My father’s side of the family has been very generous to Harvard: many have held positions on the Boards of Trustees at several of the graduate schools, donated a surplus of money for athletic center renovations, and the like. About 12 of them have attended. My uncle has been in contact with the development office at the University to let them know that I am applying and will put in a good word for me. I am in the top 10% of my class with a 4.10 unweighted GPA. I am the head of 3 clubs, run track and cross country, studied abroad in Spain last year, and also volunteer at a local school tutoring Latin immigrants in English. My ACT is a 34, and I have 5s on the three AP exams I have taken. I have only taken so few APs because my school last year offered only 1 AP (Spanish lang) and my home school actually just got rid of the AP system this year. My worry is that my subject test scores will be of concern. I have a 690 and a 650 on the 2 I took. I am not the very best test taker, and I have had straight As in these subjects at advanced levels all throughout high school. Will this ruin my shots at admission? I know that the scores are super low, but Harvard “strongly recommends” that students submit them unless it is financially not possible. So I am assuming that it would just look worse if I did not submit them at all. I am not too thrilled about these scores and they, quite frankly, really worry me. I am a strong student, so these scores are truly an oddity.
Apply Early action then not regular
@airway1 early action has already passed so I am only really able to apply regular now. I am a senior if I forgot to mention that before.
Hmm well both applicants I know who have the same profile applied early and got in… I’d work the “network” of family to position yourself
So are you going to submit the subject test scores?
@Jleto18 I do not think I have much of a choice, do I? Aren’t they required if you can pay?
In some circumstances an AP test score replaces an SAT II subject test. My daughter did not submit subject tests (her reasons were more logistical than financial as SAT testing is not available in our community) last year, and was admitted regular decision. It would be worth doing the research to see if your AP tests would serve just as well.
@ctgirl2019 “While we recommend that you submit two SAT Subject Tests, you may apply without them if the cost of the tests represents a financial hardship or if you prefer to have your application considered without them.”
They are not required but are strongly recommended. The question is whether or not poor subject scores are better or worse than no subject scores.
Legacies have much higher admit rates. That said your scores are very low and academics sound average or below ( high GPA isn’t going to get you in). EC’s also really aren’t outstanding.Most students have something(s) outstanding. For you, I would say that has to be your network. It’s too bad you didn’t apply earlier. Also let’s hope the donations were significant and more recent than not. Otherwise, I’d say it’s in the hands of development. Or the Z list
For Harvard anyway, the expectations are that the Subject Tests will be submitted, unless the applicant is lower-SES (which she obviously is not), or has some other extenuating circumstance. My guess is that the lack of Subject Tests will be viewed as the applicant trying to hide the scores (which, let’s be real, would be the case),so she might as well just submit them.
Submit the scores.
The admissions system favoring legacies and donors does help with funds for financial aid, but many people find the whole thing distasteful.
It’s one thing to check a box. It’s another to rely so heavily on this kind of influence. Remember that character is important for admissions too.
Aren’t all scores required for Harvard? So if you took them, you have to send them (assuming all scores are required).
No. No college, except Georgetown, requires all Subject Test scores
Submit the scores. The ACT score, GPA/transcript and AP scores present a consistent picture. Not submitting the SAT2 scores raises questions where the AO might make assumptions worse than reality.