<p>So i have one more chance to bring up my sat scores, but I have to decide between taking the sat reasoning test or subject tests. I got a 570 CR, 540 math, and 510 writing. For the subject test I got a 530 math and a 430 for Spanish. I have only had 3 years of Spanish in high school, so I'm suprised I even got that score, but I'm applying to NYU, Duke and University of Virginia. Im not sure if they will notice that iv only taken 3 years of Spanish so I'm wondering if I should retake the subject test? I know its low, but I'm not sure I can do much better on the Spanish test. How much do sat subject tests effect admissions?</p>
<p>Not to crush your dreams, but unless you’re a legacy or an athlete, you will never get into Duke or NYU with those scores. I’d strongly suggest prepping like crazy (you’ll need a 2100+ to even have a shot) and retaking the SAT I. (The SAT IIs are less important; they’re just supposed to make your SAT I seem more impressive, show your initiative, etc.)</p>
<p>Your scores are fine, an sat subject test is supposed to highlight your strengths, and give your application an edge. don’t retake spanish if you doing think you can do better. Focus your time and effort on something else( Math level 2, literature, us history, chemistry or other subject test you feel are your song suit. </p>
<p>Also if you feel that its ABSOLUTELY nessesary you can try the SAT 1 again, but remember it is not the most end of the world. focus on other areas of your applucation and move on.</p>
<p>P.S. Don’t let all of the elitist personalities on CC get you down. They are not the admissions committee, nor do they know they want in an applicant. Good luck with your future endeavors!</p>
<p>Incorrigible is wrong; you do not need a 2100+ to “have a shot” at Duke, or UVa, or NYU. Thing is, a score in the 1600s will almost certainly not get you into any of those colleges, barring a major “hook” (athlete, small-business owner, athlete, athlete, or founder of a major NGO).</p>
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<p>a LOT for unhooked applicants. If you are OOS, UVa ain’t gonna happen either (unless you can throw a football on a rope for 60 yards).</p>
<p>Yeah, you don’t need a 2100+ to get into those colleges. Maybe if you’re looking for a scholarship, but you can have a lot lower of a score and still get in with about the average SAT for admissions at those schools.
Also, SAT Subject Tests aren’t even required for those schools (as far as I know), so there’s no reason to stress too much over them. They just make an application look better. If you were looking at an Ivy League school, that’d be a different story.</p>
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<p>UVa “strongly recommends” Subject Tests, so not having them will be noticed (and not in a positive light).</p>
<p>Duke requires Subject Tests for students who submit the SAT.</p>
<p>The rule of thumb applies to unhooked candidates: great test scores won’t get you in, but low test scores will keep you out.</p>
<p>Sorry to be so harsh, but with only a week to go, you’d be better off searching for safeties and matches.</p>
<p>Like I said, </p>
<p>[Duke</a> University - Average SAT Scores](<a href=“http://www.satscores.us/sat_scores_by_college.asp?College_ID=198419]Duke”>http://www.satscores.us/sat_scores_by_college.asp?College_ID=198419)</p>
<p>Okay maybe a 2100+ isn’t required, but a 1900+ pretty much is. Stop trying to comfort her. A 1620 will almost assure her rejection from those schools. A 1620 is even low for a state school.</p>
<p>Liz, I think people are a little harsh but they’re probably right–there’s no harm in applying at this point, I suppose, but I would make sure you have match/safeties that you really, really like. Duke, UVA and NYU are pretty far reaches with a 1620 but if you have your heart set on applying then that’s a choice you have to make. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Anything below 2000 is seriously going to put a crimp in your application - at the least, shoot for a 600-650 in each subject, it might be enough for UVa…</p>
<p>Duke’s bottom quartile starts at 2000. Unless Coach K is calling…</p>