By Kassandra Flamouropoulos
Standardized tests are no picnic, for students or their parents, and not all the questions require a number-two pencil. How many times can I--or should I--take the test? Should I take the SAT or ACT? Do schools prefer one over the other? What if I want to take the test again after I submit my application to a school? We at Christianson have tracked down the answers, both on schools’ websites and from the mouths of admissions counselors at Penn State University, UPenn, and Gettysburg College.
Let’s start with the question that may be at the forefront of many students’ minds: how many times to I have to suffer through four hours of high-stakes multiple choice? Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the case may be) there is no upper limit. Although the University of Pittsburgh website recommends that students take the test once in the spring of their junior year and once in the fall of their senior year, admissions counselors at both Penn State and Gettysburg said that they do not care how many times students take the test--whichever test they choose.
Which brings us to another common dilemma: SAT or ACT? To answer this question, use the guidelines listed on the website of each school you are interested in applying to. If the website lists both, rest assured that there’s no unspoken preference for one test over the other (don’t worry, we asked). Students should take whichever test they’re more comfortable with, or they can try both.
Let’s start with the question that may be at the forefront of many students’ minds: how many times to I have to suffer through four hours of high-stakes multiple choice? Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the case may be) there is no upper limit. Although the University of Pittsburgh website recommends that students take the test once in the spring of their junior year and once in the fall of their senior year, admissions counselors at both Penn State and Gettysburg said that they do not care how many times students take the test--whichever test they choose.
Which brings us to another common dilemma: SAT or ACT? To answer this question, use the guidelines listed on the website of each school you are interested in applying to. If the website lists both, rest assured that there’s no unspoken preference for one test over the other (don’t worry, we asked). Students should take whichever test they’re more comfortable with, or they can try both.
Be sure, however, to check the schools’ websites for their policies regarding standardized testing. Some schools, including Gettysburg and Pitt, “super score” (they take the highest scores from individual sections across test dates and combine them) and some don’t. Some, like UPenn and George Washington University, super score for the SAT but take the highest composite score from a single test date for the ACT. Penn State, on the other hand, doesn’t super score for either test but takes scores from the highest test date. Keep in mind that, whatever the school’s policy, its admissions counselors are trying to admit you if they can. They’re not going to dwell on your lower scores.
If you’ve already submitted your application but want to take the test again, don’t worry. Gettysburg, Penn State, and UPenn counselors all said that they will look at all scores submitted by the deadlines posted on their respective websites, even if they already looked at a student’s application. Deadlines can vary, however, and the deadline for the application and the deadline for the last eligible test date may be different. Gettysburg and Penn State counselors both said they would look at any scores submitted prior to the posted application deadline. UPenn, on the other hand, has separate deadlines for applications and test scores, both of which can be found on the website.
We found the admissions counselors to be a very friendly and helpful bunch.Again, remember that they want to admit you, and they want to make your application process as smooth as possible. So if you’re still not sure, or if you have a question about standardized testing that wasn’t addressed here, just ask!
If you’ve already submitted your application but want to take the test again, don’t worry. Gettysburg, Penn State, and UPenn counselors all said that they will look at all scores submitted by the deadlines posted on their respective websites, even if they already looked at a student’s application. Deadlines can vary, however, and the deadline for the application and the deadline for the last eligible test date may be different. Gettysburg and Penn State counselors both said they would look at any scores submitted prior to the posted application deadline. UPenn, on the other hand, has separate deadlines for applications and test scores, both of which can be found on the website.
We found the admissions counselors to be a very friendly and helpful bunch.Again, remember that they want to admit you, and they want to make your application process as smooth as possible. So if you’re still not sure, or if you have a question about standardized testing that wasn’t addressed here, just ask!
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