SAT re-do?Answered
I'm wondering if I should re-take the SAT. I took the SAT last March and got a 1200, which I'm proud of, but wondering if I could improve on to increase my chances of getting into certain schools. For context, I'm looking at WPI, Brandeis and MCLA as target schools currently (and my chances look pretty good). For reach schools, I'm looking at Northeastern and BU. Would a re-take be worth my time?
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4 answers
A 1200 is a good score. However, for schools such as Northeastern and BU, the average accepted SAT scores are both 1400+. If you believe that you can do better than a 1200, it doesn't hurt to retake the SAT. You can always super-score or even just get a higher grade. It never hurts to take another SAT as you don't have to send all your scores to colleges. If you want to get into Northeastern or BU, you should look into retaking it.
I think a retake would definitely be worth it; for study help you can use Khan Academy's SAT Prep.
you should definitely retake the sat. it will help improve your chances of getting accepted.
With a 1200 on your first SAT, you're already in a competitive range for many schools, including WPI, Brandeis, and MCLA, where your chances are looking good. For reach schools like Northeastern and BU, a higher SAT score could potentially strengthen your application, as their middle 50% SAT ranges are often higher (around 1400-1550).
If you feel confident that you can improve your score with some additional preparation, retaking the SAT could be worth it, especially for those reach schools. Even a small improvement in your score could help boost your chances at more competitive institutions.
However, if you're pressed for time or feel that your score may not improve significantly, remember that schools like WPI and Brandeis look at more than just test scores. Your GPA, essays, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation also play an important role. If you’re already strong in those areas, it might be more strategic to focus on perfecting those instead of stressing over retaking the SAT.
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I agree with this; last summer/fall, I spent 20 minutes on Khan Academy studying daily, and I got a 200+ increase in 1 month. Other great resources are Strategic Test Prep YT channel, and their pdf workbooks.