ACT SAT question.

Colleges & Universities Duke University
1

<p>So Duke says they take either ACT or SAT… I have only submitted my ACT scores so far. I need to know if I should probably submit my SATs as well. Here is the deal:</p>

<p>Duke has:</p>

<p>ACT-
Composite- 34- 33 English, 35 Math, 35 Reading, 34 Science (NO WRITING!!!)</p>

<p>Composite- 33- 31 English, 34 Math, 31 Reading, 36 Science 31 english/ writing (11 essay)</p>

<p>Composite- 30- 32 English, 31 math, 27 Reading, 28 Science, 33 English/writing (12 essay</p>

<p>I have not sent in my SAT scores, this is what they would see: </p>

<p>Nov. 2005- SAT IIs- 690 Spanish w/ Listening, 730 Lit.
Oct 2005- SATI- 2040- 680 CR, 710 Math, 650 Writing
May 2005- SATI 2200- 700 CR, 760 Math, 740 Writing
June 2005- SATII Spanish w/o listening 660, Math IIC 800, Physics 680
October 2004 OLD- 1360- 670 CR, 690 Math
May 2003 OLD- 1250- 600 CR, 650 Math</p>

<p>My questions are… will Duke consider my ACT score without writing, the 34… will they combine one of my writing scores from another test…? (it was a state proctored test, so they wouldnt let us do writing?) If not… my highest ACT is 33. </p>

<p>My highest SATI is 2200… but after that score, I got a 2040… and I don’t want them to see that digression. </p>

<p>Should I just leave it at the 33/(or 34) ACT… or submit my SAT junk too… does Duke have a prefernce…? Advice?</p>

2

<p>I think you should just leave it at the ACT. With the exception of the Math IIC, your SAT scores are not nearly as good as your ACT scores, and everybody and their dog makes an 800 on the Math IIC it seems.</p>

3

<p>except for me :(</p>

<p>how did I get a 740 when it does seem like everyone gets 800??</p>

4

<p>ckmets- the math IIC is annoying because you can miss like, 8 questions and still get an 800, but if you miss 9 you’re down to like, a 760. So you did good…they just dont have a lot of inbetween scores.</p>

<p>don’t worry…im a fellow non-800er.</p>

5

<p>Your ACTs are great but your SAT spring 2005 is quite nice, too and gives you a solid writing score. A couple of your SAT IIs are quite super and your Spanish score may place you out of one semester of language if you are admitted and matriculate.<br>
Don’t hyperfocus on test scores anymore. Plenty of valedictorians and higher test scorers are waitlisted. This may happen to you, too. You ran that testing race already and did a great job.<br>
As long as you love and respect a couple fine match schools, all you have to do now is give the other aspects of your Duke application your best effort.
I don’t think your early SAT scores will be held against you whatsoever, although some Duke admit kids probably score quite well from day one. Plenty of admitted kids turned up their best scores rather late in high school, too. </p>

<p>Focus on what you would contribute to campus life at Duke. Focus on Essays. You are qualified so forget about testing now.
Best wishes and happy outcomes.</p>

6

<p>Thanks Faline… I will definatly be taking that into account… I am very happy to be done.</p>

<p>But do you think I should submit those SAT scores? I am not worried about the SAT I took like freshman year, I’m more worried about going from a 2200 to a 2040… </p>

<p>Also… does anyone know if my 34… which is without writing, would still be considered? Or will they have to like at my highest with writing, 33?</p>

7

<p>Hmm…I failed to catch on that you did have an ACT writing score in that 33. Hey, a 33 is a very decent score plus shows balance between English and Math aptitude. So you don’t have to turn in SATs to get that 740 writing score across.
I think your SATII in Math 2/C…while on an easier curve that some SATIIs…is pretty darn nice.
Perhaps other students have opinions re whether or not to send the SATs. I tend to think not obsessing on this is more attractive (being confident enough to just send the whole works in) and just putting your energies on getting across your personality and where you might fit in at Duke is more in keeping with the actual philosophy of Duke admissions. They admit more than test scores and really do look at other ways students contribute. You are in the ballpark on test scores.<br>
I guess I go with send it all still.</p>

8

<p>hmmm… yah I was kinda thinking that… I almost wish I had sent them in before getting that stupid 2040…</p>

<p>I feel like I’m almost hiding a part of me if I dont send them in? </p>

<p>Faline: I really don’t stress over this, I mean, I happy I have done fairly well on test scores… and very well in school (I may be that valedictorian who gets waitlisted :wink: )… but I have written essays that truly relflect me as a person, and if I am rejected over some silly scores, I dont wanna go there! I gave it my all</p>

<p>Does anyone else have suggestions?</p>

<p>Anyone know if my 34 w/o writing will be considered… or just the 33</p>

9

<p>The 34 probably wont be considered. I would send in the SAT also because I dont think it will hurt you. If they are more impressed by your ACTs, they will disregard the SAT anyway.</p>

10

<p>Those are a lot of scores (they make my head hurt)</p>

<p>I got so tired of testing and I only took</p>

<p>2 sat
3 sat IIs (one sitting)
1 ACT</p>

11

<p>My D has the same issue and I don’t really know the answer. She is sending both the state test without writing (35) and the national test with writing (34). I think they will take the highest composite but may be wishful thinking. Still, with her scores and your scores I don’t think the one point is a critical difference.</p>

12

<p>yep, 1 point will hardly make a difference</p>

<p>Congradulations on the scores</p>

13

<p>Most people I know got higher state scores… hmmmm…</p>

<p>Maybe the comfort of your school, friends around… interesting</p>

<p>Hopefully schools look at highest… if not… so be it… such is life</p>

14

<p>I could use some more input on this, I hope to submit today</p>

15

<p>Just submit it all. They’ll count whatever they decide are your best scores.</p>

16

<p>Here is how Duke looks at your ACT scores, with a real life example:</p>

<p>Test #1:
English: 31
Math: 34
Reading: 27
Science: 34
English/Writing Comp: 30</p>

<p>Composite: 32</p>

<p>Test #2:
English: 34
Math: 32
Reading: 30
Science: 29
English/Writing Comp: 34</p>

<p>Composite: 31</p>

<p>WHAT DUKE SEES ON THE SCREEN (This is what adcom told me.):</p>

<p>Data:</p>

<p>English: 34
Math: 34
Reading: 30
Science: 34
English/Writing Comp: 34</p>

<p>Composite: 32</p>

<p>I love how they do this. The adcom doesn’t even see your lowest scores, and they don’t know how many times you took it. Same goes with SATs and SAT IIs! I love their “we only look for reasons to admit you, not reject you” mentality.</p>

<p>The reason I know that’s what they see if because I asked them if they had gotten my October scores yet, and they were like, “I dunno, I’ll just tell you what I see here” and sure enough it included the october scores.</p>

17

<p>So basically, what I’m assuming they see for Wolf:</p>

<p>WOLF DATA:</p>

<p>ACT:</p>

<p>Composite- 34</p>

<p>33 English
35 Math
35 Reading
36 Science,
33 English/writing (12 essay)</p>

<p>SAT II:
690 Spanish w/ Listening
660 Spanish w/o listening
730 Lit.
Math IIC 800
Physics 680</p>

<p>SAT I Composite: 2200
700 CR, 760 Math, 740 Writing</p>

<p>But of course, before you 100% take my word, call Duke. THey’ll tell you.</p>

18

<p>If I were you, I’d just send the ACT. The 35 math covers for the 800 Math IIC, and your other ACT subscores are amazing. There’s NO NEED to send your collegeboard scores - none of your other SAT IIs are good enough to positively influence your application.</p>

19

<p>Roadrunner, thanks that help… it helps a lot:</p>

<p>My question is… Will the test WITHOUT writing count? I understand that they take the highest subsections, but will the test without writing even be considered, or will they take the highest writing from another.</p>

<p>My other concern though with your reasoning: On common app… you have to list all your scores. Obviously, they will recieve the common app, and see all the scores from all the times you have taken the tests. Yes, they will receive official scores too, but wont they see the actual scores on the actual app?</p>

<p>I guess my reasoning was… 2200 is about a 33ish? I kinda wanted to show, alright, im not just a midwestern student who can only take the ACT… I can do alright on the SAT, and mediocre on the SATIIs as well?</p>

<p>Ill call and ask about the writing part… I may just leave it at ACT</p>

<p>Thanks for the help</p>

20

<p>Roadrunner… also, while there may be no need to send in SAT scores… can they hurt me?</p>