I am planning on only submitting my ACT and SAT subject test scores to colleges. While looking at the percentages of students submitting SAT / ACT scores for most of the places I want to apply to, I’ve noticed that very few people don’t submit their SATs. I’m sure there are other people who did better on the ACTs than SATs, so is there a reason for this? Is submitting only ACTs frowned upon at all?
I’d say you should be okay submitting just ACT scores. I know of students who submit only their ACT. However, you have to take the SAT for National Merit Finalist, thus many kids take the SAT anyway, and if they do well, they would submit the score. (That’s my theory, at least.)
It is solely due to regional and historical reasons. SAT started in the coast area when many of those top schools are located. ACT was started in the mid-west. Now, there are actually more students taking ACT than SAT.
Most people submit sat scores simply because the sat is more popular. Colleges view the act and sat on the same footing. I submitted only my act (even though I took the sat) and many people I know have done the same.
And @delineated the PSAT is used for nmsqt, not the SAT. But yes, since people have already studied for the PSAT, many people just go ahead and take the sat. Alternatively, some people find that they are doing poorly on the psat and then switch to the act.
@cslc76 – You need to take the SAT once you qualify as a semi-finalist in order to determine who the finalists are.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the basic nature of each test. The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what you learned in HS, while the SAT is an aptitude test, which measures intelligence better.
Historically, the SAT was prevalent on the coasts while the ACT was the test of choice for the middle states. Thus, if you examine the application pool at Notre Dame, you’ll see WAY more ACT submissions than SAT. The converse would be true if you looked at Bennington. With the increased marketing by both testing firms, the old historical trends have blurred greatly. This benefits all players. 1) Colleges are eager to accept either exam, 2) students can pick and choose – they may score better on one than the other and 3) the testing firms continue to make the big bucks.
Both the ACT and the College Board are nonprofits.
In the midwest we tilt toward ACT by precedent. However, top kids who qualify for NMSF have to “validate their PSAT score” and take the SAT to prove the PSAT was not a fluke as part of the NM process. Since most of them do well on the SAT (since they are good at standardized tests) many kids here end up with both ACT and SAT scores and submit both.
It probably doesn’t matter if you send the SAT or the ACT to top universities.
However, infer how you wish from this link:
Notice how she says “The SAT score is great, no need to retake. ACT is strong also, but I’d probably be paying attention to that SAT score, which is very strong.” The applicant had a 35 on the ACT and a 2220 on the SAT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy30oJ3BvqY
The SAT breakdown isn’t presented, but let’s assume the applicant had a 740 on each section. This is very interesting, because if you look at the SAT/ACT Concordance Table on CollegeBoard, a 740 on each section would equate to a 33 on the ACT.
There probably isn’t bias towards the SAT over the ACT at many colleges. However, it could be the case that East and West coast adcoms are more familiar with the SAT, so even if you receive a slightly lower on the SAT than you do on the ACT, the SAT score might (MIGHT!) be given more leeway, simply because they understand the SAT grading policy and whatnot more.
@PartyNextDoor Can I have the links to the other Case studies too? they look intresting!
@Nikshep http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1586016-a-must-see-for-college-applicants-p1.html
Send both, if they like your application they aren’t looking for reasons to “not take you”, they will use the higher score.
Ok thanks! Part 2 to my question: would you recommend that I send both if my scores are 2200 SAT with 790W, 780M, 630CR and 34 ACT with 35E, 36M, 33S, 32R ? The main reason I don’t want to submit my SAT is because of my critical reading score which might be concerning since it’s below the 25th percentile at almost all of the places I want to apply to… And some places don’t look at the writing on the SAT, which was my highest, so my 1410/1600 is not too impressive.
@2plus2ition @PartyNextDoor @csdad
In the case of a big CR / M split, I would only send the ACT. When reporting on the common-data-set colleges are required to report both CR & M from SAT, but only composite from ACT (no breakdown), so I think you are correct to not send the SAT, which has a relatively low CR score
There are also more states with mandated ACT test. Michigan is switching to SAT though.