I have a perfect GPA, 34 on ACT with a 36 writing. I took the Biology M sat II with a 750. I also took Chemistry with a 750 as well, but I took it on the same day as Math II, which I only got a 680 on (41st percentile). Since the chem and math scores have to stay together, should I send the score report or would that hurt my application? I have time if necessary to take another subject test, which would be in physics because it has been a long time since I took trig or geometry. I would like to send my chem score, but don’t know if the low math score will hurt my application.
Are you sure they stay together? Go get to the point of selecting them to send them and see how it looks.
Your “chances for Harvard” are slim to none, so it probably makes no difference. But if–by some unprecedented aligning of the spheres–it comes down to SAT subject scores, that 680 isn’t doing you any favors.
The 750s are low percentiles relative to harvard too
You can do score choice with subject tests, I believe. Send the two highest scores.
@ClarinetDad16 does H publish the SAT II distributions for admitted students?
Chemistry is 73rd percentile and Biology slightly higher. The Harvard kids most likely are the 800/790/780 scores.
How do you feel about physics? Have you taken the practice exam, did you do well on it? Does your physics teacher think the class you took is good preparation for the SAT2?
It sounds like you are presenting yourself as a STEM major. Agree with others that those scores are kind of low for a top college and don’t reflect well on your perfect GPA.
I also think if you are shooting for that level of school, it’s not good enough to say, I don’t remember this math anymore. Your competition reviewed it.
@ClarinetDad16 where did you find that info?
They do not.
The percentiles for most Subject Tests are depressed because few schools require/request them. The ones that do are generally the elite ones with low admissions rates anyway. As a result, the students who sit for these exams are very self selecting. No AO is going to be sitting on the floor crossreferencing scores vs. percentiles IMO.
IMO, once you cross the magic threshold, whatever it may be, the AO will move on to other parts of the application. The time spent looking at Subject Test scores will be about 2 seconds.
FWIW, a 750 vs. an 800 will not move the needle on the Academic Index much. The OP has 2 750’s; Harvard will consider the best 2 scores, so I would not worry about the third, but would spend time crafting the essays, which are an important part of the application. At the end of the day, we need to be realistic. Harvard will reject 95% of applicants, including many 4.0/36/1600 applicants, and will accept many applicants with lower stats.