So I took my SAT 2s this November and did really well. I sent them to Harvard right when I got them rush shipping and now the college board emailed me saying that their scores are delayed! Will Harvard get my scores? Or will they not even impact anything at this point anyways.
bump
SAT Subject Test scores are completely optional, so your SAT Subject Test scores will NOT outweigh what your teachers have said about you, nor will they counteract whatever take-away Admissions has from your essays, or your alumni interview report (if an interview was given). So, your SAT Subject test scores will have virtually no impact on whether you are accepted, deferred or rejected – that’s true even if you scored an 800.
Harvard (and Yale, Princeton, and Stanford) are not a meritocracy. The “best” test scores – whether they are SAT Subject test scores, SAT or ACT scores – do not place you at the front of the line. What does? “Character!” That’s an old fashioned word; it means the way you develop your inner qualities: intellectual passion, maturity, social conscience, concern for community, tolerance, inclusiveness and love of learning. Colleges learn of those things by comments made from your teachers and guidance counselor, as well as what your choose to write about in your essays and the “tone” and content of what you say. That’s why student’s with perfect test scores are rejected, because they lacked what Admissions thought was “good character.”
@gibby Thanks for the response! Another question. I emailed Harvard letting them know that my test scores would be coming it but just a little delayed, was this a good move?
Harvard Admissions is usually closed the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until the Monday after Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t preclude Admissions Officers from taking files home over the break or reading them electronically. I doubt anyone would be looking at emails though.
My guess is that the full Admissions Committee, which is comprised over over 40+ Admissions Officers and faculty members, meets Monday through Friday during Harvard’s reading week. Due to the nature of the academic calendar, the dates of reading week change from year to year. This year that would mean the full committee is meeting from December 4th to December 10th. (http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/calendar/five-year-calendar). From there, a list of all accepted students is sent to the Financial Aid Committee, so that financial aid can be calculated for every student.
The full committee does NOT review every applicant, just those who have been vetted and chosen by the regional Admissions Officers as a top applicant. So, does it matter that your test scores are delayed? No. Was it a good move? Who’s to say – you’ll find out in mid-December.