<p>In a different thread, I asked a specific question about SAT II scores vs. AP scores vs. other measures of excellence in a certain area. In general, how do the top tier schools look at these various ways of measuring knowledge with regards to admissions. E.g., a student who scores a 5 AP in a subject area vs. low 700's on the SAT II in the same area? OR a student who scores 3 AP in a subject area vs. an 800 on the SAT II? OR a student who scores 3 AP or 700 SAT II and places top 10 or 10% on a national exam in that area?</p>
<p>No clear-cut answer, but for top schools SAT 2s are generally required, and AP test grades are not; further, many AP tests are not taken until decisions are made. However, a good grade and a 5 on the associated AP might offset a less good SAT 2 in the same subject. There seems to be a growing feeling against AP tests in many top schools, which increasingly don't offer graduation credit for APs and determine placement by their own tests.</p>
<p>bump for feedback from more knowledgeable parents like idler!</p>
<p>I think that SAT II's can also be useful if your s/d attends a hs that sends relatively few kids to top schools. A decent score can show that the kid knows the material, and will support the hs transcript.</p>
<p>Agreed, but I do also think that mixed SAT 2s are not the kiss of death. S, who had high SAT 1's, had 2's of 760, 720, 640, 640. Conventional wisdom says that 2's should average close to your 1's, yet his did not come close. Yet he got into his top-ranked school of choice, coming from a HS which sends almost no one to top schools. Since it's the SAT 1's that get reported and compared, I think, at least in our experience, they matter more.</p>
<p>And the thing with AP's is they're usually optional. Report them if they help, don't if they won't. (S had 5, 5, and 2-aargh), so he only sent them after he was accepted.</p>
<p>My D has ACT composite 35 (will not be taking the SAT since she think it's not worth it and is not applying to any schools that don't take ACT), was thrilled with her 800 on Math IIC in May and not thrilled with her 730 in French reading. The score just didn't fit with her 5 AP French IV or her placement in the National French Exam (top 10 3 years in a row). Is this score going to hurt her? She does not plan to major in French. If she is projecting a science major, must she take a science SAT II? She did no prep for either SAT II. Should she prep for the French and retake?</p>
<p>This all seems so complicated.</p>
<p>I think students should always prep for every SAT II--there's no doubt in my mind that it helped my son. I don't think a 730 will hurt your daughter, but if she gets a Kaplan or Princeton Review book and does amazingly well on the French practice tests, she could try again. More importantly, I do think that if she's presenting herself as a science kid on her apps, she should do a science SAT II, and definitely prep for it.</p>
<p>Thanks, Donemom. After discussion, D has decided to do exactly that. She feels she just "lost" her grammar since she hasn't done French grammar in a year (she took a French lit class, French V, this year). She plans to get through the Princeton prep book and take the French again in June. She then plans to do the Chem prep book over the summer and will have one month of AP chem under her belt before the fall SAT II exams in October. I assume the October scores will be available in time for any EA or ED schools?</p>
<p>Yes, I believe that Oct. is ok for an early admission, --and you can always rush the scores if necessary. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Oct scores worked at most every school for EA this year and should next year. We heard all last year that SAT IIs were now the measuring stick for top schools because of the quantity of high SATs. I don't know for sure, but D had 800, 790, 760 with a 1530 and got in everywhere (HYP+)</p>
<p>I took SAT II's in November and still applied to a school ED. I'm sure you can still apply to any school ED as long as you rush your scores, and report on your application that there are pending scores. I don't thik any one number will discriminate between an acceptance, a deferral, and a rejection.</p>
<p>My SAT II average (750+) is much higher than my SAT I score (under 1400--that's all I will say), and some of my friends had very different SAT I and II scores. It depends on what type of a test taker you are. Despite my relatively low SAT score, I got into some very fine schools.</p>
<p>I do not think any one or two scores determine admission. When seniors send out their applications, they send out much more than some silly score report.</p>