<p>My daughter is in 11th grade and dreams of going to NU. While she is working on getting her ACT up to a 33/34, I'm wondering if she should also be taking a couple SAT subject tests. While not required, the NU admissions pages says "Northwestern recommends that all applicants take two SAT Subject Tests but requires scores from SAT Subject Tests only for applicants to the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME), the Integrated Science Program (ISP), and applicants who have been home-schooled". For those who were admitted (ED), did you take a couple of SAT subject tests in addition to the ACT? Any advice?</p>
<p>I took the SAT, ACT, and 3 SAT II’s and was accepted into McCormick ED. Extra tests, especially if your daughter does well on them, never hurts an application.</p>
<p>My kid took the SAT, the ACT and three SAT Subject Tests.
The only score that was not excellent was her SAT Math score (680), but we noticed that NU said (at the time anyway) that a high SAT Subject Test score could help make up for a lower SAT score in a similar subject. She did well on the SAT Math 2 Subject Test (740), and I have always believed that that was a big boost to her application (which was extremely strong in every respect except for that damn SAT Math score, and she refused to re-take the SAT).</p>
<p>I think that an SAT Subject Test is more of a boost to a seemingly weak point on the application. I didn’t do any, because our family doesn’t have money to do them (And the SAT waiver only covers one SAT thing a year, I believe), and I got in, so they obviously truly aren’t mandatory.</p>
<p>That said, if you have the time, will, and means, then it won’t hurt. I had three subject tests on my application.</p>
<p>My son was an ED McCormick admit last year. He had a 34 ACT, and chose NOT to take any SAT subject tests. He called admissions and was told that he only needed to take the SAT Subject tests if he wanted to overcome a bad AP or low grade in an area. Since he got all 5s on APs and all As in school, he saved his money and passed on the SAT subject tests.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>S’ school actively encourages students to take SAT II tests. Every one applying from his school to NU had at least 2 SAT II tests. S did 4. Guess, it depends.</p>
<p>The only test score I sent in was my ACT (33) and I was accepted ED to McCormick. It definitely can’t hurt to take subject tests, though.</p>
<p>Accepted ED to WCAS, I had a 35 on the ACT and took 3 SAT II’s (all 750+). I would say have her take them because it can’t hurt</p>