<p>I just got my SAT results back, and I earned 770 CR, 720 M, and 800 W (11 essay).</p>
<p>Grand total 2290. </p>
<p>Yes, it’s a good score and everything, but there is one small problem - I got a 36 on the ACT. I took the SAT mainly to confirm NM (234 PSAT), but also to, for lack of a better phrase, back up my ACT score. </p>
<p>Since I come from an unknown, bad-ish public school, I really need stratospheric (meaning 2300+) test scores to be noticed by top schools. I am limited in ECs and APs because of my small school and town, but am doing the best that I can.</p>
<p>ACT breakdown was 36R, 36E, 34M, 36S, with 8 essay. </p>
<p>So, my question is: Should I retake the SAT? Or just not send the 2290 and rely on my ACT? Or send both and hope 2290 still works?</p>
<p>Cons:
I would have to get up very early to drive ~2 hours to another city to retake.
Are 10 points really worth it?/I might look obsessive.</p>
<p>Pros:
Score is likely to improve - I’ve done better on BB practice tests, and my PSAT was higher.</p>
<p>You have stratospheric scores, sweetie. Congratulations! Take a victory lap and let it go. For the tippy-top schools, you can send both if it would make you feel more comfortable, but this might be a good time to look at the rest of your package and make sure that you don’t have any weaknesses. Anything that isn’t exactly as you’d like it, can be fixed now, and if you’re happy with everything, take ANOTHER victory lap and smell some roses!</p>
<p>Congrats! You are DONE with testing. Just send ACT scores. By virtue of your NMF status, assuming you make it, schools will know you had a decent SAT to back up the PSAT.</p>
<p>Put your focus on those ECs and maybe take a challenging course online since there aren’t many available at your school.</p>
<p>“am doing the best that I can” - That is what Admissions offices are looking for. If your school doesn’t offer a lot of AP’s, then they won’t expect a lot of AP’s.</p>
<p>I think you have an edge coming from a small town. They want diversification. They don’t want all their kids from the top 50 high schools.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should bother taking the SAT again – and I would say this even if you lived next door to a testing center. You have a 36 on the ACT. You are going to be a National Merit Semifinalist. You have a very respectable SAT score. You’re in great shape.</p>
<p>What I think you should be thinking about is whether any of the colleges you might like to apply to require SAT Subject Test scores from students who also submit ACT scores. There are some that do, and deciding which tests to take and when to take them can involve some sophisticated strategizing, especially for a student like you, who may not necessarily have the best possible preparation for those tests because your high school is not among the best.</p>
<p>Another thing you might want to do around now is initiate the “money talk” with your parents. How much can they afford to contribute to your college costs? If there are going to be loans involved, who will be paying them off – your parents or you? Once you are armed with this information, you can start making a list of colleges to apply to. </p>
<p>And if the guidance counselor at your small-town high school is ill-equipped to help you with your college planning, come back here. There are people who frequent the Parents Forum who can provide lots of good suggestions.</p>
<p>I’ve taken Math IIC (750) and US History (800), so I still need a science test. I’m in AP Bio right now, so I’ll be taking that test, and probably retaking Math IIC - I’ve done a lot more math lately.</p>
<p>As for money, my parent’s income is about 80K per year, so it will be an issue. I’m going to apply to full-need, merit money, and my state flagship. Hopefully, I’ll get good aid from at least one of them.</p>
<p>Do not take the SAT again. 2290 is close enough to your ACT score. With a 36 ACT, I don’t think the SAT matters, especially since it is so high.</p>
<p>No school that rejects you with your scores will accept you if you get 100 more points on SAT. Your scores are good enough to get accepted anywhere, including HYPS. That does not mean that you are guaranteed an acceptance, but wherever you do not get accepted will have nothing to do with your scores.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, only Yale wants 3 SAT IIs, and they accept ACT+W OR SAT I + 3x SAT II, so your perfect ACT score would take care of that… If the rest of the schools you are applying to only ask for 2 SAT IIs, you are done with testing. Concentrate on other aspects of your applications.</p>
<p>Don’t retake the SAT and don’t bother re-taking the SAT-Math2C. Your scores are excellent. When you send in your SAT-IIs, the SAT score will show up.</p>
<p>Those scores of yours should definitely get you into Madison which is a great university. But consider also applying to top schools that give need-based aid. Your parents’ income would certainly qualify you for massive aid at schools such as HYPS. They would also take into account that you come from a small town in Wisconsin.</p>
<p>Small town in Wisconsin is definitely an advantage (vs. wealthy suburban) in admissions at competitive schools.</p>
<p>The only thing you can do to help your case at this point (besides continuing on your academic excellence) is to find, define, and try some ECs around who (not necessarily what - there is a difference) you want to be. Pick schools that support that picture of yourself. Brilliant is great, but focused is adds so much more.</p>
<p>Good Luck - like you’ll need it or something ;)</p>
<p>I agree with the poster who said that no retake is necessary on math 2C–750 is a great score. If I were going to take another test over, I’d take over the SAT to up the 720 math score. I remember one school that my D applied to had a scholarship that required having a 750 on each of the math and verbal parts!</p>
<p>A science SAT subject test would be needed if you wanted to apply to an MIT like (technically minded) school or department. I’d go over a prep book for a science subject test. Your school may not have covered all the topics that will be covered on the test.</p>
<p>I think Harvard still requires 3 subject tests, even if you take the ACT. There may be some other weird requirements at other schools. YOu really need to check out each school. </p>
<p>There are also private schools that are a step down from Harvard, etc. that could bless you with merit scholarships. Don’t fall in love with any school yet, cast your net wide and compare financial aid packages carefully. My advice is not to apply early decision anywhere so as to give yourself the opportunity to look at finances.</p>
<p>I also agree with Marite: don’t retake ANYTHING. Concentrate on doing well on the AP Bio exam and on the Bio SAT II (and realize that they do not necessarily cover the same territory, so get a prep book for the SATII). Definitely apply to the need-blind schools that give good aid to people in your income bracket (many or the Ivies, plus Williams, Amherst, Pomona, and some other LACs), as well as some merit schools and your state u.</p>