2240 second try vs 2350+ third try

vickramreddy · 10-15-2012, 02:38 PM

This is not a retake thread, I know people hate those. I am just curious to see what the forum says about two diff situations

guy a
2nd try
2240 740 crit 780 math 720 writ
3rd try
2350 780 crit 800 math 770 writ

guy b
stops after 2nd try

ignoring risk of lower third score, would getting a 2350 make a significant difference while applying to mostly big universities, or will it being the third try and the extensive studying make it drastically less valuble

I am in no way saying that I could get 2350 surefire, but I just ask that you do not factor that into the decision. The main concern of mine is would the third try make it look less appealing?

risubu · 10-15-2012, 04:09 PM

Three times is a good number for most cases. However, may I ask what you received the first time?
Have you taken official practice test(s) that were 2350+?

vickramreddy · 10-15-2012, 05:02 PM

thanks for replying mate, i got a 2160 initally and i have been doing high 22's and low 23's, but seing as how i have until december, i strongly feel that if i put in the effort, i can hit the higher 23's

Erin's Dad · 10-15-2012, 06:08 PM

As my daughter told me when I asked if she wanted to retake the SAT, "why would I want to get up early on a Saturday when I have a perfectly good score?"

jennieling · 10-15-2012, 06:46 PM

Vikramreddy, you mention "the risk of a lower third score". However, with Score Choice as an option given by the College Board, it is not a risk; you can choose which scores to send and which to not send. The college will only know about those which you send. However, there are a few schools that require you to send all scores (Yale, Pomona, a few more) and perhaps they are on you list.

vickramreddy · 10-15-2012, 06:58 PM

Erin's dad, haha, you have a smart daughter, but like the SAT is the only thing apart from my essays that I have true control over so I just wanna bang it out once more. Also, like I kinda like preparing for exams such as these. and jennie i mean like, risk as in like, i spent 45 days studying for an exam only to have the same results. thanks for responding, both of you.

SerenityJade · 10-15-2012, 07:24 PM

Honestly, with a 2240, they aren't usually gonna deny you because of your SAT score unless you're applying to somewhere where the only thing they use to admit is SAT scores.

4kidsdad · 10-15-2012, 07:32 PM

Quote:

The main concern of mine is would the third try make it look less appealing?

Maybe, from College Board:
"Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school. At least half of all students take the SAT twice — in the spring as a junior and in the fall as a senior. Most students improve their score the second time they take the SAT."

glido · 10-15-2012, 08:19 PM

A 2350 is better than a 2240 almost every time.

sylvan8798 · 10-15-2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vickramreddy

Also, like I kinda like preparing for exams such as these. and jennie i mean like, risk as in like, i spent 45 days studying for an exam only to have the same results. thanks for responding, both of you.

Try to avoid using the word "like" in your essay

risubu · 10-16-2012, 03:20 PM

Are you a senior? If not, then you should take it again IF you are sure you have enough time to study for a 2350

vickramreddy · 10-16-2012, 04:49 PM

yeah i got u serenity, i jsut think that is the only thing i really have control over so i wanna make it as good as possible. good call 4kids, ill need to consider that, yeah that was wat i was thinking gildo, sylvan lol thanks for the advice, but ima much better essay writer

no worries. and yeah risubu, im a senior, but im positive i have the time, thnks dude

Kei-o-lei · 10-16-2012, 05:02 PM

1 - a score of 2250 is ~top 12,000 students who take the SAT . .. you really needd to move up to the top 10,000/8,000/6,000?

2 - you have "control" over a few things and "influence" over others . . . the control part includes your SATs, your grades, your essays, the choices of what schools you apply to . . . why, gosh, you have "control" over many more things than the SAT

3- but you do NOT have control over how a school decides what your SAT score means . . . so, what DOES a (hypothetical) 2350 third time mean? different than a 2350 first time . . . indicates that you know how to conform to a testing norm? . . . show hidden intellectual capability? . . . maybe shows that you have no idea what "good enough" means? There are lots of opinions that a school might have about someone who believes that being in the top 12,000 in the world isn't good enough, both positive and negative

4 - be yourself . . . and if "being yourself" means that you "need" to take it again go right ahead . . . that will help schools decide whether to accept you or not :-)