Are 2 subject SAT Tests enough?

Applying to College
1

<p>My S has a SAT score around 2300.</p>

<p>He took Math and Physics Subject SATs and has 800 in both of them.</p>

<p>He has one B in HS and the rest As</p>

<p>He has a bunch of ECs including captain of Math team, Physics team, Tennis team and participation in Robotics (FIRST etc.)</p>

<p>He would like to get into one of the top Engg. schools.</p>

<p>Does he need to take more than 2 subject SAT tests? Most schools seem to require 2 but will he be at a disadvantage when compared with other kids with more than 2 Subject SAT tests to their credit?</p>

2

<p>His scores and grades are just fine the way they are, and one more SAT subject test won’t make a difference. He’s a strong candidate the way he is. :)</p>

3

<p>Most schools don’t require SAT subject tests, but some do. Just about all of these usually require only two. But there are a few highly selective schools that require three. So check with the schools where he is applying.</p>

4

<p>Two is plenty. There is no reason to take/send more unless there’s some subject he’s particularly talented in and hasn’t proven it anywhere else in his application.</p>

5

<p>"unless there’s some subject he’s particularly talented in and hasn’t proven it anywhere else in his application. "</p>

<p>I disagree. Why show off? I recall one student to retook a 2390 SAT just in order to hit 2400. I’d rather have as a classmate someone who spent time actually learning/engaging rather than flexing academic muscles.</p>

<p>If this applicant gets rejected anywhere, it won’t be because of a lack of proven academic ability. </p>

<p>Florian: best of luck to your son and your family. You’re right to be proud of his accomplishments</p>

6

<p>IIRC Most schools requiring three have changed it to only two, the only one I can think of off the top of my head that still requires three is Georgetown.</p>

7

<p>Georgetown doesn’t require any subject tests. Check their website.</p>

8

<p>Check the web site of each school he may apply to.</p>

<p>Unless there are some unusual circumstances (e.g. home schooled student wanting to show external validation of additional subjects learned, or heritage speaker of an additional foreign language wanting to show external validation of that language ability), it is unlikely that additional subject tests beyond those required by the schools applied to will be useful (especially with 800 scores in math 2 and physics for an engineering applicant).</p>

9

<p>Harvard suggests the students take as many as they can.</p>

<p>MIT application will not let you put more than the two designated tests but they give you plenty of space to add AP or IB tests.</p>

10

<p>The only reasons he would need a third are as follows: </p>

<p>He intends to apply to Georgetown or Johns Hopkins. Neither actually requires subject tests but both recommend three and with Georgetown you are supposed to explain on application why you did not take three if you failed to do so. Those are the only two colleges that require or recommend more than two subject tests.</p>

<p>You mention that he took a math but not which one. If math 2 there is no issue. However, if he took math 1, then be aware that if he intends to apply to Caltech, he must have math 2. Also, some other colleges require math 2 if applying for engineering; the UCs, which recommend but do not require subject tests, do not accept the math 1; and Stanford recommends that you submit math 2 if you submit a math.</p>

<p>He intends to apply to a small number of certain colleges, Vanderbilt being one, that use SAT foreign language tests for placement purposes after you are admitted. He does not need it for admission but may need it if he actually chooses to attend the particular college.</p>