Sending SAT scores to colleges

[readwithem]

My junior dd just registered for her first SAT (subject tests) in January. One of the billion questions on the online form was whether to send the scores to colleges. We left that blank so we could finalize the registration. Here are my questions:

- Do colleges receive every score when you request your scores sent? So when she takes her last test (hopefully in June but depends on results), and we request scores sent to schools, will they receive every test she's taken prior to that sitting?

- Is there any advantage/disadvantage to sending scores this early in the game? She has some preliminary top choices, but there is a lot of time between now and spring 2010. Sigh.....

Thanks so much!

[Chris in VA]

We had scores sent, but only because I'm terrible with paperwork, and it was so convenient that way. We did not, however, have ACT scores sent--if they are better, then we'll eat the 9 bucks and send them.

I have heard that schools take the best score out of each set if you take it more than once. I am hoping that is true, as ds' score was all over the place--the second time he took the SAT, his math score fell 50 pts, his critical reading rose by the same amount, and he gained 140 points in writing and an extra point on his essay!

I'd go ahead and send them.

[Kareni]

My understanding ...

Until March, all scores will be sent. After the March SAT test date, score choice will be in effect. At that time, one may select which scores will be sent. Be aware that all scores includes both SAT and SAT subject test scores.

Regards,
Kareni

[Sharon in MD]

In addition, the option to select scores, as far as the basic SAT goes, is to send the scores from a particular date of testing, not to send your highest math from one date, highest reading from another and so on. I don't know how it affects the SAT subject tests, though.

[readwithem]

What have you done, Sharon and Karen? Would you wait till all the testing is done, and then decide? Or go ahead and send without seeing the results first? FWIW she scored very well on the PSAT in October and has enough study books to build a small library, rolls eyes.

It's too bad you can't save all your "free sends" for when you're really ready and know which schools and which scores to send.... really I think score choice only complicates things (and costs more in the long run)....

[readwithem]

Wow Chris - congrats to your ds on improving his scores! My dd is hoping to be in the "one and done" club as she plans to take several subject tests, and she'd like to be done with everything in June. May be wishful thinking.:glare:

[Karen in CO]

Cost is one factor and timing is another. If you already a few schools you will apply to, then I would send them. Many schools don't actually "look" at them, but they will match them to applications later - especially if you are looking at some of the bigger state schools. (Make sure you have the SSN on there. It is optional but it seems to be impossible to get them to match without it).

Another thing to take a look at is how much it costs to send the SAT results to schools at a later time (especially if you will have to rush them there :glare: ). My ds applied to 6 universities before he decided to apply to the one he will be attending. And those SAT fees at $9.50 each plus at least one $27 rush could have been better spent had he picked at least the 4 state universities before his Junior year. It isn't much compared to the cost of attending, but it just ended up as wasted money and time.

[Kareni]

What have you done, Sharon and Kareni? Would you wait till all the testing is done, and then decide? Or go ahead and send without seeing the results first?

We elected not to send my daughter's results until we knew what they were. When she took the SAT back in March of her Junior year, she also did not have a finalized list of colleges. We sent her scores (SAT and SAT subject tests) this fall as part of the application process.

And, yes, I'd have loved to have been able to stockpile those free score reports ... alas, it is not possible!

Regards,
Kareni

[Sharon in MD]

We did not go the way of SAT II or AP testing. We might still do an SAT II or AP for Chem at the end of this year, but I'm not sure.

Since we were under the old system where schools would see all the scores, it really didn't matter for us. We sent the SAT I scores to all the schools he wanted to apply to.

With the new system, if you can hold off until after the first test date, it might be beneficial to see how your dc fair and then when/if you test a second time, you can choose to send or not.

I know this probably isn't much help....but I hope it will....

[Brenda in MA]

of the College Board called Score Choice from Newsweek.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/172585

FYI,
Brenda