<p>Question for all:
Is there a comprehensive list somewhere that lists how many SAT II subject tests each school wants?? I've found some information on Collegeboard and by going to each college website, but wondered if there was an all-inclusive list somewhere of how many SAT IIs are required of those schools that require SAT IIs. I believe the Ivy's want 3 SAT IIs, and my s isn't planning to apply to them, but he is looking at top tier schools, and we want to be sure he has enough SAT IIs. (He has taken 2).</p>
<p>He did well on the Math IIC and Chemistry, so is happy, and as he has taken the SAT Reasoning, which has the writing section, he is hoping he is done.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Of the 20 schools my son looked at, none required more than 2 and none required specific ones. Guides like Fiske list the requirements, but I called admissions offices to be sure. Most said they preferred that the 2 tests be in different subject areas. Now that SAT has writing, that has decreased most schools' requirements to 2 SAT IIs. He's probably done!</p>
<p>There's no comprehensive list - you can only take a look at each school's website to be absolutely sure (since requirements can change from year to year).</p>
<p>I think with the exception of some of the Ivies, two is sufficient. During the summer, as he finalizes his list, you can double-check the sites of the colleges he's going to apply to, and sign up for the October SAT II's if another one is needed. I think that he may be done, but double- and triple-checking doesn't hurt!</p>
<p>Even if you can find a master list, don't trust it.</p>
<p>At some universities, the SAT Subject Test requirements vary depending on which school or program within the university you are applying to. I doubt that any master list would go into that much detail.</p>
<p>There are only a few colleges that require or recommend three subject tests: Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Georgetown are among them. (Note that two of the four I listed are NOT Ivy League.) For most of the colleges that require two, if they're going to specify particular tests, the ones that they usually ask for are math and science (for engineering, they usually want a physical science). So your son is in pretty good shape since math and a physical science are the tests he has already taken. But there is a possibility that there might be a school or two on his list that wants a third test.</p>
<p>For the majority of schools, the ACT can be submitted in lieu of both SAT I and SAT II's. But it does depend on the school. Once again, you need to check each school's website or contact admissions just to be sure.</p>
<p>Very few colleges require specific subjects for SATII. Among the handful that require a math SATII are MIT, RPI and Stanford. In most cases, where SATII's are required or recommended the question as to what subject tests are taken is left to the applicant.</p>
<p>My son played it safe by taking a math, a science and a not-science. (In his case US History right after doing AP History.) It wasn't too painful and covered all possible bases. </p>
<p>BTW Harvey Mudd is another one that requires math.</p>
<p>My D is only taking the ACT. She is considering Rice and Carneige Mellon. Both schools require SAT II's even if you are submitting only your ACT. I thought that CMU requires one Math and one physical science if you are applying to it's engineering school.</p>
<p>You are correct in suggesting that individual departments within a given school may have specific SATII requirements. For engineering, in particular, it is not uncommon that a math test (beyond SATI) is required or recommended.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Please note that a number of schools such as Yale or Pomona might accept the ACT in place of the required SAT Subject Tests. As usual, it is best to check directly with the schools for possible changes or specific requirements for the Class of 2011.
<p>jym626, after your son makes up his tentative list of colleges to apply to (which he should be doing this summer), he may want to submit his SAT/SAT II scores right away to all of those colleges that require 2 (or fewer) SAT II tests.</p>
<p>Then, if he has one or two colleges on the list that require a third test, he should go ahead and take that test, but submit scores only to the colleges that require the third test. </p>
<p>The idea here is that he probably already took the tests in his two best subjects, right? If he takes a third test, his score is likely to be lower because the subject is not one of his favorites. With this system, only the colleges that actually require the third test will see the score that he got on it. The others will never know. (Of course, if he does fabulously well on the third test, he can send his scores again to all of his colleges. The College Board would love the extra money.)</p>
<p>Thanks tokenadult, xiggi and marian.
Actually, marian, your strategy is similar to what we had originally planned, but with the SAT reasoning. He is signed up to take it (the reasonong test) again on June 2, and we were going to send out all his scores NOW to all schools he was even remotely considering, with the plan to send out the June scores only if they would be helpful. However, he is in serious vacation mode (finished with school and all AP exams) and doesn't want to prep for the June SAT reasoning. So, we will eat the $42.50 and let him skip it. No point in taking it if he isn't going to prep, as his scores would probably go down. (He already has a 2290). However, he could change his registration and take, say the SAT II American History. He just took AP American History and would probably do well in the SAT if he takes it while it is still fresh. But, if he doesn't need it, and the Math IIC and Chemistry are enough, he wants to be done. I thought maybe a school would want to see an SAT II in a non math/science subject if, say, he wants to pursue business (right now he's thinking pre-med, but likes business too). Is this necessaty, or can we let it go for now?? I suppose I could let him register for the fall (Oct) SAT II just in case, so we don't totally eat the $$$, but if there is a change fee, I don't want to pay any MORE money. Thoughts????</p>
<p>Carolyn,
Great minds think alike!!! See my post #6 in this thread. I had found the compass prep list. It has a lot of schools, but wondered if there was a list with more schools. Any chance?? Xiggis list is very helpful, but it is from last year. Any chance, Xig, you'll update it??</p>
<p>The SAT II U.S. History test is essentially identical to the multiple choice portion of the AP U.S. History test.</p>
<p>If your son feels confident that he did well on the multiple choice part of the AP test, by all means urge him to switch his registration from SAT to SAT II and take the U.S. History test in June. This requires no extra work. He has already done the studying. All he has to do is show up for an hour and fill in bubbles.</p>
<p>If your son finds out in the fall that he needs a third SAT II and wants to take U.S. History, he would have to study all over again. By the end of the summer, I don't think most kids even remember the difference between Franklin Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt. But they still remember in June.</p>
<p>I wouldn't recommend this for any other subject. But for kids who have taken AP U.S. History, the SAT II U.S. History test is a gift from the gods.</p>
<p>Jym, that Compass list is recommended by D's GC. He tells sophomores to look it over as a general guideline, just to get an awareness of the range of schools who require them. Get a head start if it's appropriate so you're not testing like a madman as a junior. It's a good starting point. In my town, the GC's have not even mentioned SATIIs to the sophomores. D's friend is ranked #1 and only knows about them because we pass on our GC materials to her. I wonder how many kids are stuck cramming in tests at the last minute?</p>