I took the January SATs and they were my first and last subject tests. I got a 530 on Literature, a 670 on Math 1 (not 2 since I’m not a math person) and a 800 on Korean with Listening. I have to send two of them to colleges that require applicants to submit the subject test results. Which two should I submit? Would they look extremely bad on my apps?
- I got a 2250 on my SAT with a 750 math, so if I were to send the math score (the subject test score), it would just be repeating myself. Would it be okay if I sent the literature score and the language score?
Sending in your Math Subject Test score will be practically useless for the college. And, they’ll think you did it because you didn’t have a good score in any other subject, which doesn’t put you in a favorable light.
So, send Korean and Literature scores. It will negatively affect your application, but I don’t think you have a choice.
Not sure how you got Korean with listening in January since it’s a November test.
Are you first gen or attending a low-performing school?
What colleges are you talking about?
At top 25 colleges, if Korean is your native language, it can only be “added-on” to other tests (it doesn’t count as “foreign”).
Send all three of them.
Are you Korean?
@myos1634 Sorry, I didn’t get to explain a lot last night. I took the Korean with Listening test in November last year, but I was going to submit the literature score and the math score only, so that’s why I considered my Jan scores to be my first and last ones. Thank you for your reply!
@mnm111 I’m half Korean. I lived in Korea for many years, though.
@determined2300 Thank you for the reply!
@MYOS1634 oh, and I’ve been homeschooled. Most of the colleges to which I applied are in top 25. I’m generally strong in literature, but I had so much fever on the day of the test that I could hardly read the passages 
What are your matches and safeties? Or are you ready to take a gap year (actual, concrete plans)? Because for a homeschooled student, these scores will certainly raise red flags and result in a no-go at Top 25unversities/LACs. These scores are considered indicative of your academic level, to a much greater extent than they do for non homeschooled kids, since they’re the external validation of 12 years of study. For top 25 colleges, 3 scores in the 700s would be necessary.
" I’m half Korean. I lived in Korea for many years, though."
Good job then on the Korean subject test. I can’t imagine that would count for much.
The 800 in Korean will not be seen as an achievement since you’ve lived in Korea. That would be like an American submitting a TOEFL score. At this point, you’re out of options for this year, so you might as well send them all in and see what happens.
@MYOS1634 Yes, I’m ready to take a gap year and have a pretty detailed plan. My college counselor said I would have a chance for Ivies with my essays and all my extracurricular activities. My subject test scores seem to be the only weakness… I can’t really choose not to send them in since most of the colleges to which I applied require applicants to submit the subject test scores. 
@skieurope @mnm111 I’m half Korean and half American. I was born in America, but my parents moved to Japan immediately after I was born, so I lived in Japan for about 11 years. I lived in Korea for 4-5 years before I moved back to America. It’s well explained in my apps. I didn’t take the Japanese exam because I thought that would be like an American submitting a TOEFL score (My mom is Korean, but she doesn’t speak Korean since my dad apparently doesn’t). Would it still not count?
You lived in Korea for 4-5 years? It’s definitely doesn’t count. I would recommend taking a gap year. You should have planned ahead and taken these tests earlier, but oh well
@Hawkace Yeah… and I attended an international school. I wasn’t particularly good at speaking Korean and had to study to get that score, but ok… I guess I won’t submit it Are the subject test scores really that important? Should I be thinking about taking a gap year because of the low subject test scores? I do have safety schools which do not require subject test scores, but do low subject test scores really kill my chances even though I have solid material except for them?
You out of options. Submit all 3.
Percentagewise based on 2014 scores, this is where those fall:
Literature - 23rd percentile
Math I - 66th percentile
Korean - 56th percentile (no, that is not a typo, just lots and lots of people who take the Korean test get an 800)
It isn’t ideal, but I would submit the Korean and the Math I tests. I would not submit the Lit test at the 23rd percentile.
I wouldn’t ditch your applications over this, especially since you have safety schools, but this isn’t going to boost your applications. I would not send them to any schools that do not require them.
I think it’s a mistake to submit the 530 score. It can onlly raise an alarm for admissions.
Taking a gap year with the main purpose of retaking SAT tests is illogical. Stay calm. I assume that not all your perspective colleges are high reach. You’ll have the opportunity to get a great education at many colleges.
Do submit all three scores, but plan on a gap year.
Not all colleges will require those scores, but many do from homeschooled applicants.
The issue is that the schools you applied to reject most students who have perfect grades, scores, and ECs. You simply can’t afford to take the tests last minute (although that’d go under “lessons learned” in the forum) because problems, such as illnesses, do happen. Homeschooled applicants have a unique opportunity to shape their education, so two criteria are 1° external validation and 2° how you chose to shape your education and spend your days.
Often, for homeschooled applicants, these colleges may like 4 or 5 subject tests (or APs). Remember that these tests serve as external validation that your homeschool curriculum was rigorous.
What are the requirements for homeschooled applicants at the other colleges?
Right now, you should plan for a gap year. Plan to take these 2 subjects in May or June, plus another one.
If it turns out you got into colleges you’re interested in, excellent. But you should be in the mindset that you won’t get into the colleges you listed here.
Or, better yet: DO NOT graduate - being homeschooled, your parents have the option of declaring you not able to graduate, and dual-enroll at the closest community college. If there is none, enroll in several AP classes. DO something interesting with your time - volunteer and have an impact on people’s lives.