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I'm a high school junior and I'm planning on applying to Yale, Brown, and Cornell (yes, I did chose some "safety" schools as well). I have a 4.9 on an unweighted 5.0 scale. I'm on the Math Team, Newspaper, Student Council, and Basketball. This isn't so much a question of whether I can get in, but about the standardized tests. I just took my SAT I in October and I scored 1420. I've called a few admissions offices and they say that they want the SAT I and II (3 subject tests) -or- the ACT. Should I take the SAT II's to be safe, or should I just take the ACT? I have a feeling I will do better on the ACT. Also, I don't have a lot of money to spend on the tests (my parents don't pay for them). Also, what else is important to work on (extracurriculars, grades, etc.) before the actual application process?
Thanks a lot!

By Dave Berry on Sunday, August 05, 2001 - 07:15 am: Edit

I recommend that you take the SAT IIs, if you can't afford to also take the ACT. Overall, I think the IIs are a hair easier than the ACT and there are some good study guides (Princeton Review) that can help. If you can squeeze out the money for the ACT, and you think you can do well (good PR guide available for ACT too), by all means take it.

Try to fine-tune your list of accomplishments and concentrate on your best ECs. This will result in outstanding recommendations for you. Recs are extremely important. You may also want to research some good essay topics. You can never be over prepared to write a killer essay. Best wishes, Nathan.

By jeweltoo on Saturday, August 25, 2001 - 07:05 am: Edit

i am not great at SAT's at all but i have good grades and i'm in two sports and have a job. i am afraid my scores will keep me from getting into my favorite colleges, how important is ur SAT score if ur other stuff is ok?

By Roger (Roger) on Sunday, September 09, 2001 - 09:03 am: Edit

Jeweltoo, that depends a lot on the school. If you think you'll be a recruited athlete, your scores probably won't be a problem at all if you are a good student and the scores aren't sub-literate. On the other hand, if you'll be admitted mostly on the basis of your academics, they could be a problem, particularly at formula-based schools.

Here's what I suggest: Take a look at the schools you are interested in and see where your SAT scores fall compared to their recent admissions history. (Most college guide books have this data, as does USNews.com, etc.) If you are in the top half, and the rest of your package is even stronger, you should be in good shape. (Note that this comment doesn't apply to very selective schools.) If you find that your SAT scores are quite low for the kind of schools you would like to apply to, check to see if any of them are SAT-optional. I think there's a list of schools that don't require the SAT on the web - maybe someone can jump in with the URL.

By Roger (Roger) on Wednesday, October 31, 2001 - 05:22 pm: Edit

Note to Cherry - I moved your Duke question to the Individual Schools - US News Top 25 - Duke topic, which you can find here.

By Dad in Chicago on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 09:51 am: Edit

If your kids ACT scores are clearly better than the SAT scores, should you send SAT II scores to schools that do not require them if they are high? I think the obvious answer is only if they help -- but how can one judge that? And, if one sends SAT IIs, the colleges also see the SAT Is -- and NOT sending them is the whole point of using ACTs. So, what should one do in this dilemma?

By Jonathan on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 08:17 am: Edit

We all know that the scoring scale for the SAT II's is skewed compared to the SAT I's. The only reasonable information I've procured about the test's effect on matriculation is that a score you can be dern proud to send to a school is around 700. I took the Literature, U.S. History, and Writing SAT II's. I got a 670 in literature, a 690 in U.S. History, and an 800 in writing. Is there any information anyone can provide as to how colleges weigh the SAT II's? My application looks phenomenal...besides my GPA. I'm trying to get some idea in my head as to how much these scores will help me out. Thanx!

By Leslie Belval on Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 08:51 am: Edit

Is there a list of colleges that don't require SAT's or ACT?

By Dave Berry on Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 09:36 am: Edit

Here you go, Leslie.

By sean on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 05:39 pm: Edit

Does anyone know a website where they tell you how your ACT scores are compatible to an SAT score. For example if you get a composite score of 26 on the ACT is that equivalent to like a 1300 on the SAT's?

By Dale on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 06:37 pm: Edit

Yeah - there's a chart here:

http://www.princetonreview.com/college/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=8&TYPE=ACT