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Depends on the school--some are test choice and you send the scores you want and some want to see all of the tests you take....
I have never seen an application that requires both an SAT and ACT score. I am not saying that those schools do not exist but every school my kids or their friends have ever explored require that you take the ACT OR the SAT not both. A student submits the ACT OR the SAT to the school. Just because a student takes both that does not mean they have to submit both scores.
"If you choose to fulfill the requirement with SAT scores, then it’s not necessary to send any scores from the ACT, even if you’ve taken the ACT. If you choose to fulfill the requirement using the ACT, then you don’t need to send us any SAT scores unless you wish to do so."
None of these schools require you to submit both ACT and SAT scores though. A student can choose to send only ACT or only SAT scores whether the schools allow Score Choice or not.
Not really---these schools want to see committed students to their EC's---since freshman year--not adding on at the end of junior year to look good on college applications. These schools get 30,000+ applications every year for a couple thousand spots, maybe. No harm in applying--but be realistic. Applying to a reach school is good--if she gets in, great, if not, have some good matches and safety schools--both academically and financially in reserve. It's no reflection on her what so ever, just reality. A lot of 4.0 2300+ SAT kids get turned down too. If she is 6' tall and interested in Crew though, that might help! If she is first generation college student that is black, Hispanic, American Indian, that improves her chances some.
My son was accepted to both Cornell and Penn. His only EC throughout high school was soccer. He played both travel and varsity soccer. I think he was in the study hall club.
I have never seen an application that requires both an SAT and ACT score. I am not saying that those schools do not exist but every school my kids or their friends have ever explored require that you take the ACT OR the SAT not both. A student submits the ACT OR the SAT to the school. Just because a student takes both that does not mean they have to submit both scores.
"If you choose to fulfill the requirement with SAT scores, then it’s not necessary to send any scores from the ACT, even if you’ve taken the ACT. If you choose to fulfill the requirement using the ACT, then you don’t need to send us any SAT scores unless you wish to do so."
I am sure there is some school that requires students to submit both but the vast majority of colleges/universities require SAT OR ACT NOT BOTH.
I think you are misunderstanding what score choice means.....if a school wants to see all of your scores, they want to see them all whether they are ACT or SAT....they don't require you to take one test or the other but if they are not a score choice school and you take both the ACT and SAT, they want to see all of the scores from all of the tests you have taken...
I think you are misunderstanding what score choice means.....if a school wants to see all of your scores, they want to see them all whether they are ACT or SAT....they don't require you to take one test or the other but if they are not a score choice school and you take both the ACT and SAT, they want to see all of the scores from all of the tests you have taken...
Most do not say that (Penn does). Most say SAT or ACT send directly from the testing company. Most do not require you to send both if you have taken both. There are a few that do but the vast majority do not.
Yale actually specifically says:
""If you choose to fulfill the requirement with SAT scores, then it’s not necessary to send any scores from the ACT, even if you’ve taken the ACT. If you choose to fulfill the requirement using the ACT, then you don’t need to send us any SAT scores unless you wish to do so."
Some other schools are not as specific but if you ask they will tell you to send your best (SAT or ACT) and that there is no need to send both.
Try to bring up that SAT or focus on schools that do not require submitting a score.
Why not focus on 20-40 schools? Private schools like Tufts, Brandeis, Johns Hopkins, WashU, GW, NYU, etc etc - there's a little something for everyone and the schools still have wide brand name appeal. Her profile doesn't make her a standout for scholarships, but she will certainly gain entrance at some schools.
She should play up her international experience in her college essay. It makes it hard to gain leadership roles in many high school activities if she spends every summer in Europe with dad, and that should be communicated without explicitly saying so.
My stepdaughter is a junior. What are her chances to get into a top 20 college with an IB diploma, several AP courses, 3.8 GPA, 1880 SAT/33 ACT, average EC and no sports? Her father asked my wife that she might consider taking a shot at top privates if we pledge to pick half of the expenses. I want to know if its possible or we stressing out over a hypothetical Senerio?
The thing about admissions to Top 20 schools is that your stepdaughter's stats are going to average when compared against the rest of the application pool. What I mean is that the majority of applicants are going to have similar GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and number of APs. Not sure about the IB diploma, but it is becoming more common for students to dual enroll into college (usually a community college) while in high school. The "average ECs" may or may not have an effect on her applications but keep in mind that adcoms want to see passion not a laundry list.
The real breaking point is going to be with her admissions essays. Considering that the majority of applicants to these schools are going to have stellar stats across-the-borad, the essays are what will be used to distinguish one student from another.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BStinson
Her EC are random volunteer work and membership of some school clubs like NHS and French club. She lived with her father in Europe from 3rd to 8th grade so missed out on many building blocks of American schooling and a bit introvert due to divorce mess but good kid and intellectually mature for her age.
For what it is worth simply being a member of a club is not enough for top schools. Adcoms want to see students who held/hold officer positions in high school clubs and/or club members who contribute to a club in such a way as to have had a major impact. One reason being is so they can weed out those applicants who join numerous clubs to simply increase their list of ECs from those who (may) have a true passion.
The same is for volunteer work. In her essays she would have to demonstrate a clear passion for the volunteer work.
Having lived in Europe can be a selling point, or it could not. In and of itself it is not that big of a deal. However, if she can correlate the experiences of having a "dual identity" into a self-revelation, well, that could work.
Practically all schools "know" that many students practice HOW to take the SAT/ACT tests and that the scores are not necessarily an indicator of future success in college.
Try to bring up that SAT or focus on schools that do not require submitting a score.
Why not focus on 20-40 schools? Private schools like Tufts, Brandeis, Johns Hopkins, WashU, GW, NYU, etc etc - there's a little something for everyone and the schools still have wide brand name appeal. Her profile doesn't make her a standout for scholarships, but she will certainly gain entrance at some schools.
She should play up her international experience in her college essay. It makes it hard to gain leadership roles in many high school activities if she spends every summer in Europe with dad, and that should be communicated without explicitly saying so.
Tufts is difficult to get into as it is the backup or "safety" for many applicants who want to go to school in Boston but where rejected by Harvard, MIT, Wellesly, BC, and perhaps Bently.
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If she is first generation college student that is black, Hispanic, American Indian, that improves her chances some.
