Precaution- Please do not bash me for what I ask. totally unnecessary…
Hey guys. Im a sophomore this year and I took AP Bio and AP World/Euro. So then I took the SAT subject tests for Bio and World History yesterday before I forget all the material that I learned, over the summer. Yes, I forget everything. Overall, I think I did “mediocre” according to my standards. I went over my tests on CC. It seems like I will end up getting at least 700 on both tests worst case scenario. Realistically speaking, possibly a 730 on both.
But I am shooting for top schools- Ivies, UCs (out of state), LACs, and Stanford/MIT. I feel that the SAT iis will become a weak pont in my application if I don’t do better. I am planning to retake these tests, if so.
Im afraid that getting a 700~ then 770+ will loose the strength of the later score. That is why I am considering to cancel the test scores and take then again in December. I can take “sequel” courses like Molecular Biology so I won’t forget the information I have now. The question is will college look down on retaking sat iis?
Or shall I just keep my score since I plan to take more sat iis next year: chemistry, math iic, ush, and possibly japanese. Colleges claim that they “disregard” scores other than the top 3, but I have a feeling that the other low scores will have an effect athough it might be miniscule.
I understand how scores are not the most important thing, and in fact comprises a small amount of the factors that determine the final decision, but I don’t want stupid test scores to become a reason for a big fat rejection. And Im a international, so the test scores are weightived relatively heavily. I need some help by Wednesday, the deadline for canceling scores.
<p>Schools do not look down on you for retaking the SAT 2's. Funny how you ask about SAT 2's, I'd administered the SAT 2 earlier today, so they were on my mind from 6:30 until noon.</p>
<p>If you retake the test six times, it may call into question how balanced you are, but to retake a test two or even three times, often times goes unnoticed as schools often just ending up seeing your highest score when each person is summarized before committee.</p>
<p>thanks! i was just going to pm you to get some feedback on my situation.
so the conclusion is colleges do not look down on retaking SAT iis.</p>
<p>Therefore, I do not have to cancel my Biology and World History tests, correct?? Booyah! </p>
<p>On more quick question. Do college recommendations written by a teacher/professor that is a graduate of that certain school youre applying to give you a slightly better recommendation. For example a Pricneton graduate writng my recommendation for Princeton?</p>
<p>And another question (Yes i lied ;)). If I am considering applying to Princeton ED, what would be the retake borderline for the Biology and World Hisotry SATs...? Shall I retake if I get below 750 on either test?? Thank you in advance. :)</p>
<p>Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you BUMP!</p>
<p>The 730s range is not low for WH but you might want to consider retaking the bio, but don't cancel, you won't know what miracles happen during the scoring process. If you have time to "reprep" for bio, then why not instead focus on taking something new and mastering it and this time through you will learn to do it well the first time through instead of debating whether or not to retake it.</p>
<p>hmmm nice advice thanks. but im taking APs for the ones ive mentioned- USH, Chem, etc. so those should prepare me for the test.</p>
<p>so the time constraint/effort is not an essential issue for me... in fact i was kind of considering a Biochem major so I guess I have to raise my Bio score. any more advice people?</p>
<p>They have little to no impact UNLESS, the alum is very connected with someone in the admissions office. I know of a kid who got in to Wesleyan this year, largely because the Wes alum who wrote the reference for him, was very connected to the admissions office; it was a very atypical situation because the Wesleyan alum had previously (even recently) worked in admissions at Wesleyan and he had an outstanding relationship with a person who is very highly respected in that office. Rarely does the alum who writes a reference have this kind of informal power. </p>
<p>The more selective the college, the less impact having an alum write a reference has on the process. Every year I see kids have Harvard and Princeton alum write on their behalf, but these schools get these alumni reference so often that I almost wonder if it turns them off. I have no proof of this, but sometimes I wonder if they are thinking, "does this kid think they are getting a tipping factor on the scale by having an alum write on their behalf"? Once again, I have no proof of this, but purely anecdotally, I must say that the success rate of having alums, who are not well connected to their very selective schools, writing letters on behalf of applicants and having them be efficacious is very low. Truthfully, it's basically irrelevant, but it's definitely no bump at the ultraselectives where they are use to kids trying to pull every connection they have to get in.</p>
<p>thanks admissionsrep. Its kind of scary to know that adcoms some times think like that ("the does this kid think they are getting a tipping factor on the scale by having an alum write on their behalf"?). Oh I'm gonna die when it comes to college admissions, lol.</p>