<p>Is it worse to draw attention to low SAT scores or ignore them? </p>
<p>I’m trying to write my supplemental essay and I don’t know how much I should talk about my SAT scores…I feel like I’m not being honest if I don’t confront them somehow.</p>
<p>In retrospect, I wish my D had confronted them in the section entitled “Is there anything else you would like us to know?” I would have had her write that her low scores are a result of not finishing the tests. She never has a prob on classroom tests in terms of time, but on standardized tests she needs more time and never finishes, resulting in low scores at repeated sittings. I would put something like that if I were you…Especially if you have a strong GPA to counteract it.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, for reasons I don’t have time to go into here, I don’t think any explanation you give will have any effect on the admission decision.</p>
<p>Unless something drastic happened on the day of or before the test - i.e. someone died or you got seriously ill - I would not directly draw attention to your SATs. Instead I would subtly emphasize your other strenghts and attributes.</p>
<p>(680 CR, 560 M, 650 W) and SAT II’s: 660’s</p>
<p>Nothing drastic happened. I really don’t know what happened, but they depress me everyday because they honestly do not represent my intelligence.</p>
<p>Try and cheer up. There are many people in your situation. Unfortunately, the stats-driven world of admissions takes no prisoners and shoots the wounded. Get in where you can. Do well , and your test stats will fade as an issue. Then try the transfer route.</p>
<p>Alright well look, I think you have another test date… I might be wrong, so check. If you do, retake SAT I. Try and get hold of a diagnostic test, work out your weak areas, then either study those areas or just practice that section on practice papers from the Collegeboard book or something. The more papers you do, the higher your score will get - ridiculous, but that’s the way it is. Like you I had scores in the 600s first time round. All I did between then and the next was take a few more practice papers and second time round raised two of my scores by 50 and 40 points, got them into the 700s. Same with SAT II maths, raised it by 80 points - started work on practice tests a couple of days before the exam. Both times I started studying about three days before the exam - you have about a month and a bit to do some serious preparation and nail this thing. But definitely take SAT I, way more important in my opinion.</p>
<p>Thanks Ace and Zuma…</p>
<p>I will definitely not be taking the test again. It’s not going to make a huge difference - those scores are the best of 3 sittings. Some people are simply poor standardized test-takers. </p>
<p>Maybe my grades from Harvard SSP will help a little? I mean, that’s what the SAT is, right? A measure of college performance…</p>
<p>Send them, but know that SSP won’t make any difference. Just go ahead, submit your app and hope for the best. If you don’t get in, consider my earlier suggestion (#6).</p>