<p>My daughter is a SCEA deferree. She took the SAT after the SCEA deadline and improved her score significantly (40 points) for one section but worse on the other two. Should she send in these results as part of the supplemental information?</p>
<p>They take composite scores, so the highest scores from all dates.</p>
<p>I agree with the above.</p>
<p>40 points isn’t significant.</p>
<p>The difference between a 690 and a 730 is quite dramatic. I have a 690 and I am aware that a 730 could drastically affect both which schools I could attend and the merit money I could possibly receive.</p>
<p>i would include it.</p>
<p>All colleges takes the top score for each section regardless of test date? Or each college has a different policy?</p>
<p>Depends entirely upon the school. The UC’s will take your highest test score from one sitting; whereas, USC will take the highest composite score.</p>
<p>“The difference between a 690 and a 730 is quite dramatic. I have a 690 and I am aware that a 730 could drastically affect both which schools I could attend and the merit money I could possibly receive.”</p>
<p>No (unless there’s a specific cutoff on scores for that merit money).</p>
<p>Yes, at quite a few schools there are (especially one I’m applying to). Also, just surpassing 700 opens many more doors.</p>
<p>^Ditto for both posters b/f me. There is a big difference between being in the 600s and 700s, even if the difference is just 20 points. It’s an unfortunate stigma with stats. 
3.8 versus 3.9, 680 v. 710 even.</p>
<p>psychologically, it looks a lot better.</p>
<p>EDIT: pyleela, you changed your location to Stanford …cool</p>
<p>“^Ditto for both posters b/f me. There is a big difference between being in the 600s and 700s, even if the difference is just 20 points. It’s an unfortunate stigma with stats. 3.8 versus 3.9, 680 v. 710 even.”</p>
<p>I think that’s just something that students (especially ones on CC) tend to think, but I have a feeling that adcoms are a bit more thoughtful, especially since they have thousands of scores to look over, which gives them more perspective. =)</p>
<p>Stanford Commond Data set 2006/2007:</p>
<p>SAT Scr. CR Math Writing
700-800 59% 67% 59%</p>
<p>600-699 33% 29% 33%</p>
<p>I would rather have numbers than opinion on my side, especially if I didn’t have any particulary hooks, such as URM status or extraordinary talent. :)</p>
<p>I don’t see how that really matters. When the adcoms see the first scores and then the second ones, they’re not going to say, “Wow! He/she really did improve!” 40 points, while putting you in one of the score ‘tiers,’ doesn’t really change much in comparison to the previous score.</p>
<p>The entire purpose of only giving score tiers is to prevent applicants from thinking that they need a certain SAT score. An average SAT score might give the impression that there is a score cutoff. Most students who have done very well in difficult classes while finding time to pursue something they are passionate about successfully will happen to have high SAT scores. The SAT scores don’t get you in. They should just confirm that you are a good student. </p>
<p>Just fyi, the SAT scores claim to be accurate within 30 points of the “real” score you should have received on the SAT (or could have received on a different day or with a different version of the exam), so a 40 point difference means very little.</p>
<p>So Stanford takes best scores from each section?
So 800 M 600 CR 700 Writing
and 700 M 700 CR 800 Writing
Stanford would see 800 M 700 CR 800 Writing Composite: 2300?? Am I correct?</p>
<p>Yes, I believe they take best scores from each section. The UCs, for example, take scores from one sitting only (which is another reason why Berkeley/UCLA seem to have “lower” scores than some privates).</p>
<p>Regardless of their official line, all of the top schools consider all scores, not just the composite, when they evaluate applications. Many calculate the composite score primarily to inflate their stats for accepted and/or matriculating students. For admission purposes, however, most admissions officers at the “most selective” schools do not equate a 1500+ M&V composite from three attempts to a first attempt 1500+ M&V. The attention paid to the new writing section varies widely.</p>