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@Anonymouse
2 answers, 32 votes
 • a year ago •
Admissions Advice

Should I retake the SATs?
Answered

Hi! So I'm a rising senior and I recently got my SAT scores back and they weren't as good as expected. I got a 1050 and I was really disappointed in my scores so I was thinking of retaking it but I wondered if it was really necessary since most schools are test optional now so I wanted to ask y'alls advice on whether or not I should retake it. I plan on applying to UT Austin, USC, and NYU and my GPA is a 94.8302. My extracurriculars are very basic; I'm Class Vice President, An Academic Decathlon Member, and a HOSA member along with being a chemistry club member for 2 years. My grades are also very average I have mostly A's and B's with a few C's from freshman year. So I wanted to ask y'all if I should retake the SATs or just apply test optional.

2023_24AdmissionCycle
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Accepted Answer
@AdaH
135 answers, 165 votes
 • a year ago

Hey there @Anonymouse!

I personally would suggest retaking the SAT because the schools you want to apply to are fairly competitive. USC has an average SAT score between 1330-1520, UT Austin is 1230-1480, and NYU's is 1400-1500. Submitting a 1050 would probably not be the best move, so if you have the time and means to retake (and you're confident you can do better), then I think it's safe to say that you should.

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[🎤 AUTHOR]@Anonymousea year ago

do you think going test optional would hurt me though? like in a possible reality where I retake it and my score isn't as high as I would like?

@AdaHa year ago

It honestly depends on the school. USC's website says: 'Applicants will not be penalized or put at a disadvantage if they choose not to submit SAT or ACT scores.' NYU is also test-optional, but I couldn't find any information about how it will affect your chances. UT Austin is test-optional for the upcoming cycle, but they encourage students to submit their SAT or ACT scores anyway, as it may help make up for parts of their profile that may be lacking.

@AdaHa year ago

If you chose not to retake the SAT, you should probably apply test-optional. UT Austin's average SAT score is lower than the other two, so if you retake at get something in the 1200 or 1300 range, definitely submit it.

[🎤 AUTHOR]@Anonymousea year ago

Thank you so much! You're advice is really helpful!

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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
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SAT: 720 math
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