SAT or ACT which one did you take and which is better for college

[BriarfoxinWA]

One thing I wish we had known before hand was not to put down schools to send the test results to. My DS didn't test as well on the SAT as he could have but I had put two colleges down to send the scores to. On the ACT I didn't list any so we could control sending the results out. If we had known he could have retaken the test without the college getting the results of the poor test.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

My nephew also took both test, he received an early acceptance and full scholarship to the University of Florida. He told me he would have better results he took both, he was correct.

 

[Dory's Twin]

Thanks BriarFox!

I just went online and deleted the schools that my son had requested scores sent too! I had not considered that we could do that later! I was a little confused at the time, couldn't figure out why he had to decide so early on where he wanted to apply...just chalked it up as a way for the college board to make $$$$.

Thanks Again, you more than likely made a HUGE difference in my child's life!!!!

Dory

 

[EthansMom]

It's been a few years, but when I was in HS, most colleges wanted the SAT scores. Very few colleges took the ACT scores. So, pretty much everyone took the SAT.

It doesn't hurt to take both, but your DS could look at the school websites for the colleges he's interested in and see which tests they accept. If they all accept the SATs but many don't accept the ACTs, then he could decide to focus his prep time on the SATs.

BTW, you didn't mention whether or not he's planning on any prep work, but if they don't offer any prep at his school, then getting him some of the prep materials is always a good idea. My HS had a few teachers who were really great about prepping the kids for the SAT and that helped A LOT. For instance, in our Advanced English class, our weekly vocabulary came straight from the old SATs.