Do You Need SAT Scores to Transfer Colleges

Do You Need SAT Scores to Transfer Colleges SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Determining all the different requirements for transferringcolleges can be a huge hassle. One of the most common questions students have is whether theyneed to submit SAT scores to apply as transfer students. There’s no single answer to this question, but this guide will explain some common policies about SAT scores for transfer applicants, how to determine whether you need to submit SAT scores, and how much attention schools pay to these scores when they also have your grades from another college. Do You Need to Submit SAT Scores as a Transfer Applicant? As I touched on above, the answer to this question really depends on the school you’re applying to. Some schools don’t require SAT scores for any transfer students, some only want standardized test results from students who haven’t completed a minimum number of credits, and some ask for test scores from all applicants. In general,very selective schools and small liberal arts colleges are more likely to require test scores, while bigger state universities are more likely to waive the requirement.Also, if you’ve been out of high school for more than five years or if taking the SAT represents an undue financial burden, most schools will waive any SAT requirements. The following chart details the transfer applicant test score requirements for a range of schools to give you a sense of the type of policies you might encounter. Schools are listed alphabetically and all credits are in semesters. School Requires SAT? Exceptions / Notes CU Boulder Yes Exempt if you've completed at least 24 college credit hours Dartmouth Yes May submit testing waiver if taking the SAT/ACT will pose a hardship for you Georgetown Yes Exempt if you graduated high school at least five years before you intend to matriculate Harvard Yes None Middlebury Yes Must send original high school scores University of California No - University of Illinois Yes Exempt if you've completed 30 college semester hours (but test scores are still recommended for under 59 graded credit hours) University of Washington Yes Exempt if you have 40 or more transferable credits USC Yes Exempt if you've completed at least 30 semester units of college coursework UT Austin No - Obviously, this chart is far from comprehensive. Since, as you can see, testing policies vary quite a bit, you’ll need to find outwhethertheschools you’re applying to require transfer applicants to submit SAT scores. Start by checking the section of the school's website for transfer applicants. Some schools have a specific page about standardized test scores.If you can't find anything on these pages, look at the application checklist or FAQ pages. If you’re really struggling to find any information on test scores for transfer applicants, search on Google for "[School Name] transfer SAT scores." You might have to try a couple of the links, but usually this approach will eventually get you to the page you need. If you’re transferring from a community college, keep in mind that your current school might have a guaranteed admission agreement with the state university.These programs often don’t require test scores from transfer applicants (but sometimes do). Finally, you can always call or email the admissions office at the school if you have questions. After all, they’re there to help! How Important Are SATScores as a Transfer Student? Most colleges weight SAT scores less heavily for transfer applicants than they do for freshmen since transfer students already have proof of their ability to succeed in college: their transcript. "If a student is transferring after one semester in college or a year, schools usually want the SAT and high school GPA, but the further away from high school, the less schools rely on them," college counselor Deborah Shames told US News(bold emphasis mine). There are definitely some exceptions, however. Very selective schools tend to care more about test scores than less selective colleges do. You’re also likely to be judged more on your SAT scores if your grades aren’t that impressive. If you're concerned about your SAT scores, see whether the school you're interested in offers atransfer student profile. This will listthe middle 50% range of ACTand SATscores for transfer students. (As an example, check outGeorgetown's.) If yourscoreis toward the high end of that range (or above), you're set. If you're in the lower end (or below), you might want to consider putting in some focused prep time and retaking the SAT. What's Next? If you have more questions about transferringcolleges,read our complete guide to the transfer process. Thinking about transferring but not sure what school you want to go to? Use these college search sitesto findthe school that's right for you. Or maybe you need help with another part of your college application, such aswriting about your extracurricularsor asking for recommendation lettersfrom teachers. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Alex Heimbach About the Author Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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