<p>I'm going into my senior year of high school and I just got my scores back for the SAT IIs. They were a 640 in US History and a 690 in Math IC. :( Will these scores look terrible to Rice Admissions? Would it be worth retaking one or taking another SAT II (Lit or Physics) in hopes of breaking 700? My ACT is a 31, my SAT I is a 2080.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to Rice with worse SAT IIs than yours (680 Math 1C, 630 Lit, 610 US History) and with the identical SAT I. However, he took the ACT a second time after self-prepping from the Real ACT book over the summer and he increased his first ACT score from a 31 to a 34. I think a lot will depend on the rest of your application -- that is, your GPA, essays, teacher recs and EC activities. Those SAT II scores won't keep you out of Rice if you can stand out in other ways.</p>
<p>I don't think they will hurt your chances either. I was admitted with lesser scores.</p>
<p>The advice I've always heard is to study a little more, now that you know what to expect, and take them again. Unless you get an 800 on every test (which I didn't on any of them and I still got in to Rice), there is always room for improvement.</p>
<p>I know it costs money to take them again, but your Math especially looks very close to breaking 700. You might have just been having a not-perfect day for US History and with a little more preparation, you could pull that grade up as well.</p>
<p>I doubt Rice has a magical SATII cut-off score. You will never be disregarded as an applicant for just one part of your application. Prove to Rice, and any school you plan to attend, that you are a worthy candidate with a mix of your essays, grades, activities, test scores, and your personality -- one alone will not get you in or count you out.</p>
<p>I got into Rice ID (when that was still an admissions option) with a 650 in SAT II math (II or 2 or whatever). My other two SATIIs were in the high 700s/800.</p>
<p>I got in with a 650, 630, and 620. And my SAT was a 1300.</p>
<p>Rice doesn't have a minimum cut-off for scores, so it's entirely possible to get in with those scores. However, you'll improve the chance of the committee deciding that they really like you if you manage to raise them, so if you think you can do better, take them again. But don't devote your life to improving your SAT scores .... there's a lot more to getting accepted (and to any balanced life) than that.</p>