What are everyone’s thoughts/experiences on SAT scores and PSAT scores etc in regards to MT admissions at the schools? I mean is it going to be OK if my D has fairly average or slightly above average scores for admissions to some of these MT programs? She scored slightly above average on the PSAT according to the new format/scoring. I wonder if that is high enough or will she have to take one of those prep classes for the SAT? It is the math that is lowering her overall score as the other reading/writing combines score is high
In my experience- Strong scores are one of the best paths to merit $$
I think you want her to have a score over 1900 on SAT for good merit monies
You cant score a 1900 anymore on the SAT cause it is a new test and the scoring is different. Only goes to 1600 now.
So my guess would be she would need a score over 1300 for decent merit monies.
They changed it again?! I hadn’t heard that.
Yeah the new one is starting in March. The PSAT was new this year too and that is what my D just took,
^^Yes, it’s a nightmare! My youngest is in 11th grade. They changed it very significantly, not merely in reverting back to the ‘old’ 1600; the test itself is quite different. Never a dull moment…
I’m an SAT tutor and here’s my two cents–
First, since they’re still norming the tests, I’d go by percentile as opposed to raw score. In the recent PSAT, a 620 in Math put you in the 92 percentile, quite a bit higher than a 620 in the ‘old’ SAT math. This will continue to adjust - probably for a year or so- as College Board tinkers with norming and students get used to the new format.
While it’s certainly true that the higher your score, the greater your chances of getting in and getting merit, I think that an average score wouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker in many MT schools. It would depend on grades, the auditions, and how much academics matter in the particular school.
I would definitely study for the new SAT though. It’s too important to not at least practice–you wouldn’t do an audition without practicing either. It doesn’t have to be a prep class. It could be tutoring, or it could be self-tutoring-- there’s lots of material online and in books, if the student is rigorous in studying. Good luck!
Well I’m hoping even if her score doesn’t get a lot higher in math, which I’m thinking will be the case (because at this point it’s just the way it is, not a math perso!) that her GPA , which is good and her college prep /honors classes and EC will make up for the SAT score.
It’s a great idea to try to boost your scores. My daughter used an online test program that showed videos on areas it diagnosed in the practice test. She really liked the video format. Some schools show the thresholds for merit scholarships (SAT/GPA) on their websites. I don’t know how it translates to new SAT world.
I hate these tests. Really and truly I do. But doing better is probably the best wage per hour (if it leads to merit) that an MT kid will ever earn. Chase the points if you need the merit $. What… another Saturday out of their lives to spend a few hours retaking a test? Please…
The PSAT doesn’t count for anything with respect to college admissions and money unless you are going to be in the running for National Merit. If you already know you have a kid that isn’t going to be in the hunt for National Merit, ignore it.
Don’t forget the ACTs. Most schools accept them in place of the SATs, and some kids do better on them than the SATs.
My wife is a college counselor. Here’s what she’d say. Always take both the ACT and the SAT because most kids will do better on one vs. the other. The ACT is more math and science based. And be prepared to take them more than once because schools will take the better score on a given section for admissions decisions. The prep sessions are something else she would endorse. Your high school may offer those, be sure she takes them. It really teaches you how to take the test, some tests penalize you for guesses and some don’t.
As for how it applies to MT, someone said her merit scholarship money. Absolutely correct; my D got half her tuition off because she got a 32 on the ACT. But the other thing to remember, based on the school, is you have to be sure your scores, GPA, etc allow you to be admitted as a general student to a given school. At my D’s school I know several kids that were accepted for MT but did not wind up in the class because they did not reach the academic criteria for general admission to the university.
Both my kids did better on the ACT than the SAT - so I’ll echo what’s been said above: have her take both.
The magic numbers, IMHO, that trigger the best merit $$ awards is a 27 ACT plus 3.5 GPA.
Keep in mind that ACT/SAT may help academic merit money at universities and colleges but it likely will not help at all with most conservatories, who give money based on talent only. My 35-ACT scoring daughter gets zip academic merit money from her conservatory. If it were not for the reasonable amount of talent scholarship we negotiated, she would not be attending. Talent money is something you shouldn’t count on until you get audition results. While it’s great to hope for good money, make sure you have a couple of schools in your list that are safely within your family’s financial reach, just in case you get no help from the fancy-pants schools. We learned that lesson the hard way and are working to avoid repeating the mistake of having too narrow a list with our MT son.
Didn’t someone say before that if you take the sat or act in the spring and don’t do that great, and then take it in fall and do better, will the schools accept the newer scores? Like I guess you would have to retake it rather quickly after senior year starts… After some summer prep…
Schools do one of a few things. Look at just the highest sitting, look at all tests or most commonly “super score” and look at the best of each section. Some schools will tell you how they view them on their website.
So you can send test scores later in senior year then?
I know BFA kids who did not take test until to Dec of senior year- and did not have a problem.
I would not advise taking both the ACT and SAT; I would instead advise analyzing beforehand which test is ‘your’ test
This is easily done by taking a practice test in each. If your score is significantly better in one and/or if subjectively you prefer one to the other (the formats & subjects & some analysis are different), then you have your answer. There are many inexpensive ways to take the test under test-like conditions, & of course you can simply do it at home.
You can take both practice tests cold or you can take both tests after a very brief preparation in both. Either way, if one test is ‘your’ test it will be obvious. If both are equally the same for you, then choose the one that you like better. One caveat: it cannot be predicted beforehand which test is ‘your’ test & you shouldn’t base your decision on what others tell you worked for them. There are too many variables. The practice tests are your hard data telling you which test is better for you.
Given the new SAT with its new norming (it is not yet fully adjusted no matter what the marketing says) many people are going to the ACT since it is changing much less (it has a new essay format) and is therefore more predictable. But if you take the new SAT and like it much better, by all means do that.
Once you decide which test to do, devote all your time to that test. It doesn’t make sense to split your preparation time on both. It puts you at a disadvantage compared to those who devote all their time preparing for one. I also recommend against taking the test with minimal preparation. You wouldn’t do your college audition with minimal preparation either. Of course, there are occasionally people who score in the top 1% or fraction of 1% with minimal or no preparation, but in all my 10 years of tutoring, I’ve encountered that twice.
You do not have to hire an expensive tutor or go to a boot camp. There are ample materials online and in practice books. Many have great tips for strategy & great practice for content. The key is a) practice relentlessly and especially b) analyze your errors and ‘drill’ to correct those errors.
Oh, yes, you can send your SAT scores in December of your senior year.