Anonymous
Post 08/15/2025 13:44     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.


Of course there is. First step is the apps are culled by a computer algorithm that of course have a baseline SAT/GPA. No school is reading 60k applications individually.

Back to the original question.
Kid took SAT got 1530 first try. Wanted to take again to try to get a perfect score (they did not prep for the 1530) -- mom and dads advice was don't study for retake ... spend time enjoying your senior year of high school!!


Did the kid retake? What was the final number?



Kid did not retake. One and done.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 16:42     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1520+ is one and done IMO. No benefit after that.


I would say it's about 1520 or 1530 because that's the top 1% I believe and the equivalent to ACT 35.


Would also add that I would not encourage taking more than 3 times unless your kid really has nothing better to do. Studies have shown that scores are not likely to go up much after 3 times.
Depends do those studies factor in kids who have been taking it since 7 and 8th grade?
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 16:16     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:If your child is aiming for a top 20 or t50, what score on first try would you recommend they stop?

So for example, if they got a 1500 on first try, would you encourage them to try again or would you encourage them to be done?



Depends on a lot of things. How did they do in their area of strength? (For MIT math should be as high as possible.)

How does the kid feel about it? Do they feel like they did their best or could do better? Does the score match their practice tests? How much did they prepare?
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 15:48     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Both of mine were one and done with over 700 in each category as recommended by CC. Neither got over 1500. Both got merit aid.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 15:45     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
If your kid is a junior and does not have any anxiety or resistance to retaking it, I say go for it. Best time would be in March, before AP studying gegibs, or next August.

If your kid is a senior, I say let it be. There are more important things to focus on this fall, including staying balanced and relaxed.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 15:42     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.


Of course there is. First step is the apps are culled by a computer algorithm that of course have a baseline SAT/GPA. No school is reading 60k applications individually.

Back to the original question.
Kid took SAT got 1530 first try. Wanted to take again to try to get a perfect score (they did not prep for the 1530) -- mom and dads advice was don't study for retake ... spend time enjoying your senior year of high school!!


You are missing the point. Yes, everyone here knows that schools trash thousands of applications that clearly fall below their academic standards. But PP is saying that the cutoff is at 1520. What school has a cutoff at 1520? I don't believe that exists. Dartmouth is extremely selective and their reporting shows that kids who are from under-resourced areas but still manage to score 1400 or above should submit their scores.

1520 is way too high of a threshold for any school.

+1
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 15:36     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.


Of course there is. First step is the apps are culled by a computer algorithm that of course have a baseline SAT/GPA. No school is reading 60k applications individually.

Back to the original question.
Kid took SAT got 1530 first try. Wanted to take again to try to get a perfect score (they did not prep for the 1530) -- mom and dads advice was don't study for retake ... spend time enjoying your senior year of high school!!


Did the kid retake? What was the final number?
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 13:02     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.


Of course there is. First step is the apps are culled by a computer algorithm that of course have a baseline SAT/GPA. No school is reading 60k applications individually.

Back to the original question.
Kid took SAT got 1530 first try. Wanted to take again to try to get a perfect score (they did not prep for the 1530) -- mom and dads advice was don't study for retake ... spend time enjoying your senior year of high school!!


You are missing the point. Yes, everyone here knows that schools trash thousands of applications that clearly fall below their academic standards. But PP is saying that the cutoff is at 1520. What school has a cutoff at 1520? I don't believe that exists. Dartmouth is extremely selective and their reporting shows that kids who are from under-resourced areas but still manage to score 1400 or above should submit their scores.

1520 is way too high of a threshold for any school.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 12:32     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.


Of course there is. First step is the apps are culled by a computer algorithm that of course have a baseline SAT/GPA. No school is reading 60k applications individually.

Back to the original question.
Kid took SAT got 1530 first try. Wanted to take again to try to get a perfect score (they did not prep for the 1530) -- mom and dads advice was don't study for retake ... spend time enjoying your senior year of high school!!
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 12:08     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.


+1
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 11:59     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online

There is no such cutoff anywhere in the US.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 11:39     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online


What are these schools? Thanks
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 11:37     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
I would take again - for some schools there is a minimum cutoff of 1520 to even have application read, even though they don't say that online
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 10:50     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
I think 1500 is fine and I'd only suggest retaking if
1- tons of kids at DC's high score above 1500
and / or
2- DC wants to
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2025 10:50     Subject: Sat score first try - where would you stop?
Anonymous wrote:If your child is aiming for a top 20 or t50, what score on first try would you recommend they stop?

So for example, if they got a 1500 on first try, would you encourage them to try again or would you encourage them to be done?




For T 20-50, no reason to re-test if the first score is a 1500. For T10-15, shooting for a 1550 would make sense.