<p>Nope, don't get excited when you see that heading. For most Harvard applicants, it's business as usual, and those who can't pull off at least a couple of decent Subject Test scores might still be in hot water at Harvard.</p>
<p>But, for SOME applicants, Harvard admission officials will be offering a pass on the SAT Subject Tests, claiming that the cost of extra testing can be prohibitive and that candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds may not receive adequate advising and might thus skip the Subject Tests inadvertently. See <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/harvard-u-will-loosen-subject-test-requirement/38399">http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/harvard-u-will-loosen-subject-test-requirement/38399</a> </p>
<p>I can see this new policy opening up miles of gray area, and my College Confidential "Ask the Dean" inbox is going to be full of queries from Harvard hopefuls who want to know whether or not they qualify for the Subject-Test-free option. </p>
<p>@Sally_Rubenstone
Do you have an opinion on the pro/con of subject test number (2 vs 3 or more) or distribution (math/science/other) for admission to elite colleges in general or Harvard specifically? </p>
<p>My daughter has taken math2 and chem with excellent scores. She is all “prepped” for us history and literature artery taking those APs this month. Should she take the 2 subject tests in June? </p>
<p>If the college says “2 subject tests required” does that mean that there is no real benefit to having more? Will they look askance at a student who submits only the minimum or only Math/science?</p>
<p>Universities such as Harvard place a premium on SAT Subject scores. It doesn’t hurt to have more than the 2 required, even if it’s not an obligation. If she is otherwise competitive for the Ivy League and feels she can do well on US History and Literature, she should take the tests.</p>
<p>Regardless of what the colleges may tell you, I think that students shooting for the MOST selective colleges, like Harvard, are well served by sending in more than the two required Subject Tests, especially if these scores show off strengths in a diversity of areas and in those areas that are not tested by the SAT or ACT (e.g., US History). But, I still advocate quality over quantity. So I don’t push the “extra” Subject Tests unless the student feels that he or she can do well on them. </p>