Better to apply early or re-test?

Paying for College
1

<p>My daughter is a incoming high school senior. She has taken the SAT and ACT each once. Her class rank is top 23%, and this combined with test scores has already guaranteed acceptance at her first choice university. The issue we are grappling with is merit scholarship. To qualify, she must be top 50% (done), and have a minimum score on either the SAT or ACT. She did not achieve the minimum on the SAT (40 points off), but got exactly the minimum required composite ACT score. Merit scholarship awards range in amount based on qualifications, but are awarded on a first come, first served basis. So which is more important–getting the app in as early as possible, or re-testing to hopefully get a higher ACT score and thereby qualify for a higher award? Also, could she apply early with her current score but then re-send the score if she re-tests, does better, and hasn’t received a scholarship decision? How early do schools typically send award letters?</p>

<p>Sorry to be so clueless, she is our first to go to college and I’m already finding the process overwhelming.</p>

2

<p>You can ask the college, they would probably answer this question if you called. Specifically, if she retests and gets a better score, and has already been accepted, would they review her scholarship situation?</p>

3

<p>better to do both. Apply early and retest and send scores in.</p>

4

<p>It sounds like if you don’t apply early, you could lose out entirely.</p>

5

<p>When you say “apply early” do you mean early action or early decision or are you talking rolling admission? Perhaps it would help to find out how many applications they get early? Do you know how competitive the merit scholarships are?</p>

<p>The schools where D applied early action accepted her with a merit scholarship in a few weeks. I believe in those cases, the merit was sort of “automatic” for certain stats. In two cases, she was offered opportunities later to get additional merit through a more competitive process.</p>

<p>Agree with above though, best to call the school and ask.</p>