How should I report my SAT scores to colleges?

I'm planning to take the SAT soon, and I've heard that some colleges require you to send them your scores directly. How does this process work? Should I send my scores to all the colleges I'm applying to?

The process of sending SAT scores to colleges involves using the College Board's online score reporting system. Once you have taken the SAT and received your scores, you can log in to your College Board account and choose which colleges you'd like to send your scores to.

When you register for the SAT, you're given the option to send four free score reports to colleges of your choice, as long as you submit those recipients within nine days after taking the test. After that period, or if you'd like to send additional score reports beyond the four free ones, each report will cost a fee.

Before you decide to send your SAT scores, it's crucial to research the colleges you're applying to and their specific requirements and policies regarding SAT scores. You might want to consider sending your scores to all the colleges on your list if they use standardized test scores in their admission process. However, there are a few things to consider:

1. Superscoring: Some colleges practice superscoring, where they'll take the best scores from different sections of multiple SAT attempts. This might encourage you to send all your SAT scores to these schools. Look up the colleges you're interested in to see if they superscore, as this information can influence your decision of which scores to report.

2. Test-Optional: Many colleges have become test-optional in recent years, meaning they don't require standardized test scores for the admissions process. If a college on your list is test-optional, you can still submit your SAT scores if you believe they'll strengthen your application, but it's not mandatory.

3. Test-Blind: Some colleges are test-blind, meaning they won't consider standardized test scores at all. In these cases, sending your SAT scores would be unnecessary.

Lastly, remember that you may need to send official score reports to the colleges you're applying to, even if you already reported your scores on your application. Some colleges allow you to self-report your scores, but they usually require an official score report if you're admitted and decide to attend. Make sure to check the deadlines for sending SAT scores to each college, as they may vary.

In summary, research the colleges you're applying to and their policies regarding SAT scores to determine which schools you should send your scores to and when you should do so. Don't forget to take advantage of the four free score reports you can send within nine days of taking the test. Good luck!