<p>I’m an international applicant from France and here are my scores:
1st sitting (October 2013): 590CR, 600M, 600W (1790 composite)
2nd sitting (Nov. 2013): 650CR, 550M, 690W (1890 composite)</p>
<p>Here are my sole two option. Should I retake the SAT in January and send in a third set of scores? Or should I simply send these two and cross my fingers until they hurt? </p>
<p>I did consider taking the ACT… But I happen to have scheduled an international event related to an EC of mine right on the day of the exam, Dec. 14th. And there are no test dates in January… What should I do?</p>
<p>No, your chances are not ruined. The admissions officers will view your SAT scores in the context of the rest of application. You better have some amazing ECs, recommendations, and grades, though, if you want to get in.</p>
<p>I disagree. There’s no reason to sugar-coat it. Your chances at the Ivy leagues with a 1940 SAT are pretty much 0%, especially for an international applicant. Even if you have all A in the most difficult classes your school offers and the most amazing ECs, your scores will ruin the application for you. I think you can try to apply to one Ivy or similarly competitive school, but be prepared that your chances are extremely small. You should probably consider some more realistic options.</p>
<p>I think you can still register for December SAT but you would have to pay extra. I crammed two days before my 2nd SAT and raised my math from a 620 to 720 with no studying other than that since my last test date (May). So you should try to do the same First check to see if the schools take January test scores because some don’t. If they don’t register for December and just try to focus on one section to go up in (in your case math).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the discouraging posts are likely to be correct. Firstly, you won’t improve your scores by taking the test again, since your two scores are roughly in the same place. Secondly, unless you have something special going for you, you’re not going to be seen as being in the top 10%, which is where you need to be in order to be considered for admission. Even then it’s by no means automatic.</p>