<p>Hi I was wondering the level of importance Stanford puts on the amount of SAT II's you take and what scores you get. Currently I've only taken the minimum of two (MathLvl2 -770, Bio - 720) and I was wondering if I should take more.</p>
<p>i have the bumps</p>
<p>I’ve heard that 3 is a good number of SATII’s to have, but take that with a grain of salt. Though if there’s another subject out there that you’re good at, I don’t see a reason to not take another one.</p>
<p>Stanford doesn’t require SATIIs.</p>
<p>Lobzz is right in that stanford doesn’t require them, but they are highly recommended. and if you take them, stanford suggests taking 2, not 3 (not that taking 3 would hurt, but i dont think its really going to help at all either).</p>
<p>here’s the thing about schools like Stanford… you would be at a serious disadvantage if you didn’t take any, and if you have, submit those scores. When schools “highly recommend” something it’s more or less code for required. However, if you have great credentials and you feel that they might be negatively overshadowed by low SAT II scores, then don’t submit them. But if they are decent then submit them.</p>
<p>@ whoaness</p>
<p>the SAT subject tests are not required, which means that they seriously aren’t required and it doesn’t hurt students to not have them. tons of kids get in without them. so saying that they are more or less required is extremely misleading.</p>
<p>@BigMike - Agreed. Sorry. I just meant that it really really helps to have them. When a school says that something is highly recommended it means that they think it’s a good idea to send it in, not required. You won’t be at a loss if you don’t send in SAT II scores, but it is better to. They say something is highly recommended because they prefer to have those to look at too. If you don’t submit those scores you aren’t doomed, but if someone else with similar grades, SAT scores, and extra curricular activities submits SAT II scores and did well on them then they will have a upper hand over you.</p>
<p>I don’t think thats really accurate either. Really the SATs/ACTs in general are just a way of getting a consistent measure of academic achievement across candidates. So i mean if you have a really strong academic profile without the SAT subject tests, then the incremental good it can do is pretty small. however, if you maybe have a bit weaker gpa, go to a school where everyone has a 5.0gpa, or (especially) if you are home schooled, then it can play a bigger role.</p>
<p>I took three SAT II’s, and I submitted all three. Looking back on it though, I shouldn’t have submitted one of them because it was really bad (560 in German Reading). All of my other test scores and qualifications are pretty good. Do you think having submitted this extra SAT II is going to hurt me much?</p>
<p>short answer is no</p>
<p>The admissions officer at the information session I attended said that students should submit as many scores as possible. She hinted that whoever reads/presents your application will basically ignore any scores that seem well below your regular level, assuming that you either had an off day or are more focused in another subject.</p>
<p>Okay great, thanks.</p>