hey guys! I’m not really sure how the whole sending-scores thing works, so bear with me. i know some colleges request that you send at 2 subject tests, but can you send more scores if you did well on them? and do some of those top-tier colleges see all of your scores?
They’ll probably say on their site, but generally it’s fine if you send more scores. The only reasons I’d recommend sending more are either if you have a low AP or SAT 1 score you’d like to make look better, or if you got 770+ on a bunch of them. Even with top-tier schools, the subject tests don’t count for a ton.
Unless the Ivies are even sneakier than I think they are, universities have no way of seeing your scores unless you send them.
As to colleges that require or recommend subject tests, they require or recommend two, except Georgetown wants three. As to those wanting two, a number have mentioned they use the highest two if you send more, while some like Harvard instead phrase it as they focus mainly on the highest two (meaning they might give some lesser consideration to others), but basically two high scores is all you need except for Georgetown which wants three tests, and you should not assume that sending more test scores will add much of any significance to your admission file. There are a small number of colloges that require you to send all your subject test scores.
Bingo.
You can send as many as you want. Know however, that many colleges have little elves (actually, they’re usually work-study students) who prep the applications and prepare a cover sheet. If the college asks for 2 subject tests, most like only the top two will appear on the cover sheet. Yes, the others will be part of the overall packet, but an AO will likely not pay too much attention to it. If the AO does notice, the extras, the reaction may well be, “Oh great, another drone with nothing better to do than take tests.”
I think it was an MIT admissions post that said they rejected a kid that had 10 perfect subject test scores. Of course, we don’t know the rest of his profile but it shows that there is a point of diminishing return with subject tests. Georgetown is the only one that wants three and most other top colleges want 2, so each one after that won’t mean as much.