This summer, I am packed with a bunch of really cool things. However busy I am, I know for sure that I will be home often. I love League of Legends and binge watching, but I always get bored of electronics after a few hours. I have always enjoyed studying, it relieves me of stress and tics, and I like studying basically anything. I won’t retain everything, but I even if I can take one thing from a book and carry it with me for the rest of my life, it’s worth it. Therefore, I decided that I want to study for an SAT II test this summer, and take it in the fall. I am already studying for the SAT I, but I will no doubt get bored of studying for the SAT I constantly, and I want something to balance it out.
However, with this, I am already planning to take 4 SAT II tests; one this June, this one in fall, and two next June. Will the excess amount of SAT II tests make me seem like I spend too much time studying? Will it make me seem like the “average Asian”? Could it hurt my essay topic, where I really want to write about my background being the opposite of an “average Asian”?
Thanks!
I don’t see your topic as one that will be embraced by ad cons unless you are joking about it. Learning is always a good thing tho.
I would not take 4 subject tests. See how the two in the fall go. If they are great, leave it at that. More subject tests are not going to help your admissions. I would tell any sumptuary that, unless they are homeschooled (not specific to being Asian). More time on interesting ECs would do you more good.
I would not use that exact essay topic, either. Show it by forging your own path somehow – it just makes you look obsessed with the topic to point out what you aren’t.
I really really want to go into Biomed. The first SAT II that I am taking is World History next week. I am taking APUSH and AP Bio next year, so I thought that I would do SAT II’s for USH and Biology. I am taking three just incase one is not a good score. I was thinking about studying for Math II this summer, and that is what I was asking about. Should I just forget about Math II unless I get a bad score on World History, then would it be wise to start studying for SAT II Math II?
As for the essay topic, I worded it as generally as possible. Sorry about that, but I truly believe it is a good topic, and if you’d like to hear it shoot me a message 
Feel free to send your essay over if you’d like feedback. But in general if you showcase who you are outside of your academic accomplishments in your essay, then adcoms are going to see that. Testing is just confirming your academic abilities in a standardized format, but it is probably excessive to take any beyond 3. No schools ask for that many unless you are homeschooled. Perhaps a better way to spend your time if you have some extra free time is to study a new language, learn computer programming, or even music. There are plenty of things I would love to learn if I had the free time and the ambition.
Taking a lot of SAT Subject Tests would certainly make you seem like the average Asian as many Asians are raised to believe that more tests=better. Having an essay about being the opposite of the “average” Asian just seems extremely cliché to me. I can probably name a dozen people who want to make their essays about not being an average Asian. Sure, you can write about that but if I were an admissions officer, it would seem like a pretty bland topic. And I hate to say it but isn’t League of Legends considered by many to be an “average” Asian thing?
I didn’t mean that kind of Asian, something else lol. 
QUESTION: I was originally going to take World History this June and US History and Biology next June.
Should I also take Math II this fall and if World History and Math II are both 800’s, just stop taking any? I wanted to take Biology because I really want to major in Biomed in college. Could taking Math II instead of Biology be negative?
I think you should stop at 2 SAT tests. Taking Math II instead of Bio could be negative but taking AP Bio might neutralize that fault. Don’t take my word for it as I am no expert. I could easily be “talking out of my ***” as some might say.
The Not Usual Asian topic seems odd to me. I can’t imagine someone writing a “not typical African-American” or “nto typical Jew” essay. Seems better to write about who you are not who you are not.
@lostaccount Well in the college admissions process, many Asians seem to be almost homogeneous in terms of grades and ECs. Music at a high level (piano and/or a string instrument), stellar grades, “Asian” sports (tennis, swimming, golf, etc.) seem to be commonplace for many Asians. Thus, many of them want to get out of this stereotype so they write essays about not being an “average” Asian who is super obedient and will honor thy family at any cost. I’m not saying its a bad topic-it just seems like one that is quite common among Asians.
Ok. I will take the Math II and if I get 800 on both, I will keep it at that. If I get 700s on both, I will take Math, World. and Biology. I might just sell the SAT US History book then to one of my friends.
Do you guys think this is a good idea?
You want to SHOW that you aren’t in the typical mold, but it is browbeating to TELL them that you are doing that. It feels manipulative – like maybe you picked your activities with that in mind. You want it to seem organic, not contrived. And pointing out makes it seem contrived.
I think doing well on a STEM and a non-STEM shows breadth, and that is good. I would not bother with Bio if Math II goes well. No one will say “wait, bio major did not take bio subject test??” Check the schedule – World used to be offered less often than most of the other tests, not sure what next year looks like.
Unless you are applying to Georgetown, 2 strong subject tests is plenty.
With all due respect, I think this Asian thing has maybe gotten out of hand. I used the most general term I didn’t have to go into details. I really believe it is a good topic. I am so sorry for all the confusion and hassle. 
I can send you my idea if you’d like, I’m sorry for wasting your time trying to beat around the bush (if that means what I think it does).
The point isn’t to explain how you are not similar to loads of other people. Asian or not Asian, if your credentials are similar to thousands of other students, then right…you will have a tough time standing out-Asian or not. If you are a compliant follower, then you are going to have a tough time standing out. But explaining how you are different, if your credentials suggest you are not, won’t help. And if your credentials show you are different, there is no need to explain or compare to those other people. Just be your own person.
Thank you @intparent!
If I get a 750 on World History this June and an 800 on Math II, do you think it would be okay to take the Biology SAT? I am taking AP Biology anyways and I already have the review books, and I wouldn’t use the summer to study but study throughout the year.
You can’t resist, can you? Your time would be better spent elsewhere. But do what you want. More subject tests are not going to help you in admissions.
I tried, that’s why I made this thread XD
At least I got rid of the USH
@MattyCRaps If I were you, I would dedicate the time allocated to all those SAT Subject Tests and channel them towards being very good at one or two things. That is what colleges want-quality over quantity for ECs instead of spending practically all of your time studying. Of course I’m not your mom so I can’t tell you what to do but I recommend taking intparent’s advice.
I took intparent’s advice. Thank you all for the help!
Study for what you want. Send your best two best scores, if two is what your target colleges want. Should usually be a math-sci and a humanities.
The threat here is the circular thinking. You seem to want to explain without knowing what the colleges look for. You want to write about why you’re not a typical Asian without knowing what will impress them. That’s going to be the problem.
Adcoms will look for your thinking, how you matched yourself and how you show the attributes they value. Do you know what those are? The essay topic sounds off because you aren’t showing this understanding.