I am not sure whether to send my 790 score on the Chinese SAT II to colleges. Normally I wouldn’t be disappointed about a 790, but this was a 45th percentile score and I am half Chinese, so I’ve heard that this would be seen as an actually bad score for me, especially as I am applying to schools like MIT and Stanford.
I was hoping to show through this test that I’m fluent in Mandarin - I’ve always lived with the Chinese side of my family, which is something I consider important to me but probably wouldn’t write an essay about. So I’d like to send the score but won’t if it negatively impacts my admissions. Thoughts?
A 790 is really of little or no difference from an 800. Percentiles are irrelevant to subject tests. What matters is the demonstration of proficiency in the subject which a 790 does just as well as an 800.
What you have though is a potentially different issue. Some colleges have mentioned that they are not impressed with high subject test scores in a language in which the student is already fluent when offered as one of the required test scores. It does not mean you should not send it since your desire is to demonstrate fluency, but likely if two subject tests are required, you might might want to send two others also.
I agree with @drusba ; as a 3rd score it’s fine. And for MIT, it would have to be the 3rd score, since MIT requires a math and a science. As a second score when only sending 2, it’s pointless. Colleges much prefer a Subject Test in a subject learned in HS. A native/heritage speaker sending a Subject Test in the language is like a native English speaker submitting TOEFL. There is a reason why the percentiles in Chinese are so depressed - it’s mostly native/heritage speakers taking, and the test is only covering to a high beginner/low intermediate level.
Yes, the Chinese score will show proficiency but really won’t mean much in an application.
MIT and others specify the tests to take, and I’ve never seen a language among them. For those who just list “another” or “any”, a native/heritage language is not very impactful.
A high score in a home-learned language is fine to send as an additional SAT subject test score beyond a college’s recommended or required SAT subject test scores.
However, some colleges prefer that the recommended or required SAT subject test scores not include those in home-learned languages, so if they recommend or require two scores, make sure that your home-learned language SAT subject test is the third score.
Of course I will send my Math II, Physics, and Chemistry scores as well (all 800s) to fulfill the requirements. It is nice to know that as an additional score, sending Chinese should be okay. I’m fine with it having little impact on my application, was just hoping I could include it with no negative impact. Thank you guys!
OP should have stated more clearly and completely that he/she had taken already these other SAT subject tests, as to avoid sending us down the wrong path in trying to help him/her. Sincerity and courtesy always help.
Very sorry about that - I thought it was implied that I would take the required tests alongside optional ones. I’ll be more specific in the future. Either way your responses were sincerely very helpful.