@jjkmom, for the vast majority of schools, she can decide whether or not to send her subject test scores. There are a few schools that require the student to send in all SAT tests if they send in any SAT tests.
Thank you @suzy100! Although she didn’t feel she did well, I still wanted to know her score. 
I just got an email yesterday from Virginia Tech about a Virginia Tech Sneak Peek Day, where we’d get to tour the university and attend an informational session. The program itself is mainly for racially underrepresented rising sophomores and juniors.
Here’s the email I got:
Come see Virginia Tech’s campus on Friday, July 29, or Monday, August 1, 2016, to get a sneak peek into life as a VT student.
Stop by one of our award-winning dining halls for lunch, then learn about admissions, student life, the beautiful VT campus, and much more!
Register today! View the day’s schedule and other information at www.admiss.vt.edu/vt-sneak-peek.
Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 540-231-6267 or admissions@vt.edu with questions.
Go Hokies!
Sincerely,
Virginia Tech
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Here’s what it says on the FAQ page about the event on the event page:
You’re invited to Virginia Tech’s Sneak Peek this summer!
Register Today!
VT Sneak Peek is an expanded visit to Virginia Tech that will allow you to learn more about the University through an information session, campus tour, and panel session. You and your family will have the opportunity to interact with admissions counselors, current students, and other members of the university community.
VT Sneak Peek will fill up fast, so register now!
Who may participate in VT Sneak Peek?
Rising sophomores and rising juniors from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in learning more about Virginia Tech with their families are the main audience for Sneak Peek. However, any rising sophomore or rising junior with an interest in the program is welcome to attend.
Does VT Sneak Peek cost anything?
There is no cost for VT Sneak Peek. If you wish to eat lunch in one of our dining halls prior to the start of the program, prospective students attending VT Sneak Peek may eat free at D2 at Dietrick Hall. Family members may eat at D2 for $11.25 per person.
Where should I park?
Check in at the Visitor and Undergraduate Admissions Center (VUAC) at the start of the day to get a parking pass and directions to appropriate lots on campus.
May I / do I have to come to both days of the event?
Both Friday, July 29, and Monday, August 1, will follow the same schedule and provide the same information. You should select one of the two days to attend.
I can’t come to VT Sneak Peek, but I still want to visit Virginia Tech. How can I do that?
We would love to accommodate you for a visit on another day if you’re unable to make it to VT Sneak Peek! Please go to http://www.admiss.vt.edu/visit to schedule an information session and/or campus tour on the day that works best for you.
I want to visit on Friday, July 29, or Monday, August 1, but not during those times. Can I still come?
You are welcome to visit on those days even if you are unable to attend VT Sneak Peek. To register for an information session and/or campus tour on either of those days, visit http://www.admiss.vt.edu/visit.
Agenda for VT Sneak Peek, Friday, July 29, and Monday, August 1
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.– Campus arrival
Check in at the Visitor and Undergraduate Admissions Center (VUAC) for parking pass and directions around campus.
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Lunch at D2 at Dietrick Hall (optional) *
Taking traditional dining to the next level, D2 is a state-of-the-art facility that combines all-you-care-to-eat dining with the variety of an international marketplace. Your family is welcome to lunch on your own before joining VT Sneak Peek at Goodwin Hall Auditorium.
Prospective student eats free, family members pay $11.25.
1:00 p.m. – Welcome and Admissions Information Session (Goodwin Hall Auditorium)
Admissions Directors will welcome you to campus and present an overview of the university and the admissions process.
2:00 p.m. – Campus tour
Depart from Goodwin Hall Auditorium for a guided walking tour of campus led by current Virginia Tech students.
3:15 p.m. – University Panel (Goodwin Hall Auditorium)
A student panel of university community members will be present to discuss the ins and outs of Virginia Tech.
4:00 p.m. – Closing remarks and departure
Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 540-231-6267 or admissions@vt.edu with questions.
Honest advice and perspective needed. Our son is trying to decide whether or not to retake the ACT in the fall. His scores this spring were:
English: 35
Math: 35
Reading: 33
Science: 30
Composite: 33
He was hoping for a 34+ on his composite and when he received the score sheet and test back realized that he got the simplest math question wrong and would have had a 36 math and a 34 composite had he not made a simple bubble-filling error.
He is looking to apply to engineering programs - right now favorites include VT, GT, and Johns Hopkins. He will visit UMich, UIUC, and Purdue next year.
He has nothing that is a hook - generally he has a 3.93 unweighted GPA (usually one A- per semester), will complete the IB diploma at his school, is a fine, but not great, runner (currently runs in the low 17s for xc 5k and around 10:00 for a track 3k), loves cars and working on them, does community service weekly with an automotive focus, is a white, upper-middle class male from the PNW.
Do schools look more at the composite score or individual math/English? His math and English scores are fantastic, but his composite is solidly 75% at most of the school’s he is looking at.
So is it worth him taking again to try to get the Reading and Science scores up a bit to make a super score of 34/35?
Thanks for your help!
I would check with each of the schools that interest him to see whether they superscore the ACT - many do not. However, I think the Science section is one that can get pulled up with some preparation. Did he study? What about taking the SAT to see if he does better on that?
@suzy100 - Most of the schools he is looking at DO superscore. He has visited them and researched and they all said the same thing. Science was a surprise. He got consistent 33/34 on every practice test he took in that section. He did say there were a few questions where you needed to know if an ion was positive or negative and he just couldn’t remember and that was what he mostly got wrong in that section. He studied for about three weeks, taking practice tests on the weekends and getting some tutoring specifically in math as that was his weakest section on his initial practice test. He did a fantastic job on the PSAT in the fall, but his practice SAT this spring was pretty bad (650 Reading/Writing, 510 math, 8 essay). He came out of the test knowing he did not do well. I have heard so many say that the new SAT is super easy, but he did not think so at all. He scored better on the old SAT when he took it at the beginning of 8th grade than his practice new SAT in the spring of sophomore year! Sounds like you think that he definitely needs a higher score to get into his desired programs from what you asked (studying, taking SAT, etc).
No, don’t take my questions as saying he needs a higher score. He’s got a great score! I am not familiar with the score ranges for admitted students at those schools. I think if he believes he can raise his science score, then I’d ask him if he wants to give it a go.
@RoonilWazlib99 I was looking over Virginia Tech’s Freshmen Snapshot for the Class of 2020 and I had checked that the range of ACT scores for students offered admission and the average score was about a 27. This is the 2020 Freshmen Class Data by the way:
Freshman Snapshot: Class of 2020
By the Numbers
Number of freshman applicants: 25,263
Number offered admission: 17,540
Number accepting the offers of admission: 6,098
Percentage of the Class of 2019 accepting under the Early Decision Plan: 18%
Number of valedictorians and salutatorians in the freshman class: 157
Number of freshmen who are participating in the Corps of Cadets: 374
Number of freshmen who are legacies (legacy = parent, grandparent, sibling): 1,742
Number of high schools represented in the freshman class: 1,328
SAT test score range of students offered admission: 810-1600 (Critical reading and Math)
ACT test score range of students offered admission: 17-36
Majors
Most popular majors for incoming freshmen:
1.General Engineering
2.University Studies
3.Business (undecided)
4.General Biosciences
5.Animal and Poultry Sciences
6.Human Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise
7.Architecture
8.Business Information Technology
9.Neurosciences
10.Psychology
From Near & Far
Top 5 home states of out-of-state freshmen:
1.New Jersey
2.Maryland
3.Pennsylvania
4.North Carolina
5.New York
Number of states and territories represented: 42, 4 territory
Countries represented: 37
Number of international students: 328
All data current as of May 15, 2016.
I would say to do it again, if he wants to. If this data is truly correct, which I kind of have my doubts about as it seems to good to be true to me. It sounds like if he was really that close to getting 34, it wouldn’t hurt to try again. However, I haven’t taken the ACT yet, I’d say, as I’m only just a teenager, to take my advice with a grain of salt.
I also have a 3.71 GPA and I would say the only hook I can think of is being URM (under-represented minority). There are, however, many hooks out there so there’s bound to be one that fits him.
Perfection in Math is not required but a higher score in Science would help the composite score. There is no reason to rush and take it since he will have more than an year to be an applicant. My advice would to take it again in 2017 in May or June. This way it looks like he tried out once during 10th and took it a final time before applying to colleges.
Thanks, everyone! @ak2018 , I take those stats with a big grain of salt (not because you’re a teenager but because I assume the stats to get into engineering are much higher).
Since he was the one who wanted to retake it, I guess we’ll go for it. It will have to be in Dec or Jan, though, due to other commitments in the fall and spring.
@RoonilWazlib99 - if he has only taken them once, I would advice him to practice all the questions he got wrong and work on timing and take them again in the fall. I always advice taking them twice. Schools will use the highest score. A 33 is a very good score, however. There is room in the Science for a boost.
@RoonilWazlib99 Well I knew there had to be a catch somewhere.
DD’18 has her first SAT ion the books! She did well - better than her practice tests. She will keep practicing through the PSAT in October.
@glido Has she been using Khan Academy? How effective has it been for her?
From what I have read, most colleges only need or recomment 2 subject tests. But I see kids taking 3 or even 4. Is there any benefit in taking more than 2?
@ak2018 - Yes - my DD’18 did use the Khan Academy practice materials on-line and the site was very helpful. She raised her score 70 points from her baseline. She will keep up the practice through the PSAT in October and then, after a break, practice some more until she takes the exam a second time, most likely in January.
@gildo Definitely good for her! Hopefully Khan Academy will affect on me as I officially start SAT prep on Saturday.
Also, I just had a couple of questions, if anyone wouldn’t mind answering them.
My actual question was about whether or not I should study for the PSAT or SAT. Since I’ll be taking the PSAT in October and both the SAT and ACT in May/June, would it be better to study for the SAT, PSAT, or both? I likely won’t have any time to study for the SAT, other than once a month, during the school year, so would it just be better to study for the SAT and that would also help with the PSAT? I also plan to study for the ACT as well. I’ll probably just do some practice tests. Also, is one hour a week good enough to study for both the SAT and ACT? I would be alternating between one hour of the SAT practice one week and one hour of ACT practice another week. Should I spend more time practicing, as in more than 1 hour a week practicing for each one? Strangely enough, with my summer schedule I still have a lot of time on my hands.
@Pri930 I believe some SAT Foreign Language tests, at some colleges, actually can determine placement, which is especially good for foreign language majors and major that require a certain level of foreign language.
@ak2018 study for the SAT that will cover all the material on the PSAT and then some, killing two birds with one stone. How are you studying? I recommend the free on line Khan Academy program and my top three favorite prep books are PWN the SAT by Mike McClenathan, SAT Grammar and the Critical Reader both by Erica Meltzer. Just make sure you get the latest editions for the NEW SAT. You might be able to find these in your local library if not they are on Amazon.