Basically, I was looking at Rice admissions, thinking I had a chance until I realized they make you send all SAT scores. I’ve been low-key stressed about this for a while, so would you mind taking a look at my scores below and guesstimating how badly they would hurt my chances at selective schools (like Rice)? Obviously, I would be an out for schools that are super selective (Ivies, etc.)
SAT:
2160 (Essay 9/12), then 2050 (Essay 8/12), then 1580 (new SAT) (Essay 6/8)
I was an idiot and took it twice sophomore year.
SAT Math 2:
690, then 790
SAT Bio:
High 500’s, 790*
SAT Chem:
780*
*These are from August, so I haven’t gotten the scores yet, but I was very confident during the test and had time to double check most of my answers. I’m at the very least expecting 750+ for both.
Note: I’m mostly worried about my first bio score, because I took it around the same time I did my bio AP test (and I got a 4, not a 5).
So have I just been browsing too much CC and getting paranoid, or do these put a big dent in my application? Thanks for reading!
EDIT: Wait, I just realized I had my ACT scores. If a school required sending all SAT scores, would it be better for me to send all of that baggage up there or just my ACT?
It will hot hurt you at all. Even if a school requires all scores, they will look at your best.
Also note, that when a school requires all SAT scores, unless they specifically state that all Subject Test scores are required (like Stanford), you can choose which Subject Test scores to send. So for Rice, you can pick and choose.
35 vs. 1580 is 6 of one, one half dozen of the other. They are both great, so flip a coin if you can’t decide which to send. Or send both. Sending both, or only sending one will don’t harm your application. Good luck.
Colleges want scores for two reasons.
One, to contextualize your GPA, as all high schools are different and the test is something all applicants have in common. The higher scores imply you can handle work at Rice. No worries there.
Two, to boost their own reputation and rankings in US News, etc., with high SAT ranges. For this purpose, they count only the highest scores for each student. So again, no worries for you.
Your scores are great. The weaker ones won’t hurt you, for the reasons listed by skieurope and by me. Don’t worry.
@Faulkner1897 I had to delete the quote, because posting emails is not allowed here. While the email does seem to indicate that they want all Subject Tests, their website does not make that distinction: https://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Standardized_Tests.asp
If Rice does indeed want all Subject Tests, they should do a better job making that clear to prospective applicants, IMO.
Anyway, the OP should check with each target college’s current testing requirements as many seem to change from year to year.
Regardless, for any school that requires all Subject Tests, my advice above that they would only consider the highest still applies.
OK, sorry about that - didn’t know that quoted emails are not allowed.
Based on personal research on this topic, which includes feedback from students who have called Rice and talked to adcoms, as well as specific information in emails sent to Rice applicants - Rice wants the entire testing history of the SAT (both SAT and subject tests) if a student elects to submit the SAT. Rice feels it is important to review the entire testing history in context. However, when evaluating the file, Rice only uses the highest two subject test scores, and the highest section scores from the SAT (for those students who choose to submit the SAT) .
Bottom line - I agree with skieurope - if a student has any questions about the Rice subject test requirements, it is always best to call Rice directly. Rice has not updated their testing info write-up for years, even though it is confusing.
Send the ACT. My daughter did not take SAT. She sent her ACT scores and although it was not required she also sent the 2 subject tests she did the best on 800 (Spanish) and 780 (US History) and got in. Your 35 is 75th percentile for Rice which is excellent. See data for class of 2021. https://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/Freshman_Profile.asp
@Houston1021 thanks for replying! However, I was under the impression that if I sent any SAT scores, I would have to send them all. I’m guessing that’s not true?
Oops I somehow missed the first ~6 replies in this thread. Thank you everybody who replied! I actually meant for schools in general, not just Rice, but this is still very good to know. I’ll be contacting Rice and other colleges on this policy. It is very confusing.
For just about every college out there, you can pick and choose what you send (score choice). You can just send your strongest scores. Rice, Stanford, Georgetown, and Yale do not participate in score choice for the SAT or ACT, although Yale and Stanford do allow score choice for the subject tests since they are optional.
Generally, schools make their testing requirement very clear on their website. I agree that Rice’s policy on subject tests is not clear, especially if a student is submitting the ACT.
@culaccino My son didn’t like all his scores for subject tests so he just sent ACT score which was higher than his Sat . It says it is not required and you won’t be penalized if you don’t send them. I figured only send what puts you in a favorable light. I was under the impression you needed all scores for sat and subject tests, but maybe not since subject test are now not required.