How do colleges look at SAT scores?

Question

Do most colleges (im looking at ucsb, cal poly, ucsd, pepperdine...) look at the highest SAT score overall, or do they add up the highest score for each subject (even if they come from another testing) I took it 2 times. the first time i got a 1780...
reading-550
math-620
writing-610

and the 2nd time 1720...
reading-540
math-640
writing- 540

So my question is would they look at that as a 1800 by taking my writting and reading scores from my first time i took it with the math score from the second, or would they look at it as a 1780 since thats my highest whole score?

So would colleges add up

Answer 1

Most colleges take the highest score from each section, but they do look at your overall scores as well.

So with you they would consider the 640m, 610w, and the 550v

Answer 2

They'd look at the 1780. But most colleges now a days usually don't determine acceptance into the college by these scores. They are beginning to value other aspects of the application more than the test.

Answer 3

They take the highest of each section. If you didn't have the scores automatically sent to them, when you submit the scores just send the highest of each section.