<p>They don't require it but they do highly recommend it, especially for international students. But the time has already gone. I have to two choices:</p>
<p>Apply Early Action without subject tests
Or
Apply Regular Decision with 2 subject tests</p>
<p>Do you think opting for Regular just for the sake of taking subject tests a good idea? Or rather does it outweigh the increased changes of admission in EA?</p>
<p>95% of admitted students did submit SAT2 score. Also, Stanford has a very high rejection rate at EA. I would suggest to improve the credential before applying RD.</p>
<p>Do you have 2400 on the SAT and 36 on your ACT?</p>
<p>I do not understand why someone would apply EA to Stanford if they are not a legacy or an athlete.</p>
<p>Apply regular decision.
Beside, whenever they say they don’t require but highly recommend something, just do it.</p>
<p>“Recommended” means that it is generally expected that you do it. They may give applicants from disadvantaged situations (poor, first generation college, at a school where few or no students take subject tests, or go to college at all) who may not be aware of the subject tests some slack here.</p>
<p>Seal16, plenty of people get in REA at Stanford without legacy or athletic hooks. I know 4 (including my son) who got in that way. </p>
<p>@mnm111 like getting a 2400 is going to guarantee my admission!</p>
<p>@Renomamma Did those 4 and your son take Sub Tests? If yes which ones and how much they got?</p>
<p>@billcsho and your source of statistic is…?</p>
<p>@thezealot From this forum. Someone posted it several years ago with a link to the source. It has been verified by others. The original link is dead but the discussion can still be found on this forum.</p>
<p>Well, what are your SAT and/or ACT scores? Why should Stanford accept you when you have not provided the recommended test scores? Are you so special/exceptional?</p>
<p>Best to take the exams they suggest and apply regular decision.</p>
<p>@thezealot Here is the link to the discussion:
<a href=“SAT Subject Tests: Does "Highly Recommended" Really Mean "Required?" - Stanford University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/stanford-university/423677-sat-subject-tests-does-highly-recommended-really-mean-required.html</a>
Original data from 2002-2003 but the document is no longer there.</p>
<p>At top colleges, “recommended” or “optional” means you should do it. Unless you are some kind of rock star (literally, like a Siemens winner or famous movie star or kid of a president) or hooked (recruited athlete), you need to do everything they ask you do do. And then your odds are still 5% or less (since those people mentioned above are going to take some of the available slots).</p>
<p>Well put @intparent</p>
<p>OP, yes they ALL took subject tests. And I realize now it was 5 of them. Scores were 730-800. I can’t tell which ones, but all had Math ll, various sciences, some a foreign language, some English lit. </p>
<p>@billchso Data from 2002-3? lol</p>
<p>Check this out <a href=“http://i.imgur.com/kMOi8ru.jpg”>http://i.imgur.com/kMOi8ru.jpg</a>.</p>
<p>I know this is not percent admitted vs rejected. But notice that Stanford doesn’t ‘require’ nor ‘recommend’ but much weaker “considered if submitted”</p>
<p>@thezealot you can rationalize this all you want, but the fact of the matter is that your early action application is going to be weaker without your subject tests and you then run the risk of outright rejection. Why are you being so stubborn? Take the subject tests and apply RD. Give yourself the best chance to compete with everyone else.</p>
<p>Your link does not work. You may read the details description on Stanford’s website. It goes into detail that Math2 is preferred. You can feel free to ignore that, while most applicants would submit SAT2 scores. These kind of data are not available every year. It is not part of the CDS. Only the year that someone has study on it and release the data could be found. If anything, it is going to be much more stringent and competitive than 11 years ago now.</p>
<p>One interesting thing I want to point out is, if it is truely optional and not recommended, they would not specific the number of SAT2 scores and subject preference at all in the FAQ.
<a href=“Page Not Found : Stanford University”>Page Not Found : Stanford University;
</p>
<p>Feel free to ignore that if you think you can among the 5% of 5%.</p>
<p>OP, your statement
seems to be contradicted by the link posted by @billscho. I think you misunderstand the level of interest Stanford has in subject tests.</p>
