ACT/SAT questions

[Anonymous]

1. Do colleges frown upon a kid taking these tests multiple times? It looks like DS will end up taking it four times - took it once sophomore year, twice Jr year, and possibly senior year (see below)
2. He just took the ACT on Saturday, and is not available to take the May or June SAT/ACT (will be at a soccer tournament for the May one and out of the country for the June one). If he does not get the scores he wants from the one yesterday, would he be able to take the September ACT or October SAT during his senior yr (next year)? Or would it be too late?

[Anonymous]

Good Lord why are you putting your DS through all this testing? This is why they should never take the tests until spring junior year -- the students who take it earlier end up taking it 3 or 4 times.

Applying to college is stressful enough but you are just piling on with these tests, in addition to the subject area tests and, I assume, APs. And it sounds like you have him doing both the SAT and ACT multiple times? Just nuts.

[Anonymous]

DD took the SAT 4 times -- she got into her top/reach choice school. Every school she applied to super scored SATs (took the highest section score among test dates). Her (super scores) improved 300 points over her PSAT scores. I wouldn't recommend taking the tests so many times-- but in some cases it works just fine.

[Anonymous]

Since a majority of schools super score the SAT results then it makes sense to take the test several times (not sure about ACT scoring. MY DD didn't take it…). However, I would caution you to watch what the numbers actually are. If you aren't seeing a decent increase in the scores (the individual sections) then you may want to simply stop the testing. Those are the best scores your child got and that's okay. An overload of testing can be really stressful and the 1st semester of senior year (as well as junior year) is already really stressful for kids. You may want to give your kid a break...

[Anonymous]

Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids was one and done. Another took it 4 times. Both made the decisions themselves and both got to the colleges they wanted to get to. Whatever works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

That's great. If you can get 2200+ the first time it's okay to stop. My DC took it 3 times, although the third time scores did not improve. I think only 2-3 schools he applied to required all testing dates. The rest allowed score choice so he only submitted 2 dates for super score purposes.

DC has some friends who scored 2300+ the first time and still took it again.

OP don't forget SAT subject tests if any schools require those. My DC took those in the May/June Junior year dates (and one sophomore year after the end of the relevant test).

[Anonymous]

His scores were not great the first two times (26 ACT, 1720 SAT) so I don't think well even be looking at schools that require the subject tests. He does want to break into 2000s or 30s, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

That's great. If you can get 2200+ the first time it's okay to stop. My DC took it 3 times, although the third time scores did not improve. I think only 2-3 schools he applied to required all testing dates. The rest allowed score choice so he only submitted 2 dates for super score purposes.

DC has some friends who scored 2300+ the first time and still took it again.

OP don't forget SAT subject tests if any schools require those. My DC took those in the May/June Junior year dates (and one sophomore year after the end of the relevant test).

This is part of the problem. Why does one need to score a 2200? Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His scores were not great the first two times (26 ACT, 1720 SAT) so I don't think well even be looking at schools that require the subject tests. He does want to break into 2000s or 30s, though.

Sorry, should say that was me, the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

That's great. If you can get 2200+ the first time it's okay to stop. My DC took it 3 times, although the third time scores did not improve. I think only 2-3 schools he applied to required all testing dates. The rest allowed score choice so he only submitted 2 dates for super score purposes.

DC has some friends who scored 2300+ the first time and still took it again.

OP don't forget SAT subject tests if any schools require those. My DC took those in the May/June Junior year dates (and one sophomore year after the end of the relevant test).

This is part of the problem. Why does one need to score a 2200? Ridiculous.

I think that students aim for a 2200+ if they are applying to a top 20 college or university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

That's great. If you can get 2200+ the first time it's okay to stop. My DC took it 3 times, although the third time scores did not improve. I think only 2-3 schools he applied to required all testing dates. The rest allowed score choice so he only submitted 2 dates for super score purposes.

DC has some friends who scored 2300+ the first time and still took it again.

OP don't forget SAT subject tests if any schools require those. My DC took those in the May/June Junior year dates (and one sophomore year after the end of the relevant test).

This is part of the problem. Why does one need to score a 2200? Ridiculous.

I think that students aim for a 2200+ if they are applying to a top 20 college or university.

That is not most students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes me relieved that we are one and done.

That's great. If you can get 2200+ the first time it's okay to stop. My DC took it 3 times, although the third time scores did not improve. I think only 2-3 schools he applied to required all testing dates. The rest allowed score choice so he only submitted 2 dates for super score purposes.

DC has some friends who scored 2300+ the first time and still took it again.

OP don't forget SAT subject tests if any schools require those. My DC took those in the May/June Junior year dates (and one sophomore year after the end of the relevant test).

This is part of the problem. Why does one need to score a 2200? Ridiculous.

I think that students aim for a 2200+ if they are applying to a top 20 college or university.

That is not most students.

But it's not uncommon for kids taking the SATs multiple times. OP said her kid might take it 3-4 times. Usually the kids who put that much effort into the test are aiming for top colleges. At my DCs school most kids take it 2-3 times. And 2200 is about the minimum for the competitive colleges if you are a white kid from the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Back when I applied to college in the late 80's, it was 2 times at most for the SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. Back when I applied to college in the late 80's, it was 2 times at most for the SAT.

In case you hadn't heard college admissions has gotten much tougher since the 80s. Lots of articles on this subject especially in the last month since decisions and new admission rates are out. If you've got a kid approaching college age it's a good time to read up on it.