low Math IIC- how much will it hurt

<p>Hey I know Stanford recommends only 2 other SAT IIs, and the only one they REALLY seem to care about is the IIC Math. I had a bad test when I took it in June- I got a 730, which is pretty sub-par, I feel like it's kind of an abberation as I got a 5 on AB and did better on the SAT I math. I was going to try and re-take it this Oct test date but I had a major conflict.
In the context of my overall test scores... 800 CR 760 W 740 M, 800 USH, 800 LIT 780 Bio, it is my lowest score out of all.
Usually people respond... well, they only take your highest SAT II scores, so don't sweat it. But as I pointed out above, it seems like Stanford places an inordinante amount of emphasis on this one test. How much, if at all, will this hurt? If it's relevant, I do not intend to major in engineering or very math oriented (if you couldn't tell).</p>

<p>730 isnt low. You're fine. Its like asking if 1 B on your transcript will hurt you.</p>

<p>Does Stanford require the Math 2? Math is not my strong point, and I knew I would do badly if I took the 2c, so I took the 1c instead. I'm interested in majoring in English, so will this make a big impact on my application?</p>

<p>Will they look at your best 2 SAT IIs? Because I took the French one thinking 2 years was all you needed.........and I'm thinking it's gonna be somewhere in the 600-650 range. My Math IIc and lit scores are petty decent though.</p>

<p>sat IIs are not required... so why would it even hurt you?</p>

<p>ohhhh right. It's just "recommended"
awesome.</p>

<p>Stanford "strongly recommends" SAT IIs, one of which is Math 2.
730 in Math 2 is a good enough score. It will not keep you out (and no score will get you in by itself).
650 in French isn't bad either. Language tests are hard, and 650, I think, is even enough to satisfy Stanford foreign language requirement.</p>

<p>640! Cool. Can an SAT II make up for SAT I? Like, if I have a 640 CR, but 800 SAT II Literature?</p>

<p>Directly from the Stanford website:
"We strongly recommend that students taking the new SAT also take two SAT Subject Tests. We recommend Math Level 2 as one of these tests; the other test can be in any subject of your choosing. For those students submitting scores only from the old SAT, we strongly recommend three SAT Subject Tests, one of which should be Math Level 2, or the former Math IIC."</p>

<p>Oh well... I got an 800 in Biology, so perhaps they will overlook an average score on the Math 1C?</p>

<p>If you don't take Math IIC, then they might not consider you as strongly</p>

<p>Thanks for all the info guys.
I have some quick comments/questions:
1) If the purpose of subject tests is to demonstrate your academic aptitude for a specific area, then for those of us not planning on an explicity math-oriented profession (or at least, as much as in say engineering), wouldn't they look to a test like Bio/Chem SAT II, or USH, Lit, if you are more in to science, LA's, respectively? In other words, do you think they look at scores in context of your overall interests/major?
2) Does the fact that Stanford specifically requests IIC mean it values it more than other tests, or just that they think it should be standard? IE, will they still look at higher SAT II scores in a comparable fashion/merit?
3) Is one's SAT II score in math counterbalanced by a high AP Calc score (yes I understand they are different, but they both test higher level math-competency)?</p>

<p>Two things:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>If Stanford "strongly recommends" taking that you take the SAT II it is basically a requirement. Further if they state that one should be Math Level 2 then so be it.</p></li>
<li><p>My sense is that they like the Math Level 2 better than the SAT 1 Math or the Math Level 1. In the past many schools required the SAT II in Writing (i.e. Harvard, Princeton, etc.) With the Writing part of the SAT 1 now I suspect that Stanford wants to make the Math Level 2 one of their yardsticks.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>" do you think they look at scores in context of your overall interests/major?"</p>

<p>No, because you are accepted to the university, and not to any specific major like in some other schools.</p>