What's the deal with score choice for college applications?

I'm a little bit confused about how score choice works. Can someone please explain what it means and how it can affect my college applications? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right when it's time to submit my test scores. Thank you!

Score choice is a feature offered by the College Board for the SAT, which allows you to choose which specific test date(s) you want to send to colleges. By using score choice, you can select the test date(s) with your best SAT scores to present to the colleges you're applying to. This can be a helpful option for students who have taken the SAT multiple times and want to put forth their strongest performance.

Not all colleges participate in the Score Choice program, so it's crucial to research each school's specific test score policies before you decide how to send your scores. Some colleges require you to submit all SAT scores from every test date, while others may accept your highest score from a single sitting or even superscore, which is when they take your highest section scores across multiple test dates and combine them for your highest possible SAT score.

To use Score Choice, you'll need to log in to your College Board account and manage your score sends. When selecting the schools to send your scores to, you'll have the option to choose which test dates you'd like to submit. Keep in mind that sending multiple scores can incur additional fees, so choose wisely.

Here are a few tips to guide you through the process:

1. Research the specific score submission policies for each college on your list and take note of their requirements.

2. Carefully consider which scores will best represent your abilities and potential. If you're unsure, consult with a counselor or teacher for guidance.

3. Make sure to allocate ample time to complete the score choice process, as it can take a few weeks for your scores to be sent and processed by the colleges.

In summary, score choice allows you to selectively send your SAT scores from specific test dates to colleges, presenting your best performance. Be sure to do thorough research on each college's test score policies and give yourself plenty of time to manage and send your scores. Good luck!