To Retake or to not Retake - Urgent SAT advice wanted!

fastbreak · 09-08-2009, 04:19 PM

Hi everyone,
I'm a senior and I've taken the SAT 3 times, scoring:
2040 (1st try)
2160 (2nd try)
2280 (3rd try, this is also my composite. Breakdown: 760CR 720M 800W)

Assuming I could get, say, a 2350, should I retake it a 4th time? Would you say that there is a certain cutoff score (above 2280, of course) that I would need to get in order to for it positively impact my college apps?

I'm just interested in how this would look from an admissions standpoint (not opinions as to how my time/Saturday morning is best spent). Would colleges prefer a 2350 on my 4th try? I've heard that colleges look negatively upon a student retaking the SAT more than 3 times (or at all). I think I've also heard that some admissions officers will just average your scores if you take it more than 3 times (even if the college's official policy is to only consider your best score!).

The deadline for registration is tonight, and I would really appreciate all advice!!! Thanks everybody!

MikeWozowski · 09-08-2009, 04:21 PM

i think your score is high enough.

but it is up to you.

thenextbigthing · 09-08-2009, 04:24 PM

Are you serious?

fastbreak · 09-08-2009, 04:32 PM

Thanks for your thoughts Mike. My only worry is that my M and V scores are a little weak. Also, I really think I can improve my score significantly with minimal studying. Oh, and btw any thoughts on how a higher SAT would impact my scholarship chances? Would a 1500+ help? My real concern though, is just getting in. I'm hoping I'll have a shot at an ivy-caliber school.

thenextbigthing, I'm just looking for some advice before I make my final decision. If you guys think retaking would be totally pointless or negatively impact my application, just let me know.

MikeWozowski · 09-08-2009, 04:43 PM

most top scholarship thresholds i have seen are about 1400. not sure that a 1500 will help you much there. you have 1480 now.

i am no expert, but it seems that for top scholarships it is more about things other than scores and GPA. ECs leadership essays etc.

what schools are you planning to apply to?

i think you may be able to improve math, but IMO CR is harder to improve on.

i think ivies get apps from tons of kids who are all qualified. they seemto go into mor depth looking at ECs leadership and such in looking at who to admit.

swans004 · 09-08-2009, 04:48 PM

Just my two cents...I agree that your scores are good enough. There's no guarantee you'll do better, and you may do worse. AND four times is a heck of a lot of tries. I've never heard of anyone taking it more than three, and I thought three was one too many. To be honest, it makes you look like a malcontent. Your scores are GREAT, so be happy with them, and say good bye to the SAT forever

MikeWozowski · 09-08-2009, 05:04 PM

my DD is going to take the ACT for the third time this saturday.

BUT ... she is doing so because of the guaranteed scholarship threshold is one point higher than her current score (she score the same as her first try on try #2).

she may also take it a fourth time for the same reason. BUT ... only because the sign up deadline comes before the scores from test #3 come out.

again ... only reason for this is to meet guaranteed scholarship threshold. if it weren't for that, her score is pretty decent!! (like 92nd percentile)

fastbreak · 09-08-2009, 10:31 PM

Mike and swans, thank you so much for all your advice! Mike, I'm not really sure where I will be applying yet, but I was thinking of doing Brown ED. And I'm really counting on my test scores to make up for my relatively low GPA. I do think I can score higher and I've been doing a lot of studying, but I don't want to come off as a malcontent either.

So is your final verdict that top schools would see a 2350 after 4 tries as equal to or worse than a 2280 after 3? What about a 2390? 2400?

Oh and also, my mom just informed me that the late deadline for registering is in 2 weeks, so I wouldn't need to decide by tonight!

fastbreak · 09-08-2009, 11:20 PM

I know that Brown honors score choice, but other schools that I'm interested in - Cornell, Pomona, Penn - don't. I want to give myself the best chance possible at Brown ED, but if I don't get in, I don't want a 4th SAT to screw up my other apps.

swans004 · 09-09-2009, 04:00 PM

You do have a tough decision, and there's obviously no clear right or wrong answer. But, maybe you should just do what you think is right in regard to Brown, if it's absolutely your first choice. College admissions can be so gut wrenching, but just remember that there's a great chance you're going to be happy and get a great education wherever you end up. So don't second guess yourself down the line on whatever you do decide. Best of luck.

xiaojingteng · 09-09-2009, 04:59 PM

sorry if this sounds stupid, but what's a "guaranteed scholarship threshold". it sounds kind of self explanatory, but i've never heard of it before