How strict is Harvard about SAT IIs?

<p>I know Harvard requires 3 but is it possible to get in with 2?</p>

<p>What a terrific example of a rhetorical question. :)</p>

<br>


<br>

<p>As strict as their application requirements dictate. Take them at their word.</p>

<p>How about this question: what if a student, right now, at the last minute, decides that he'd like to apply to Harvard, but has taken only two SAT IIs? Does he have any options? Could he take another SAT II on Jan. 24? Will Harvard automatically reject the application under these circumstances or not? I'm not sure this is a rhetorical question, because although Harvard says it requires three, that's not the same as knowing what Harvard actually does if you have only two as of the RD deadline.</p>

<p>January tests are always timely for Harvard's single-deadline admission cycle. The OP still has time to take a test (and up to three tests). </p>

<p><a href="http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/utilities/electronic_resources/viewbook/Rollo0809_GuideApplying.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/utilities/electronic_resources/viewbook/Rollo0809_GuideApplying.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here's a similar thread with a similar answer about Georgetown:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/georgetown-university/617624-oh-crap-already-paid-but-no-3-sat-iis.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/georgetown-university/617624-oh-crap-already-paid-but-no-3-sat-iis.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks guys, I have taken three tests but because I said my native language is Chinese (although I do not have a Chinese passport) therefore I don't really think Chinese with listening counts.</p>

<p>Harvard is Harvard. How strict do you think they are?</p>

<p>as long as you have a minimum of 3 subject tests taken by that last january test date, then you're fine; if not, i think they'll reject you b/c you didn't meet the requirements (unless you took the ACT; i believe the ACT substitutes for the subject tests.. it does for a lot of schools; check me if i'm wrong, someone)</p>

<p>but everyone, why stop at 3? just make it 5 and you'll be fine ;)</p>

<p>Some homeschoolers take more than three SAT Subject Tests even for colleges that don't strictly require any.</p>

<p>OK I don't want to take chances with Harvard's admission process. I am wondering being an international student is it possible to do well on US History (with no prior detailed knowledge) with only 1 month of preparation. And which books do you recommend?</p>

<p>"with no prior detailed knowledge"
you're kidding right? O___o I wouldn't take any test without prior knowledge</p>

<p>literature is one that can be done with little prior knowledge imo. math is always an easy choice. unless you've done both already, in which case, good luck.</p>

<p>Knowing that you have taken three tests, and one of those three was Chinese (and guessing that one of the others was one level or another of math), I would recommend going for a science test. To answer your other question, by reputation, all of the Barron's brand of test-prep books overprepare students for the SAT Subject Tests. </p>

<p>Good luck in your applications.</p>

<p>If you study really hard that month and are generally good at remembering things US-History is really not that hard.</p>

<p>My daughter took her third SAT in late January. She didn't do very well, either. She still got in. She did fine on her other two. Don't worry so much. Just pick a subject that you can do reasonably well in, and take the test in January. Harvard admissions cares that you do three, but I don't think they care about perfect scores in everything, the way people seem to think.</p>

<p>My problem was I took MAth I, MAth II and physics.... I wish I had taken Lit. or a foreign language....</p>

<p>lol @ Hunt, that's my thread.</p>

<p>Yep, just call the admissions office. They said I could take another SAT II in January, and that's what I'm doing.</p>

<p>Thanks guys, I think I'll be taking another science.</p>

<p>what if someone has the two maths and another??is this bad?will they reject it??</p>