Can some one explain to me what it means when you sign up for the SAT or ACT to send colleges your scores?

Question

I didnt choose any to send to any colleges. In the future when I do want to apply to a college and send the scores, will I be able to send them then?

Answer 1

Yes, you can choose which colleges you want your scores sent to in the future, but since you didn't specify any colleges at the time you took the tests (you can select 4 colleges to send scores to free of charge on the test day) you will have to pay a small fee to have them sent. I've listed some information that will hopefully help you.

ACT:

You can have your ACT scores sent to other colleges and scholarship agencies in addition to the ones you selected when you registered. Requests are processed AFTER your test has been scored and all results from it are available in our computer files.

See delivery options and costs for sending your scores.

Ordering options:
Online request form—You must pay with MasterCard or Visa. Send score reports from test dates between:


September 2004 – present September 1966 – August 2004

Download a PDF copy of the request form

Telephone service
You must pay via MasterCard, Visa, or electronic checking. This service is for priority delivery only. There is an additional $10 fee for telephone service.
Send us a letter of request.
Read these tips for requesting scores to be sent to others.

This service is available for anyone who has tested after October 1, 1966.

This service is not available for residual testing administered by colleges to their own students who were unable to test on a regular national test date.

When you pay by check you are authorizing ACT, Inc., to convert your check to an electronic entry. This means you will not receive your check back in your financial institution statement. If your check is returned to us due to insufficient or uncollected funds, it may be re-presented electronically and your account will be debited for the amount of the check plus a fee of up to $25.

Costs and Delivery Options
(Regular report)
A complete report that's processed within one week after your request is received. ACT delivers these to colleges and agencies you've selected depending on their preferred schedule, at least every two weeks.

Fees (effective 9/1/06 through 8/31/07)

Tested after 9/1/2004 Tested before 9/1/2004
$8.00 per test date per report $23.00 per test date per report


(Priority report)
Normally processed one working day after ACT receives your request and usually delivered three to four business days later.

Fees (effective 9/1/06 through 8/31/07)

Tested after 9/1/2004 Tested before 9/1/2004
$13.00 per test date per report $28.00 per test date per report


Notes:
If you tested before September 1, 2004, those score reports have been archived. Archived reports cost $15 more and take an additional day to process. The $15 additional fee covers the cost of searching for archived reports and is non-refundable, even if no scores are located.
Once you submit your request, by any method, it cannot be changed or cancelled.
Priority reports are available only for institutions within the United States and include only your identifying information and scores, but not career planning and educational background information.
As standard follow-up, colleges and agencies that receive your priority report will also receive your complete report when ACT sends more student reports, at least every two weeks.



SAT:
In addition to the score reports you chose to send when you registered for the SAT, you can send scores to other colleges and scholarship programs for an additional fee. We will report scores that are available and reportable at the time your request is received.

Only score reports from completed and scored tests will be sent. You can only send scores that appear next to test dates on your SAT Status page. Scores from future tests for which you have registered, but have not yet completed, will not be included.
Scores are mailed to you and the additional colleges and programs requested approximately five weeks after we receive your request.
All available scores will be sent, including those from previous test administrations. You cannot send only your latest or highest SAT Reasoning Test scores, or separate scores for critical reading or math or writing, or only SAT Reasoning Test or only SAT Subject Tests scores.
Rush reporting is available for an additional fee. Rush scores are sent two business days after your request is received. Be sure to check with the institutions before requesting this service: not all colleges can accept rush reporting.
Remember, most colleges and universities require official score reports sent from the College Board.
Additional Information
Your official printed score report will be mailed to you, your high school, and to colleges and scholarship programs designated on your Registration Form about five weeks after the test.

You may also get your SAT scores with Scores by Phone. An additional fee applies.


Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

yes you can do that in the future, but then you'll have to pay 9 dollars (or is it 9.50?) per college that you wish to send your SAT scores to. i'm not sure the fee for ACT but i'm assuming it's probably the same...

if you kind of have an idea what colleges you will apply in the future, i'd suggest that you list them when you sign up. sending them the scores then doesn't hurt you at all and it might in fact benefit you, since you dont have to pay that fee again.

the best thing to do is establish a 90% certain list of colleges that you will apply to and list those when you sign up for your tests. this is especially helpful on the VERY last test that you'll ever take, since i'm assuming that will probably be near all the college application.

hope that helped!

Answer 3

Yes but you'll have to contact college board and pay a fee.