@PuppyM As did my DS, though his interviewer did not ask him to bring it. He did hand it to her at the end of the interview. My DS’ resume does not include his gpa and scores.
There was a quote somewhere on this site from @skieurope that said something like - if you are upper middle class (and therefore can afford it) subject tests are “required” not optional at schools that say “X number recommended” (like Harvard, Georgetown, etc.) . She probably should have taken the second test. Can you take more than one at the subject test sitting?
My quote was for some very specific colleges. At some colleges “recommended” means “recommended.” However, I am of the opinion that at Harvard, “recommended” does in fact mean “required” unless extenuating circumstances exist. And with fee waivers, I’m not sure that a lower SES by itself will earn a pass.
And while there will be anecdotes of people being accepted with one Subject Test (or none), I believe these outliers probably had some major hook. For everyone else, I fail to see why they would not want to put together as strong an application as possible - including 2 Subject Tests.
I agree. Some disadvantaged kids who don’t have access to strong college counseling services, who decide to apply relatively late, or who live far from a testing center might not take the subject tests. Students from middle class or wealthy households rarely have an excuse for skipping the subject tests. It suggests laziness, apathy, and/or an inability to follow/understand rules. I can’t see any excuse for taking (or submitting) only one subject test.
A well know and respected college counselor who was an AO at an Ivy League school can. She says the elite schools are much less strict about subject tests today and recommends not sending anything under 750.
Depends on the “elite school.” IMO, Harvard is not one of those that is “less strict.” Unless the college counselor was an AO at Harvard last year, she does not know what Harvard thinks is simply giving her opinion (as we all are).
Those with zero or one subject test have been admitted to Harvard, so Harvard cannot be “strict”; otherwise they would say “require”, not “recommend”.
As I have said numerous times, those admitted with fewer than 2 Subject Tests are likely recruited athletes or otherwise heavily hooked. For the non-hooked applicant, I am at a loss as to why s/he would not want to submit the most compelling application, and that would include 2 Subject Tests. Now if the scores are subpar, s/he might not want to submit, but s/he should also hold out no hope of being accepted either.
@PuppyM We went on a tour there last summer. If you are low SES, or a military brat who is living overseas, or someone in rural Appalachia who is hours from a testing center and cannot take a subject test, then you will get a pass. Otherwise everyone there that we talked to said they expect to see them as part of an application. The reason they don’t have it listed as ‘required’ is that they don’t want to discourage otherwise outstanding applicants who can’t take them for logistical or economic reasons.
Interesting discussions on SAT subject tests. My DD did not take any SAT subject tests and only submitted her ACT to Harvard (applied RD). We are not constrained by any financial hardships. She just doesn’t like taking tests. She was recently interviewed and she was really happy how it went. She has been accepted EA to Yale. As my DD has no special hooks (in my opinion), it will be interesting to see what happens.
@Anamgol Yale also recommends SAT subject tests (see link) so I think she’d have a decent shot. Good luck!
https://admissions.yale.edu/standardized-testing
@ohnoitsme Thanks. As for the subject tests, I think the Yale statement is truly optional (“will not be disadvantaged in the application process”) whereas Harvard statement is more closer to a requirement (i.e. “financial hardship” or other similarly limiting circumstances).
@ohnoitsme Harvard’s statement is rather loose:
"While we recommend that you submit two SAT Subject Tests, you may apply without them if the cost of the tests represents a financial hardship or if you prefer to have your application considered without them.
Standardized testing is only one component of our admissions process and your application will be evaluated on the basis of all submitted information. Standardized tests are best viewed as rough yardsticks of academic progress which are greatly affected by academic opportunity."
I have my interview scheduled for this week, but I read somewhere online that Harvard finishes reviewing applications by mid February so at this point is it too late for my interview to have an effect on my application?
Hey there! I am from India and I just got my Mid-Year Report Card. My counselor would send it in by tonight (IST) and hence, my application was incomplete so far. Do I have a shot at getting an interview as I did not until now? Could it be because of the incomplete application or indicate a “rejection”?
My D applied to Harvard Dec 23 and interviewed on Jan 11. This was the first interview after a horrible interview with Stanford for EA. The Harvard interviewer asked in advance for my D to bring a resume to their meeting. It was a great conversation and very casual seeming even though they discussed scores, gpa and ECs extensively. It helped boost her confidence after the Stanford fiasco.
My DS submitted his application on Jan. 1 and has received no interview request yet. Does it mean he won’t get an interview invitation from Harvard? He’s done interviews with Yale and Stanford already. Anyone is in the same boat? I’m so worried!
@JKMSNJ I’m guessing not because interview reports were due yesterday. Ironically, I didn’t get an interview invitation from Yale or Stanford but got one from Harvard. And don’t be worried. They are very lax about interviews when they can’t offer them to some people.
@ohnoitsme Thanks for the reply. I thought he would get an interview invitation from Harvard (not expecting an offer considering it’s one of hardest colleges to get in). oh, well…
@JKMSNJ I’m pretty sure that Harvard offers interviews based on the number of willing interviewers available in your area, not based on how strong of an applicant you are! So don’t read into it too much!