I am considering applying to Princeton, Cornell, UPenn, and Brown. I have taken the ACT (32) but have no subject tests as of yet. My last chance to take them is December 2nd. I am signed up for the ACT already by my parents think I should only do one, so which one is going to help me most on getting into these selective schools? I asked my guidance councilor and she made it seems like it was hopeless without subject tests. Is there any truth to that?
This subject was extensively discussed recently.
@JustEthan Yes for the top schools you need subject tests, ideally two. Do not be fooled by the fact that many of the top schools claim that the subject tests are simply recommended. They are only recommended for underprivileged students who have access to very poor college prep resources through their high schools and who cannot afford them. For most regular middle class and up applicants the subject tests are practically a requirement at the top colleges. There is a tiny chance you could get in without subject tests but it is, well, tiny.
Brown admissions told me they do not matter and will have no effect on admission chances. I trust then more than those opining here.
@Deaston wrote “Brown admissions told me they do not matter and will have no effect on admission chances. I trust then more than those opining here.”
Do you also trust what Brown writes when they complete their CDS filling?
If so:
Does your institution make use of SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test
scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking
applicants? Yes
Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, first-
year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions.
Standardized test scores: Very Important
Does your institution make use of SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test
scores in admission decisions for first-time, first-year, degree-seeking
applicants? Yes
If yes, place check marks in the appropriate boxes below to reflect your institution’s policies for use in
admission for Fall 2018.
SAT Subject Tests: Recommend
Don’t know about you, but I trust what I can read when written by Brown in Federally mandated forms more than I trust what some anonymous poster claims they heard.
Brown changed its policy and your child doesn’t attend Brown.
The reality is your chance of getting into these schools are statistically low even with optimal score results that you don;t have. You are from an upper middle classed income family attending private school. Why no subject tests if your target schools are so selective? The point is to have as good an application as possible. SAT2s are part of that. Are all your APs thus far high scores? And the 32 ACT, is the the best or only so far?
Make sure your safety schools are lined up. Make sure your parents shave given you an actual budget guideline.
This is really the important question for the OP. Without getting into a discussion of whether Subject Tests are “required” which as noted above has been discussed (including by me) in the linked thread, Subject Tests are less important than SAT/ACT, and a 32 ACT is (depending on the college) at or slightly above the 25th percentile. So without a major hook, I’d opine that the chances of admissions with a 32, even with holistic admissions, is going to be a challenge. Personally, I’d try to improve the ACT score.
@Deaston wrote "Brown changed its policy… "
Seems rather negligent of them to have only informed @Deaston while neglecting to inform the rest of the world.
Their current Undergraduate admissions page https://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/ states:
“SAT/ACT REQUIREMENTS
Applicants can satisfy Brown’s testing requirements in one of two ways: (1) Either the SAT with essay, or (2) the ACT with writing. We recommend, but do not require, the submission of two SAT Subject Tests of your choice…”
While subject tests might not be the best choice at this point for the OP, as @skieurope stated - it wouldn’t necessarily be advisable for other readers to judge the importance of subject tests in admissions based on anonymous opinions as opposed to the latest information as published by any particular school.
OP reported a 3.9 GPA in another thread. With a 32ACT and a 3.9GPA, even without subject tests or a higher ACT score, OP probably has better options including substantial merit aid at schools outside the IVY’s, as the Ivy’s only offer need based aid.
All standardized tests matter where the competition is fierce.
And the sort of underprivileged kids qualified for a tippy top are likely to have taken them.
If something is recommended and an applicant chooses to not do it without a strong reason why (ex. can’t afford to pay for subject tests, living in a rural area where they are not available) then that application will likely be at a disadvantage. With acceptance rates between about 7% - 14% the schools noted above have to turn away many well qualified applicants who have excelled in every aspect of their application.
The OP should put in a couple of applications to these schools so he/she won’t always wonder “what if” but should also apply to a number of match and safety schools that appear affordable and he/she would be happy to attend.