Should I submit SAT, ACT, or both?

Applying to College
1

<p>I’m currently a high school junior applying to colleges in the fall, and was wondering what was my best bet.</p>

<p>SAT:
First time - 2080
Second time - 2170</p>

<p>Subject tests:
Chemistry - 650 (took it as a freshman after honors chem, know the grade isn’t great)
Bio M - 780
World History - 790
Literature - 700
Math II - 680 (again, took it prematurely and didn’t properly prepare)</p>

<p>ACT:
First time - 33
Second time - 35</p>

<p>I know that for some schools (ie, Georgetown) if you submit SAT scores you have to submit all scores on collegeboard, including some of my less than stellar subject tests. I feel like they could hurt my chances, and I know that my ACT score of 35 is comparatively much higher than my SAT score of 2170. Should I send in both scores, or just my ACT?</p>

<p>By the way, I’m planning on applying to schools such as Georgetown, Boston College, Villanova, UPenn, and University of Virginia for the nursing programs. </p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.act.org/solutions/college-career-readiness/compare-act-sat/”>http://www.act.org/solutions/college-career-readiness/compare-act-sat/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Your 2nd SAT score of 2170 is about the same as your 1st ACT of 33 – and you have nothing comparable to your 35 ACT. So clearly you should submit just the ACT!</p>

<p>Georgetown: 35 ACT & 33 ACT (You have to submit all scores for all tests of either the ACT or SAT)
Boston College: ACT 35
UPenn: ACT 35
UVA: ACT 35 + SAT Subject Tests: BIO M and World History (use score choice)
Villanova: ACT 35 </p>

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<p>I have a question for you…if you do not mind. Why would one apply to top colleges for nursing? Wouldn’t it be much less expensive to get a nursing degree at a local college, and wouldn’t the outcome (salary) basically be the same? I am asking because my 15 yr old D is speaking of taking nursing when she graduates and I see plenty of people attending top colleges for nursing. My friends daughter took nursing at the local community college and secured a position at a state mental hospital immediately after graduation and she does about $90,000.00 a year.
So, will going to a more “elite” college procure more pay? Or is there something else I’m missing here? I want to guide my daughter in the right direction. I have plenty of money for her college wherever she may go, but I would rather spend less if the outcome is the same.</p>

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<p>As to OPs original question:</p>

<p>UPenn: requires all scores from all tests you have taken, SAT, ACT and SAT subject tests, so you do not have an option. Its rule that it accepts ACT in lieu of both SAT and SAT subject tests defines what it uses ultimately to determine admission but you still must provide all tests. In other words, you can submit only one ACT if that is the only test you have taken, but you still must submit any and all tests you have taken.</p>

<p>Georgetown: though it does not require SAT subject test scores, it highly recommends three subject tests and if you do not submit scores from three tests you are supposed to explain why you cannot. Moroever, if you submit any such scores you must send all. So I do not really see that you have a viable option in withholding any SAT II scores unless your explanation is going to be that you are not sending any becuase you think the scores are too low.</p>

<p>Boston College: allows score choice and you can submit ACT in lieu of both SAT and SAT subject tests. If you submit SAT, you need to submit two subject tests for the SAT score to be considered. If you submit both ACT and SAT and subject tests, it will consider for admission the one it believes is better, the SAT and subject tests or alternatively the ACT. Moroever, it supercores multiple SAT tests by using the highest section scores from the combined tests and uses the two highest subject test scores if you submit scores from more than two tests. Thus, you have no real downside to submitting at least two subject test scores and both the SAT and ACT but you could choose to send just the ACT.</p>

<p>Villanova: accepts score choice, requires either SAT or ACT and does not consider subject tests for admission. Thus, you could send just your ACT score.</p>

<p>Virginoia: accepts score choice, recommends but does not require two subject tests, If you submit both SAT and ACT, it considers the one believed to be higher. You probably should submit at least the high ACT and your two high subject test scores although all your scores are probably good for Virginia.</p>

<p>In making any decison to withold any score, you need to first check to determine what your high school does. There are many high schools that provide all your test scores to colleges as part of your official high school transcript. Thus, your choosing to withold any scores when ordering them through College Board or ACT.org could result in doing nothing except tell the college, when it gets your transcript, that you were trying to withold scores.</p>

<p>As to the comment above about nursing, i agree that options other than expensive private universities should be considered and that many state college nursing programs are top notch and are at least as good if not better than those expensive private universities. </p>

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<p>The way I read UPenn requirements is that you must report your entire testing history of either test BUT NOT BOTH TESTS: <a href=“http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/freshman-admission/required-testing”>http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/freshman-admission/required-testing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I asked Penn about that issue three years ago and the response I got is that they want all scores from all tests. You will note they do say they want your entire testing history and on another page that you should “send Penn all of your official SAT and ACT scores” <a href=“Apply For Admission | Penn Admissions”>http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/application-tips&lt;/a&gt;. You might want to ask Penn to see if you can get a different response now than I did before. </p>

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<p>Is this a joke, Natalie? Your SAT score is abysmal compared to your ACT score (abysmal is an SAT word btw). Obviously it would be in your best interest to hide it if possible.</p>

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<p>@lkgrg17‌ I’m looking at more elite schools because I’m planning on continuing my education and obtaining a masters degree, so I feel I’ll have a better chance of getting into a good graduate program if I have my undergraduate degree from a reputable university. </p>

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<p>@xxnataliexx So you do not want to be a nurse? Will having the Masters degree afford you a higher pay scale as a nurse? I don’t mean to be a pest. I want as much information about the career of nursing as possible so I can guide my daughter. Or does the Masters bring you into a whole other title, other than nurse? Which means more $$$ and more job opportunities. If it is not too much prying, I would like to know the advantage of the Masters for a nurse, or the path you are taking with this. Thank you, I learn bunches from many on this site. I hope to learn a bit from you, it sounds like you have a plan.</p>

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<p>@lkgrg17‌ I want to be a nurse anesthetist, which has a higher salary than a registered nurse. I don’t know much else about obtaining a masters degree for nurses, but I know you can become a nurse practitioner which is similar to a physician’s assistant but has more autonomy. If I’m correct, a nurse practitioner can prescribe medication, make diagnoses, and work without a doctor which a PA cannot. It also has a higher salary than a registered nurse. </p>

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<p>Thanks for the insight. It seems she has much to learn, and some decisions to make about what profession of nursing she would like to pursue. </p>