<p>I took subject tests in June and am not very satisfied with my scores. None were above 700... My fault for poor preparation. However, my ACT is pretty good, so I was wondering how important subjects are for highly selective schools. I plan on applying early decision to Northwestern this fall, so it's a little inconvenient to take them again. Northwestern recommends the test but does not require them. Is they really that important in the application process?</p>
<p>Not taking SAT IIs when recommended means you don’t care much about getting in there. The recommended is usually an out for lower income students who can’t afford them or whose GCs weren’t good enough to tell them to take them. If the school doesn’t list SAT IIs at all then you’re fine.</p>
<p>I have the same question. My SAT Subject test scores aren’t high enough that would positively enhance my application. Most schools recommend them but I am considering not sending them as a apply to colleges and submitting ACT + writing instead. Might that be a possible blemish?</p>
<p>It depends on whether each school accepts the ACT in place of SAT subject tests, or requires/recommends SAT subject tests even if you use the ACT.</p>
<p>“Most” schools do NOT recommend subject tests. Very few do.</p>
<p>Some schools that ask for them allow the ACT to substitute for SAT Subject tests. </p>
<p>DS did not take them and got into Columbia EA. We are far from a full pay family and he is getting excellent FA.</p>
<p>Just make sure you check the places where you are thinking of applying. </p>
<p>The school I will be attending (Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences) required two subject tests. I took five and could not for the life of me get above a 700 in any of them. However, the rest of my application was good enough to get me in anyway. So I guess even for universities that require subject tests (much less simply recommend them), there are other aspects of an application that can outweigh them.</p>
<p>D was accepted to Duke with ACT w/ writing and no subject tests.</p>
<p>You can take it in October if you want to do ED. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t take them, but you may be at a disadvantage if compared to a similar student who to took them and did well on them.</p>
<p>Thank you for all the help! Do colleges think badly of you if take them and not send them, or do they have no way of knowing?</p>
<p>If they don’t require you send them why would they think badly of you?</p>
<p>Thank you for all the replies guys! I will try to take the tests again if possible, but hopefully it won’t be too big of a disadvantage.</p>