Advice on SAT IIs

Hello,

Sorry if this post is repetitive, but I was hoping to get some personalized advice. I have a 34 on the ACT and a 2200 on the SAT. However, when I took the SAT IIs, I got the following scores: 690 Math I, 650 Math II, and 650 Literature.

I know these are kind of on the low side, but at this point, I cannot retake the tests. So, I guess my question is for the schools that “recommend” or “strongly recommend” sending SAT II scores (Harvard, UPenn, etc.), should I send the scores even though they are sort of low? Or would it be better for the AdCom to see no SAT II scores?

Thanks!

I would not send those. They suggest your math and literature are not very strong. Better not to see scores then to see those. 690 in math 1=69%ile; 650 Math 2=32%ile and 650 in lit=53%ile. I’d not send.

I agree with @lostaccount but if your demographic profile suggests you aren’t economically disadvantaged then adcoms might (correctly) assume you’re hiding your scores.

@lostaccount Would the fact that I got a 34 on ACT Math and 700+ on SAT Math be enough for the AdCom to evaluate me? I also have a 4 on both the AP Macro and Micro tests and I’m applying for Econ, plus I had an A+ on my AP Calc BC midterm report. At this point, is it okay to not submit another test in Math? I’m also in AP Lit and I got an A for the first semester in that class as well. Plus, my English scores have historically been my highest, with a 35 on the ACT and a 780 on the SAT.

@sherpa That’s what I was asking, really. Is it better to submit the mediocre scores (given that I have good math & Lit scores elsewhere) or to submit no scores when it is (strongly) recommended that I do? My college counselor suggested submitting M1 and Lit, but I don’t know that I should listen to him since my school has never sent anyone to an Ivy in the past, only small liberal arts colleges.

I wouldn’t send them. The ACT is good and so is the SAT math. The 4 on APs less so. That along with the SAT2 scores would suggest a less than rigorous high school with grade inflation since the low scores can’t be due to poor test taking (as your ACT and SATs are high). I don’t know if they would miss the SAT2’s but sending them won’t help. And I think they could lead to the conclusion that I’d reach. If the Adcons think you are hiding your scores, which would be true, then that may count against you but sending them would definitely count against you. Hopefully you have some amazing other aspects of your application that would suggest you are among the very top students in the world.