Hobbes

hello, i have just gotten back my sat scores--2200
this was the second time i took it and i was just wondering if it is bad to take it again..i want to break 2300

suggestions?

AKittka

i don't think you have to. what's your individual score breakdown though. Also, quick question for anyone... does UPenn place the same emphasis on writing as it does on Math and CR?? I see that it has a CB writing score range, but really am not sure if it's just for research purposes or whatever.

Hobbes

math 740 w 760 cr 680

i want to get 800 on math and atleast 750 on cr
also, hypothetically, could you bomb the writing section on the next sat, seeing that you wont use that score on the final transcipt?

AKittka

haha hobbes i have the same scores as you except for math .. that 740 is really what i want. anyways, if you're applying to top schools and think you can do better then you could retake if you want. but i don't really think you have to.

Hobbes

yeah, cr is my main weakness...ironically, im an avid reader..then again im a horrible testtaker

cooledge

I think I took mine 3 or so times, if that makes you feel better. My scores were somewhere around 2180, then 2230, and finally 2250, and I got in. So if you're concerned that the adcoms would think poorly of you if took it too many times, less than three times seems to be okay.

AKittka

@cooledge
what about more than 3 times? i guess like 4 times haha. how do you think that affects an applicant?

cooledge

^Well, since no one on here is a adcom officer, we can't know for sure. So all we can do is try to step into their shoes.
What would you think if you saw a teenager who has voluntarily taken a 4 hour test 4+ times? Especially if these tests are on a saturday morning? You might think that they really want to get into college, which is a good thing, but they'd also think that you might be missing the point of this whole education thing. Another conclusion they might draw is that you spend alot of time prepping for these things. If I were an adcom, I'd want people who are interesting and active. Now, if you showed that on the rest of your app, that could counterbalance it, but that negative image would still be in the adcom's collective mind.
To be honest, I think 4 is ok, just don't take too many more. Also, I doubt it would be a deciding factor. It just might colour their perceptions differently.

CollegeDK

Cooledge, do you attend Penn?

cooledge

I will next Fall. Why?

KQI

I was a mere 1870 and I got in... you're fine

AKittka

@cooledge... that's some pretty deep thinking haha. but i understand your point. but really i have prepared as in taking practice tests but not like gone crazy, i go out every weekend, i really don't mind the 4 hour test since the questions are so basic and the time really flies no lie ah! i'm interesting, and i really want to go to college! especially Penn haha.

i think i'm going to take it in october for the final time and after the test if i don't think i improved i'll cancel my scores. should be interesting, thanks.

CollegeDK

@cooledge

I was just wondering because my SAT scores are the same as yours. Did you apply Early Decision?

cooledge

Nah, I applied RD.

moizuhk

OK I personally think you should retake. My "retaking theory" is that in SAT there are some barriers which you break for eg: 650, 700, 750. If you are capable of breaking a barrier in a section then you should go for it. Adcoms don't total scores; they just glance at individual scores and a 750 will impress an officer more than a 740 even though the difference is only 10 points. By the look of your scores you can probably get a 700 above in reading and a 750 above in Math. So go for it, but don't give it more than three times!

Best of luck

P.S. THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION!