Should I retake the SAT to transfer?

Sandlecat7
Thu, 04 Jun 2020 11:40:49 +0000

Dear College Confidential Community,

    I am a matriculating freshman at Columbia University, and I am interested in applying as a transfer student to number of other prestigious institutions, namely, MIT, CalTech, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Brown (MIT or CalTech would be my dream school). I have thought a lot about how I could stand out better the second go around. One thing I have done, is I have begun plotting to bolster my extra curricular activities mainly focusing on acquiring much more research experience, and getting published, as well as taking the Putnam, joining Columbia's Water Polo Club, joining the marching band to play Baritone Sax, and/or (because time constraints) starting/joining a math club. I am also going to try and take some advanced classes (I will probably take Honors Math, and Accelerated Physics both semesters, as my AP scores allow me to place in). I have also thought about how I may improve my essays for the transfer application round and I have already begun looking over my applications for freshman admission to see if I can improve. Yet one issue stands out: my test scores. I actually think that my 1540 SAT (800 Math, 740 English) may have been a weakness in my applications the first time I applied, with many schools looking for that perfect score, even with 800s on the SAT 2 Physics and Math tests. So I am wondering if it would be worthwhile to give the SAT or ACT a second go in improving my application for the next try. I should point out that I did not study for the SAT the first time around, so I figure that even if I just focus on the English section, I can probably raise my score at least 20 points with super scoring. What I am wondering though, is if the difference in scores would be worth pursuing, or if the time it would take to study, would be better used on some other stuff during the Summer (no way I have time to study for these tests during the year). Oh and because I know it is on everybody's mind, I would rather not hear about how I shouldn't be thinking about transferring. If you need to know, I want to go to MIT and CalTech because they have the best Physics and Math departments in the world, and aside from that I just do not think Columbia is a good fit, but that is neither here nor there. Although if you think I have absolutely no chance whatsoever pulling off this transfer, I guess that would be useful. I know acceptance rate is slim to none, but given that my application probably will not be too terrible, I would think I still have some semblance of a chance. Anyhow, any response is appreciated.