<p>The state I live in requires that I take the ACT, thus I am preparing to take the ACT and I think with preparation I can score 34+. On top of that, I am taking the Math II and Literature SAT Subject Tests. In order to be a National Merit Semifinalist, you have to take the PSAT, which I have been planning on taking. However, today I realized that in order to be a Finalist, you must also take the SAT, which I have not been planning on taking. I feel that I may not have enough time to adequately to also prepare for the SAT and get a comparable score to the ACT.</p>
<p>If I were to apply to HYSPM, would I have to send everything? Could I send my ACT and two SAT subject tests and not report that I took the SAT? Would they know I took it?</p>
<p>For Yale you will be required to send all SAT’s (1 & 2’s) or send the ACT only. My guess is that Yale will know you are not reporting all the SAT tests.</p>
<p>HPM allow you to send whatever scores you want and thus you can send one ACT and two subject tests; S requires both all SAT and all ACT scores, but you can send whatever SAT subject tests you want; Y requires either all SAT and all subject tests or, alternatively, all ACTs (which it accepts in lieu of both SAT and SAT subject tests); note for Y you cannot send ACT plus SAT subject tests because (a) the subject tests will not be considered without the SAT, (b) if you send any SAT or any subject test you must send all SATs and subject tests.</p>
<p>Also be aware that the ACT you will take in a state that requires all juniors to take it on the date designated for that test may or may not be usable with any of the above colleges. HYSPM all require ACT with the optional writing section if you submit ACT. The state you are in may give the ACT without the writing section on the state’s test day in which case it is useless for HYPSM. For example, Illinois requires all juniors to take the ACT as part of its required testing but the ACT given on its test date has no optional writing section (dropped last year because of state budget cuts).</p>
<p>Be aware that there are two basic ways a college can learn your scores: (1) you provide them by ordering them sent by College Board or ACT, or list them in your application for admission; (2) you attend a high school that puts all your scores on the official high school transcript sent to colleges as part of the application for admission process. Thus, you need to check what your high school does because even for colleges that allow you to withhold scores, you won’t accomplish doing so if your high school puts them all on your transcript.</p>
<p>IT does not really matter. Most schools would consider your better score anyway. There are hundreds of reason or bad luck to get a low score in any test (particularly a single attempt), but there is only one way to get a high score.</p>