<p>I'm applying to Harvard and I feel like the rest of my application is pretty strong, but I scored low on my SAT Subject tests (690 Biology M and 680 Chemistry) Does that totally ruin my chances of acceptance? </p>
<p>If the rest of your application is very strong, those scores should not automatically disqualify you. They might, however, reflect on the quality of your school. Those are not terrible scores, but they are low for Harvard. Most top students perform at least as well on the Subject tests as they do on the Reasoning tests. If you had great SAT I and/or ACT scores, with a terrific GPA, those Subject tests reflect more on your school than on you personally. That can work for or against you. It can lessen the impact of topnotch grades, since it suggests that the rigor wasn’t everything it might have been, but it can also demonstrate that you will always do well. Harvard is a tough nut for everyone to crack, and your application will be competing against a lot of students who received 800s on those tests, but many other factors will come into play. Are you from a competitive school that routinely sends a lot of kids to top-tier colleges? If so, your application will be weighed in that context. If not, it will be considered on its own merits. Good luck!</p>