August SAT got cancelled

FezR

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Jan 3, 2020
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So just when I thought I was all fine and dandy and my 1370 (680 M 690 R) score would be improved to make myself a more competitive candidate, CB decided to send me a lovely email detailing for the second time in the past few months, my testing center was cancelled.
Now I planned for this and have a september SAT day registered already, but my only issue would be that I would have to send my current SAT score which I heard was not desirable to my MoC. Can you update your SAT score during the nomination process or does it vary from congressman to congressman. (Same question for Senators)

Side note: How bad is my score really, only asking because I keep seeing different info from different people. I know it isnt "good" but I wouldnt really call it bad.
 
Ask the office of your MoC or Senator. I’m in the same boat right now. Sent an email to each office, 2 will allow it, one won’t.
 
Contact your MoC. I have contacted the ones in my local area for my candidates and all of them will accept an UPDATED SAT scores after the deadline as long as they receive it before they decide on who to interview. Notice I said UPDATED, meaning you have to turn in your current score by the deadline to be considered.

Each individual MoC runs their own process so you need to check with them to verify they will accept an updated score.
 
Side note: How bad is my score really, only asking because I keep seeing different info from different people. I know it isnt "good" but I wouldnt really call it bad.

SAT score is only one part of a complete application. Applicants with 1600 SAT scores have been turned down. A 1370 alone won't prevent you from getting an appointment. But you are doing the right thing by trying to improve your score.
 
I find it odd that someone claimed your MOC would find your current SAT “not desirable.”
The most recent demographic profile I could find shows that the mean SAT score for class of 2021 at USAFA was 661 Reading/Writing and 673 for math...so your SAT is not “bad.” Yes applicants have been turned down with perfect scores but the SAT is only one of many, MANY components to the overall package. Maybe those people had no extracurriculars, maybe they wrote terrible essays or raised a red flag about their reasons for wanting to be in the military. Maybe they couldn’t get medical waivers. Obviously you should always seek to improve your score-I’m just puzzled why someone would say your scores weren’t good.
 
I find it odd that someone claimed your MOC would find your current SAT “not desirable.”
The most recent demographic profile I could find shows that the mean SAT score for class of 2021 at USAFA was 661 Reading/Writing and 673 for math...so your SAT is not “bad.” Yes applicants have been turned down with perfect scores but the SAT is only one of many, MANY components to the overall package. Maybe those people had no extracurriculars, maybe they wrote terrible essays or raised a red flag about their reasons for wanting to be in the military. Maybe they couldn’t get medical waivers. Obviously you should always seek to improve your score-I’m just puzzled why someone would say your scores weren’t good.
My congressional district is very competitive and having a 1350+ is kind of the unspoken minimum from every former nominee I’ve spoken too.
 
Have you tried looking for a testing center outside of your area? Especially private schools? We live in SoCal and have had the same bad luck with my DD’s testing dates. We have now signed her up in a testing center over a hour away. With so many public schools being closed at the moment, your best bet is to go with private schools that are still open with limited capacity. By the way, your score of 1370 is not terrible but I do understand your wanting to do the best you can. Best of luck to you!
 
Lots of discussion about this if you search it in the search function.

Another piece, will be how this affects competition pool next year. As in will kids give up? Will some not bother? Will some not be able to test in time?
 
So just when I thought I was all fine and dandy and my 1370 (680 M 690 R) score would be improved to make myself a more competitive candidate, CB decided to send me a lovely email detailing for the second time in the past few months, my testing center was cancelled.
Now I planned for this and have a september SAT day registered already, but my only issue would be that I would have to send my current SAT score which I heard was not desirable to my MoC. Can you update your SAT score during the nomination process or does it vary from congressman to congressman. (Same question for Senators)

Side note: How bad is my score really, only asking because I keep seeing different info from different people. I know it isnt "good" but I wouldnt really call it bad.
In the Congressional and Senatorial boards that I've served on, the staff just put the score reports in a folder which is given to the board when they convene. For me, those have been in Nov, Dec and once in a while in January. Many of the folder that I've reviewed had more than one score report so the candidates were sending in new scores after filing their initial application. I can't say that every MOC works this way but that has been my experience.

As for your score level - in my very competitive state/district, I'd strongly recommend prepping for the test and retaking. Most of the competitive candidates that I've seen nominated (very competitive district) have had stronger scores.
 
Lots of discussion about this if you search it in the search function.

Another piece, will be how this affects competition pool next year. As in will kids give up? Will some not bother? Will some not be able to test in time?
I was wondering about this as well. I follow College Board on social media (yeah I’m that kid) and I read a statement from them that said 54% of SAT administrations for August 29th are scheduled to proceed. Given how many applicants the Service Academies get every year, it would not surprise me if they continued requiring the standardized test scores.
 
I was wondering about this as well. I follow College Board on social media (yeah I’m that kid) and I read a statement from them that said 54% of SAT administrations for August 29th are scheduled to proceed. Given how many applicants the Service Academies get every year, it would not surprise me if they continued requiring the standardized test scores.
While it’s true that many testing center stay open for the August test. Many are closed and students are notified so late in the game that they can’t make arrangements for another site. And if you live in states like California, all the public school( testing sites) are closed due to Covid, leaving students with very limited options. This has been our experience so far. I really hope the admissions will take these factors into consideration.
 
Your scores are not bad, especially considering this year many candidates haven’t even taken the test once yet. I would guess that scores across the board will be slightly lower than normal because of all the cancelled tests. I think you’re in decent shape with the scores you have for now but definitely take the test in September to try one more time to try and improve :) good luck!
 
Just to clear up the questions

I live in NJ-7

my original test in NJ got canceled, rescheduled for one an hour and a half away, that got canceled

I am aware that many other candidates have stronger scores in my region, which is why I am worried about getting the best scores to my MoC
 
I have a 1280 and I thought that was decent considering the circumstances of COVID but trying again next week to try and improve
 
I find it odd that someone claimed your MOC would find your current SAT “not desirable.”
The most recent demographic profile I could find shows that the mean SAT score for class of 2021 at USAFA was 661 Reading/Writing and 673 for math...so your SAT is not “bad.” Yes applicants have been turned down with perfect scores but the SAT is only one of many, MANY components to the overall package. Maybe those people had no extracurriculars, maybe they wrote terrible essays or raised a red flag about their reasons for wanting to be in the military. Maybe they couldn’t get medical waivers. Obviously you should always seek to improve your score-I’m just puzzled why someone would say your scores weren’t good.

I have to agree - granted I took the SATs a long time ago, but with the median at 1080, scores about 1200 are generally good, 1300 better, 1400 very good, 1500 excellent. Maybe consider taking ACTs as well, or focus on SAT subject matter exams (though I believe APs are better).

That said, I am an alumni recruiter for my Ivy League alma mater, and we turned down a number of high SAT’ers because they didn’t have the passion and enthusiasm to go to my university - they just wanted the name or the prestige or they knew little about the school. GPA and SAT/ACT are part of it - extracurriculars, your “story,” essays, recommendations, and “fit” are the biggest elements. Any school (I really can’t speak for the academies) does not want people accepted who decline, but more than that, they do not want people who come and have to leave. About 1/5th of my freshman class either didn’t return or was asked not to by the dean.... after the first year. That’s why for non-academy programs, transfers often have an easier application process than incoming freshman. Good luck - it’s a weird application year, and everyone is aware.
 
So just when I thought I was all fine and dandy and my 1370 (680 M 690 R) score would be improved to make myself a more competitive candidate, CB decided to send me a lovely email detailing for the second time in the past few months, my testing center was cancelled.
Now I planned for this and have a september SAT day registered already, but my only issue would be that I would have to send my current SAT score which I heard was not desirable to my MoC. Can you update your SAT score during the nomination process or does it vary from congressman to congressman. (Same question for Senators)

Side note: How bad is my score really, only asking because I keep seeing different info from different people. I know it isnt "good" but I wouldnt really call it bad.
A 1370 would be pretty desirable imo. There is more to your interview than that one piece.
for context my son last yr had a 1260 and ended up with 3 nominations. He didn’t get an appointment but he did receive an AFROTC scholarship
 
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