<p>I'm taking SAT II on Dec 1, which subject tests should I take?</p>
<p>I'm thinking Math 2, Physics, and Spanish.</p>
<p>My native language is Spanish (I'm Honduran, ...Central America) and I'm pretty sure I'd ace a Spanish test. However I'm not sure colleges or universities would be interested, maybe they feel it is natural a Spanish speaking person scores 700-800 on a Spanish test, but, comparatively, Americans in general don't score 700-800 on the SAT I Writing and Critical Reading sections, and I'm sure most fellow Hondurans would not score 800 on a Spanish test.</p>
<p>Anyway, should I choose something else instead of Spanish? </p>
<p>Incidentally, what are my chances ... ?
I scored 2190 on my SAT, good GPA, top 10% of class, great recommendations, etc.
The thing is Honduran high schools don't have many activities, I've seen other posts in which some folks say they were Debate Class Presidents, Public Relations Officers, Drama Club Bosses, or CEOs of the-devil-knows-what. In Honduras there are no such things, consequently I do not have any of these things to name in my application. Will this affect my chances? By the way, I, too, need plenty of financial aid ...</p>
<p>I would choose something besides Spanish. SAT II's are not like SAT Is and don't test the same thing so analogy to Americans not scoring that well on SAT's is comparing apples to oranges.</p>
<p>On the other hand, many native speakers offer scores on Chinese and Korean SAT IIs.</p>
<p>Perhaps it could be a third exam with another two for more support for your application.</p>
<p>daniel, Williams has one of the best financial aid programs for internationals. Because they (like many other rural liberal arts colleges) have a hard time attracting high performing non-Whites, they often use internationals to up their diversity figures.</p>
<p>Don't worry about the lack of official, standard EC's. The last thing Williams needs is another class president or team captain. Focus on what is unique about your life experience and what YOU could contribute to the campus community. What DO you like to do in your spare time? There's probably a story there. If not, consider being from Honduras your EC and expound on that.</p>
<p>You may assume that since Williams kids generally come from comfortable economic backgrounds that they have a lot of international experience. In fact that isn't the case. Many of them have never traveled outside of the U.S. and if they have would have been to Europe or a resort location. So think about what you as a national of a developing country could add to classroom discussions and make sure to reflect this (indirectly of course) in your essays and recommendations.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your help, I'll consider what you said when I write my essay (which will be pretty soon).</p>
<p>I hope it's beneficial to be Honduran, it would be nice for a change. It´s difficult for a third world country native to pay for American colleges or universities, even with loads of financial aid. Think this: the most prestigious Honduran private university costs less than 4,000$ a year. Mind you, my family is not poor (in Honduras, of course) but I could only afford to pay, straining my parent's economic resources, 8000$ a year. And I mean straining. (my father is an evangelic church pastor and the family's income is about 32,000$ a year)</p>
<p>Anyway I've decided to think of my applications as an investment. I'll apply to 12 liberal arts colleges or so hoping that one grants me the financial aid I need, which is plenty. My favorites are Williams and Amherst, but of course, they are also the most selective.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help! If you have any more advice, I´m more than willing to listen !</p>
<p>daniel, I'm sure your experience as your father's child in a third world country, one that is most Americans know nothing about despite its proximity to the U.S., would make a very good essay. Most Americans have never heard of Williams either. :)</p>
<p>another point to remember is that Williams likes physically active kids, not just in organized sports but any kind of fitness or outdoorsy pursuit.</p>
<p>PS, You should look into fee waivers for your applications.</p>
<p>I'll definitely write something about my Honduran background.</p>
<p>Subject Tests- I registered World History, Physics, and Spanish. I felt uneasy about Spanish but it won't matter if I score highly in all three. </p>
<p>Have you any idea what my "demonstrated financial need" is? My family's income is 32,000 but I am my parent's only son.</p>
<p>I would have said to take the math instead of the Spanish. They know you have the Spanish fluency, and will probably discount any high score you earn on that one (and wonder about your general abilities if you don't do well on it). They only take your two highest scores. A high math or science score combined with a high history score would suggest qualitative and technical language proficiency as well as strong proficiency in reading English (you must be able to read English well to do well on just about anything but the non-English languages). </p>
<p>You can switch what tests you are taking on the day of the testing, I believe, if you decide not to take the Spanish. Unless you have a stamina or preparation problem, try to take three tests, not just two, as it will give you another score.</p>