Hi I’m a junior and I took the SAT 1 once and I got a 740 Math, 730 Cr, but only a 610 writing. I would take the SAT again, but I already signed up in may and june to take the subject SAT tests(Math 2). Should I cancel the june SAT subject test dates and retake the SAT or should I just only take it once? Will colleges think I’m lazy for only taking it once, when I could probably take it again and up my writing score? Is my writing score a problem if I want to apply to some top colleges? I want to study business and my number 1 school is NYU stern.
Thanks in advance!
Writing is the least important of the sections, but 610 on it is quite low for top tier colleges (I don’t know about NYU specifically). If you think you can improve your writing score significantly (to 700+), then I’d say it’s worth taking again, if not, don’t bother, it’s not bad that you only take the SAT once. What is bad is if you significantly under-performed on your first taking of it and don’t retake it.
@DontEvenKnow I don’t know if i seriously under performed, because other than the writing I’m about average for the schools that I want to attend. I just don’t know if I should sacrifice a subject test day and retake it or just stop worrying about it. I just don’t know how important writing truly is.
Some of the schools I want to attend are: NYu stern, Carnegie Mellon, USC, UCLA, UVA, Umich, Notre Dame and a few others.
I think what @DontEvenKnow meant by underperforming is if you were scoring 700+ on all of your practice tests, and then scored a 610 on the actual because of some fluke.
A better choice might be to first take the subject tests in June as planned (especially since the material is probably fresher in your mind then), and then retake the SAT in October (or retake your subject tests, if necessary). I just think it’s better to cover all of your bases first - a low score is still better than no score.
If I were you, I would persist to sign up to take the SAT again. However keep your head strong and concentrate on the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests. You kind of put yourself in a difficult situation, but with proper focus on the goal to NYU Stern, study hard and be confident to ace both tests. Besides taking the SAT for the second time won’t hurt. If anything, it might even raise your score. 
@OrchidBloom and @littlemonster39 I think I’m gonna apply early decision, so that would mean no time for taking the SAT again, unless I changed one of my subject test dates to an actual SAT 1 date. I’m not sure what to do.
You can retake in October even if you apply ED.
@NorthernMom61 then would I be able to send those scores to the college I’m applying early decsion to? Also would I get to see the scores first, or would they just be sent out?
At the schools my daughter applied to EA, they would accept SAT scores from Oct, and I would have to go back and check, but there may have been one that would accept November. You might be able to wait for the scores before sending, but depending on time lines you might have to pay extra to rush the scores to the school. You can check the school websites to find their policies.
Agree that writing is the least important and you should focus on SAT subject tests now. You can definitely retake in October and practice essay over the summer. I know a few kids who took October SAT and applied ED. I don’t think the College Board automatically sends your scores out without your seeing them or requesting that they be sent but you can probably check with College Board.
If you take the October 11, 2015 SAT Test, then you will probably get your results by the end of October. That would probably leave you a narrow gap to apply for ED at Stern. Also, I think you should continue to take your SAT Math Subject Tests this spring because since you are going into business, showing your proficiency in math can increase your chances of getting in at Stern.
***** Sorry correction, the test is on October 3, 2015. That gives a little more time to apply for Stern.
Well this is a new one. Is only taking it once going to hurt? …No
Your test scores are excellent, despite not being perfect.
How do you people get that high on CR pls help
@whateverhahah CR is just about practicing. I did all ten practice tests for the college board blue book, and you just get a feeling for what all the types of questions they can ask. For example, you start to realize which question is trying to trick you. And studying vocab is really important. I just wish my writing was highers so that I could relax haha.
@littlemonster39 I want to apply ED 1. If I took the oct 3 SAT, I would have to apply ED 2 right?
Did you take all the practice tests for Writing? If not, I’d highly recommend it. And make sure you review every wrong answer/guess and fully understand the correct answer.
@CHD2013 No i did not do every for writing. Thats probably why I did so bad haha.
uummmmm… If you are lucky and get all the results before October 29, go for Early Decision I, if not then you have to do ED II. However if you are going to do ED I, be prepared to have the entire rest of the application ready, so all you have to do is put in the SAT scores. But do realize that by submitting ED I by November 1st will probably give you an advantage as to apply for ED II because ED II and Regular decisions are both due on the same day, January 1st. 