<p>How many are really necessary for top tier schools? I'm seeing people here with 5+ and that seems ridiculous seeing as I only took 3.</p>
<p>Also are there any "better" or "more impressive" subjects to take the tests in?</p>
<p>I don’t know if some are really more impressive than others; I think the reason to take more than are required is either to show how many subjects you’re good at (which is probably why a lot of the posters on here did it) or if you’re like me and nervous you might take 1 or 2 more than required so you can throw out your lowest score and just send your best scores to the colleges.</p>
<p>2 are necessary at 60 or so top schools. Georgetown requires 3.</p>
<p>^ I think it’s not anywhere near 60 schools that actually require them. Quite a few top schools, including Yale, Brown, and Penn, don’t require any SAT IIs if you submit the ACT in lieu of the SAT I. Stanford “strongly recommends but does not require” two SAT IIs, but says applicants who don’t submit them “will not be at a disadvantage in the admissions process.” Chicago doesn’t require any. </p>
<p>Since you may decide to apply to some schools that require them, you should probably take at least two, but if those test scores are good there’s no particular reason to do more. I frankly think colleges are not going to be impressed by your submitting more than the required number. The only exceptions to that would be if you’re homeschooled and need to demonstrate objective evidence of what you’ve learned (and some colleges already require homeschoolers to submit additional test scores), or possibly if your grade in a particular subject wasn’t as high as you’d like but your Subject Test score demonstrates a strong command of the material.</p>
<p>bclintock – You may very well be correct. It was around 60 several years ago when my eldest was looking at colleges. I know that many schools have since dropped or altered standardized testing requirements so that number might well be half what it was. </p>
<p>Be advised that some schools recommend or will consider SAT II scores in the admission process if they are submitted. In such cases a couple of strong Subject Test scores can only enhance the application. I also agree that schools are unlikely to be impressed with the number of tests taken unless you submit ten tests on which you scored 800. At least that would impress me!</p>
<p>I thought taking >3 was only necessary if:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You are homeschooled. The more taken and done well will provide proof positive of your education.</p></li>
<li><p>You decide after taking 2 or 3 that “XYZ” college and major is rgiht for you and XYZ requires certain tests – example, Carnigie Mellon requires chem or physics AND Math II. I know a student who took SAT II in bio, math 2 and history. Decided during summer that CMU/Engin. was for him. Had to take another SAT II in fall of senior year.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As for better/more impressive:
I beleive in showing “well rounded” and taking at least 1 math/sci and 1 humanities.<br>
The language test can be used as a placement for some colleges.</p>