SAT vs ACT Dilemma

mada34
Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:19:43 +0000

So I just got my ACT scores back…
34 E (33 combined with a 10 essay)
34 M
34 R
…29 S
Composite: 33

I’m extremely disappointed in my science section. In the two practice tests I took, I scored a 35, followed by a 36. Timing absolutely killed me here, and I had to guess on a whole section.

Now here’s my sat…
760 CR
680 M
760 W (10 essay)
Total: 2200 / 1440

I was extremely disappointed in my Math score here. I’m notorious for making stupid mistakes, and the fact that 4/6 of the questions that I got wrong were “easy” really bothers me.

On to my question. I’m a senior applying to the Ivys (Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell), having already applied to UMD and Georgetown as a Physics/Bio major, with a double major in a language. My grades are great, I have a strong set of ECs, and will have good recs and essays. Will these test scores really hurt me?

Should I send both scores, or just one? The ACT proves that I’m better than my 680 Math, but it also makes it look like I’m bad in science (even though that’s really just glorified Critical Reading, which I do well in.) Would the Ivys look at these score in context to one another, or is it just “does he meet the bar?” What I mean is, would they say, “oh, a 680 math, but a 34 ACT math? That balances out!”? Would they not accept me as a science major if my Science score is low (I doubt it, but…)?

I guess I may still have the option of taking another round of tests, but should I? Which one should I retake, if I do?

Thanks in advance, everyone, and I apologize for the rambling questions!