Another SAT 2?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I've been looking over many of the Harvard acceptances on CC, and I realized that most of the successful applicants took more than three SAT 2s. Right now I have 3 that I would be willing to send to Harvard. Would it be worth it to take another? And if so, what score should I aim for (could be a dumb question, obviously aim for 800...)? Rising senior btw...</p>

<p>Currently: US - 800, Math 2 - 790, Chem - 790</p>

<p>PS. Might be completely irrelevant, but right now I have 5 AP's and 3 SAT 2s, which would fit perfectly on the common app's 8 lines...could I even put another SAT 2 on the application?</p>

2

<p>S-T-O-P with the paranoia, please! </p>

<p>Subject tests are just one small part of the applications process and are NOT as important as you are making them out to be. Once you have have passed the minimum threshold of test scores (SAT and SAT Subject tests) your teacher recommendations, guidance counselor’s SSR and essays become what differentiates you from another applicants. See: [Guidance</a> Office: Answers From Harvard’s Dean, Part 3 - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/harvarddean-part3/]Guidance”>Guidance Office: Answers From Harvard's Dean, Part 3 - The New York Times)</p>

<p>"Recommendations from secondary school teachers and counselors are extremely important at Harvard and at many other colleges, particularly those with selective admissions processes. Faced with more academically qualified applicants than places in the freshman class, our admission officers review the two required teacher recommendations and the counselor report with great care, often commenting on them in writing on “reader sheets” in each application.</p>

<p>We often project the recommendations themselves onto large screens so that all members of the Admissions Committee can see them during the subcommittee and full committee review processes in February and March.</p>

<p>Recommendations can help us to see well beyond test scores and grades and other credentials and can illuminate such personal qualities as character and leadership as well as intellectual curiosity, creativity, and love of learning."</p>

<p>After my daughter was accepted to Harvard, she was invited to a congratulatory reception at the Harvard Club in New York City. In attendance was Harvard’s Regional Admissions Officer, Sally Champagne, who has since retired. As each student introduced themselves (“Hi my name is …”) Sally recounted their essay. Sally knew each student by their ESSAY, not their SAT test scores or their Subject Test scores – those were never mentioned.</p>

3

<p>Your scores are great. Really… no need to take another. </p>

<p>Your logic, though, reminds me of a Cheerios ad:</p>

<p>“People who choose more whole grain tend to weigh less than those who don’t.”</p>

<p>Especially in admissions, mimicking one aspect of a very complex process is an exhaustive exercise of correlation without causation.</p>

4

<p>I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU SCORES! Be proud of it!! :)</p>

5

<p>I’d kill for your scores… You’re fine.</p>