops" you intone, glancing surreptitiously about, and pick up the next application...

Kids worry about the strangest things. You tested. You aced it. Carry on.

Oura54

If you take the SAT reasoning test and not submit it how will colleges know your score? That was implied by an earlier post and please elaborate! I was under the impression ( and please correct me if wrong), if a test is taken but not submitted ( no SAT not score choice), colleges cannot find out!

Sikorsky

A handful of colleges and universities--really selective ones--require applicants to submit scores from all standardized tests they have taken (Testing : Stanford University, for example).

An applicant could lie, of course, but if the lie were discovered, it could cost him admission. If he were already enrolled, he could be expelled.