<p>So news currently states that Harvard no longer requires SAT IIs starting with the 2019 class. Now considering this also affects me later on, I was wondering if it should be worth sending SAT IIs to them at all.</p>
<p>Found this comment today</p>
<p>“As a college counselor for many years, I really don’t see this as more than appearance of some sorts because at the end of the day there will always be overachieving students who take the SAT Subject Tests. When you are trying to decide between a student who got great scores on the SAT Subject Tests, and a student who decided not to take it cause it was optional - of course, the student who took them will take precedence. This may only make a difference for students who live exceptional lives, or come from families with financial hardship. While the ones that live exceptional lives are rare, the students coming from families with financial hardship will have to use that as an excuse and find ways to compensate. I find that doesn’t help students coming from these backgrounds. It can be damaging for these students when they are surrounded by elite students, and don’t feel like they deserve to be there or got there own their own merit. Instead, how about finding ways for students to take these exams for free?”</p>
<p>This is what their website says: “While we normally require two SAT Subject Tests, you may apply without them if the cost of taking the tests represents a financial hardship <em>or if you prefer to have your application considered without them.</em> Standardized testing is only one component of our holistic admissions process and your application will be evaluated on the basis of all of the other information that you submit. Read more about Subject Tests here.”</p>
<p>can you send more than 2? I (foolishly) took 6, but did manage to do well on them (800 on math ii, physics, world history, us history, chemistry and 770 on biology M). Should I send all 6? </p>
<p>In past years, Harvard has willing considered all the SAT Subject tests you submit. My kids attended a high school that required student’s not taking an AP course to take the SAT Subject Test at the end of the year. So, they applied with 8 SAT subject tests and 8 AP’s. Even though Harvard’s policy has changed, if you have 6 great SAT Subject test scores, I would submit them all.</p>
<p>I always felt that these tests were particularly pointless (I am extremely anti-standardized tests in the first place) because I did very poorly on the math II and chemistry tests despite qualifying for college credit on the AP exams for both math and chemistry. I don’t think they accurately represent who I am as a student, so I will not submit mine.</p>
<p>Ultimately, this matter, like deciding who should write recommendations and what your essay topics will be, should come down to what would best show who you are (in this case, academically). </p>