I am currently applying to schools, and I am trying to come up with a final list of schools that I am applying to. I have not taken SAT Subject Tests, as I had never even heard about them until a few months ago. No teacher/counselor at my school has ever mentioned them. I understand that for most Ivy League Schools/Stanford the SAT Subject Tests are not required, but are strongly recommended. I was wondering if I should even apply to schools of this caliber without taking these tests. I feel that my application is generally weak and that the lack of SAT Subject Scores may seal its fate. Here are some basic facts about me
GPA W/UW: 4.32/3.97
High School Course Load: Took 9/9 APs offered at my school, all honors courses offered, all science/math/english courses offered
Rank: 1/204
ACT Score: 33 (34, 31, 32, 34) (very weak for Ivies in my opinion)
Extra Curriculars:
Varsity Tennis (4 years)
Backstage Crew (4 years, stage manager for 2 years, won awards for reliability and commitment)
National Honor Society (2 years)
Work At Restaurant (2 years, opening manager, balanced drawer, wonderful rec. from restaurant owner) 30 hrs/week
SNAP Club (2 years, helping mentally impaired integrate)
Language Club (3 years)
Foreign Exchange Host (2 years, month long program)
National Art Honors Society (3 years)
I’m very worried that my sub-par ECs and low (relative) ACT Score are killing my application.
Do I have a chance without strong SAT Subjects?
Do I even have a chance WITH strong SAT Subjects?
Please help!
They strongly recommend them AKA you should think of them as required. You still have time to take them in november and decemeber. I also strongly recommend you take them or your application may seem incomplete
Your ACT is definitely fine. Falls in middle 50 percent range for all ivies. Take the subject tests. nearly everybody you will be competing with will have them. i think you have a shot at ivies, but its a reach for everybody. please chance me!
For those schools that “recommend” the SAT subject tests, it is likely that they expect typical applicants from high SES backgrounds attending high schools where students apply to highly selective colleges on a regular basis to present them, while giving some slack in this area to first-generation-to-college students attending high schools where relatively few go on to college (and usually to the local community college or non-flagship public university) where there is little awareness of SAT subject tests among students, parents, and counselors (so that the students may not know in time to sign up for them).
Your EC list looks long, but does anything stand out compared to other applicants who have state or national recognition for their EC achievements?
@ucbalumnus that’s about the exact situation I’m in. My counselors never mentioned the Subject Tests to me; I found out about them as I researched some top schools this past summer. It’s upsetting that I have stats that put me in the range, but a lack of resources may have put me out. I wonder if these elite schools would consider this.
You mean lack of financial resources? If so, there are fee waivers for that. Or do you mean lack of good advising resources? As mentioned above, SAT subject tests are often overlooked in the process. Regardless, there are test dates in November and December. Perhaps you would still have time to take two of them (unless you are an ED/EA applicant).
If you’ve taken AP tests and done well it’s possible a GC or teacher could mention that in their recommendation. If they haven’t written them yet you could ask for it to be included. I know my son’s APUSH teacher asked to be reminded what his AP score was and since it was a 5, I’m going to assume the teacher probably mentioned that in the recommendation.
Harvard or Yale NO LONGER require SAT Subject tests from students who attend HS that don’t routinely send students to selective universities. So, you’re in the clear. (Your GC will have to make clear that most students who attend college will attend non selective schools, as well as percentage who drop out, go into the military, and into the workforce/other non college option.)
Your guidance counselor, if s/he’s willing to help you, MUST highlight how what you’ve done is exceptional for your HS. For example indicate what percentage of the students take even 1 AP class, let alone all 9; what’s the average ACT score at your schoole; whether you have family or work obligations.
As for you, you need to highlight what’s unusual for an Ivy: that you did ALL THIS while also working 30 hours a week, AND you need to provide an additional recommendation from the restaurant owner if you’re able to, highlighting your qualities working in an adult role (ie., highlighting your “adult” qualities vs. “teenager” qualities, your character, your work ethics). In both cases, this needs to be done by giving little stories or anecdotes about you at school/at work.
For the record, working 30hours a week is considered a “strong EC”.