Retake a 1540?

[Anonymous]

your kid posted the same question at reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/1p3f7r8/should_i_retake_a_1540_sat_740_e_800_m/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the biggest humble brag on DCUM.

1000%

10000%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely retake if she wants to. Every incremental boost gets you closer to merit scholarships because the top institutions will trade for bragging rights. The moment my kid moved from 32 to a 34 ACT to a 36, the unsolicited full ride scholarships started coming in.

+1. If you are looking for merit money and she wants to retake, absolutely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

How would you “finesse” the EC story? It will likely take more than sports and school clubs for Penn and Princeton unless a recruited athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

If she belongs at Penn or Princeton or Pomona she would already have outstanding impactful ECs that are much better than some sports and clubs. If she made dumb mistakes on the 1540 then it will not require any prep to score higher, she could retake it the next available date and do better. It is an easy test for many who are true candidates for those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

If she belongs at Penn or Princeton or Pomona she would already have outstanding impactful ECs that are much better than some sports and clubs. If she made dumb mistakes on the 1540 then it will not require any prep to score higher, she could retake it the next available date and do better. It is an easy test for many who are true candidates for those schools.

Except the majority of Princeton and Pomona students have below that SAT score. Apparently more than half the student bodies didn't find it so easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

How would you “finesse” the EC story? It will likely take more than sports and school clubs for Penn and Princeton unless a recruited athlete.

Current plan is look for good/interesting internships (ideally math or science related) for spring and summer and work on art portfolio (she is a very talented artist). Any other suggestions welcome 😎.

[Anonymous]

yes, it will make a difference, especially for T20. DC retook a 1560 and ended with 1580. Full merit aid at a T20.

[Anonymous]

If your kid feels like retaking it, why not?

[Anonymous]

Becoming someone who doesn't make "stupid mistakes", and who has stronger reading and math skills is a very valuable personal development. The question is can she do it soon enough nd isn't worth the time investment.

If she can full score the test but not in the time limit (very common, as it is still a speed race at the end of the day), it's very hard to make her brain faster than its natural speed, and going faster means practicing gimmicks that aren't meaningful.

If she can earn recognition for literacy and math skills that are more advanced than the SAT (higher AP scores for English, foreign language exam, AMC/AIME/math modelling for math), or full score an ACT science, that would help more than cramming for a small SAT boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

Focus on ECs that tell a clear story what they did, why they did it, how it helps with their major and how it makes the world a better place. Essays particularly Supplemental are super important for top schools

[Anonymous]

A 1550+ or equivalent won’t always move the needle with so many elite college applicants scoring at that level. If your kid is already at 1540, work in other parts of the profile that are morel likely to distinguish your kid from the pack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

Blah blah blah

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

That’s a big assumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior scored a 1540 on the November SAT (first time taking it). Yay! She is insistent she wants to take it again in December (she is annoyed by “Dumb mistakes” she knew she made). I am trying to persuade her to put a pin in it. Maybe take in again March or August - or not (wait and see!). On the other hand - she is interested in some reach schools - Penn, Pomona, maybe Princeton. She has a 4.0 unweighted with top rigor/APs (calc BC in 10th grade etc).

I think we need to turn to finessing the EC story (she has the usual two varsity sports, clubs, blah blah), and another 30-40 points on SAT (assuming all goes well) is not going to be what moves the needle. Thoughts?

Superscoring is an awesome thing. DS got a 1520 and 1540, but superscore is 1560. Probably didn't make any difference but interesting to see the math.