<p>I didn't do really well on the subject tests, and I'm wondering how important they are in the admissions process at universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Duke. I received a 720 on Math Level 1, a 710 on US History, and a 670 on Chemistry, but received an A in my AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry and Honors US History classes in high school, and I'm wondering whether or not they will simply think that there is grade inflation at my high school and that I truly don't know my stuff.</p>
<p>As well, seeing as I plan to major in philosophy/political science, will these subject test scores severely hurt my application or will they simply just not help it out?</p>
<p>Wow, entomom! I knew the SAT IIs were important, but I never realized Harvard and other schools were weighing them that heavily. I’m not sure how I feel about that since, as an IB student, many of my classes are two year courses and I actually had to hire a tutor for the bio SAT II since my class did’nt cover some of the material until after the time I wanted to take the test. Anyways, motion12345, your scores are really solid. I wouldn’t worry about it. And personally, I don’t think they’ll worry about grade inflation since all my friends say that the chem test is especially hard (they have complained a lot about not being able to remove the periodic table from the book and having to flip back and forth).</p>
<p>The only thing about the H story is that it seems rather disingenuous to me. If you look at SAT scores for accepted students, H has some of the highest. Now I know that SAT scores are likely to be highly correlated with many of the other factors that make a top student, but since SAT scores are one of the US News & WR factors for ranking, it does make one wonder.</p>
<p>My rule of thumb for colleges at the level that the OP is asking about is that 700+ is good, 750+ great. Will having less sink you, of course not, Subject tests are one piece of the admissions puzzle.</p>
<p>Hm? So Harvard highly regards the writing section or am I simply inferring too much from the article? I got a 770 on the writing section, but only a 690 on critical reading. However, I was always told that CR was far more important in admissions than the writing section.</p>
<p>@Soccer I know that I did alright on them (the chem one is horrific though…56th percentile or something similar to that), but there will be many other applicants with higher scores and I don’t know if I will be considered academically unqualified at those schools with my rather low statistical profile (3.75/4.16, Top 20% (not 1st decile…ouch I know), 2220 SAT I, 2100 SAT II).</p>
<p>Also, the Chem SAT is rather ridiculous. There was a section where I had to match obscure compounds with their respective properties and I was just thinking to myself, “You have to be kidding me!”</p>
<p>there are no SAT II scores that are going to ensure your acceptance to those schools. Those are very good scores, but they will not knock the socks off the Adcomm at Harvard, Yale and Duke. Your SAT is good and your GPA is just a little low for them. That is why we all apply to safeties and matches.</p>
<p>I already have full tuition at my state U, and I know that no specific scores are going to ensure my acceptance at these school, but my statistics are the worst part of my application and I’m nervous that they’re low enough to not even get me considered as being academically qualified.</p>
<p>The competition for the top schools is tough, and arguably HS record (gpa & course rigor), rank and test scores are the primary admissions factors. So the key is to have a well thought out, realistic list. You have your 3 reach schools as well as your academic and financial safety, now you need some in between that are more matchy, both for admissions and affordability (I don’t know your financial situation, so you may be going for schools with good FA, merit aid, or both).</p>