Can SAT II scores ever hurt my college applications?

<p>I have so far taken 3 SAT II exams: Biology E-700, World History-780, and U.S. History-720. Should I not include some in my application because they are not that high (like my Biology one?)</p>

<p>Bump 10char</p>

<p>What do you plan on studying in college?</p>

<p>I had a mediocre French score (640), but I think it actually helped diversify my talents, since I was such a strong bio student (I got a 780 on bio m). So in my opinion, sending that bio score of yours will help.</p>

<p>I want to study international relations or political science</p>

<p>Are you freaking kidding me? 700 Bio is high enough. Are you some sort of grades-oriented nazis or something… bahh… I know a lot of Ivy kids whose SAT 2 scores aren’t that high. Chill.</p>

<p>Um okay. No. I am not a “grades oriented (sic.) nazis”. I just wanted to know what people thought. Also, I don’t agree with you, these SAT II scores certainly aren’t Ivy ready, I’m in the 85th percentile or so in U.S. History with a 720, I shudder to think what a 700 is.</p>

<p>@avmaster125: Keep in mind that SAT scores, esp. SAT 2, are not the only top consideration for acceptance. Other things count too. As a matter of fact, SAT scores can only partially reflect your full potential. Furthermore,only scores will be sent, not percentile. And whether you believe me or not is up to your choice. But hear me when I say this, there are lots of Ivy kids out there whose scores aren’t as high as yours. </p>

<p>Percentile differs for each subject test as well btw.</p>

<p>They are Ivy ready. I am going to a school in the Ivy League, therefore my scores (which I already stated), are a demonstration of how you DON’T need scores in the 99th percentile to get in.</p>

<p>These scores are fine for most schools. Remember, the subject tests percentile is very different from SAT1. There are much more than 1% (10-15% for some subjects) students get 800. The average is usually between 610-660. So have scores above 700 is good but likely not even above 80% (except for literature).</p>

<p>If you really want to go to an Ivy League School, I would say 750+ is a minimum for subject tests (obviously there will be exceptions, like risubu). For pretty much every other school though, these scores are perfectly fine. I do recommend to definitely take a math subject test. And remember, you only have to submit two (except for Georgetown), so if you really don’t feel comfortable sending in a 700, you can try to score higher on a different one, like a math subject test, and just send in that history and the math.</p>

<p>You absolutely do not have to have scores of 750+ to be a viable candidate for Ivies or their equivalents! Several years ago, Harvard allowed those who had scored at 680 and above to place out of its modern language requirement. Yale has freshman level composition classes that vary by level and the cutoff to be placed in the higher level one is 700. If the bulk of all students were coming in with 750+, the placement cutoff would be higher or there’d be no leveling at all. Of course SAT I is a different story.</p>

<p>In my opinion, SAT 2 scores are actually a pretty important part of college admissions process. Here’s my reasoning:</p>

<p>SAT 2 is a way for universities to evaluate your academic skills- on a national level. For example, if you straight A’s through high school in all your math classes, but you score a 600 on the Math Level 2, it kind of shows that your math courses in school are too easy, and you’re not actually that good at Math. In that case, I think it could hurt your application.</p>

<p>On the other hand, it can really boost your application. If you had straight B’s through high school in English, but 800 the English Lit, it shows that maybe the English classes in your school are too hard. </p>

<p>In general, I think SAT 2 just supplements your transcript. I also think rarely it hurts you. Most of the time, people don’t do all that bad, and it is a way to show how good you really are at something. And it can help diversify your application, if you show you can excel in certain subjects that maybe aren’t offered at your school.</p>

<p>“For example, if you straight A’s through high school in all your math classes, but you score a 600 on the Math Level 2, it kind of shows that your math courses in school are too easy, and you’re not actually that good at Math. In that case, I think it could hurt your application.”</p>

<p>HOW DO YOU KNOW MY LIFE?! </p>

<p>I really need to retake that next Fall, lol.</p>

<p>;)</p>

<p>Good luck on the Math 2. Some people will tell you it’s easy, but as a kid really good at math (I just finished Multivariable Calculus as a Junior) I think it’s actually pretty darn hard. Took me a lot of studying to get an 800.</p>

<p>I think what’s important to remember is that while, you may score at the 85% on an SAT II, you’re not really at the 85% of Americans. You’re at the 85% of kids taking the SAT II. And the only reason you would take the SAT II in the first places is if you’re looking at colleges that would either require or would like to see it. Those are really only top schools. So you’re actually at the 85% of the top 10-15% or so.</p>