Maths Level I or level II for Harvard?

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I have doubts about what I should take...
I'm pretty sure I could get 800 at the I but I'm 21 and have forgotten a lot of the part of the level II.
I really don't know what I should do.
If I take the level II and scores low, and take a month after the level I, will the college look at the level II either ?
What will a college think if I take I and not II ? Are they looking at level II as something much more serious than level I ?</p>

<p>PS: my two other subjects are Hebrew and French (first language).</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

<p>If you really want to impress the admissions committee, especially at Harvard, you’d better opt for Level 2. </p>

<p>I think that if you can pull out an 800 at Level 1 right now, then after 2-3 months of constant prep, you should be more than capable of getting the same result at Level 2. Moreover, obviously Level 2 shows much more in terms of mastery of math, for it covers more topics and in greater depth. </p>

<p>Actually, if you are applying for a science/engineering major, you are obliged to take Math Level 2 and Chem/Physics.</p>

<p>Judging by the first lines of your post, I think you have graduated, so, provided that you don’t have a full-time job or something exhausting, you should go for Level 2 after some solid prep. :)</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>actually i want to study computer sciences and business or economics.</p>

<p>I don’t work but I’m in the army so it’s pretty exhausting…</p>

<p>but thanks for the answer, you’re right. I should really make efforts to do maths II.
A score for a subject test should be 700+, right ?</p>

<p>Maybe I should do Maths I&II (to have a safety score)…? What will they think ?</p>

<p>For Harvard, SAT Subject Test score should be at least 700+, preferably 750+.</p>

<p>There is no problem to take both Math I and Math II, but keep in mind that this will count for only one subject. You will still need to take a language/science/humanity.</p>

<p>Then out of the three or more tests that you take, they will give the greatest weight to your two highest scores and take into consideration the rest. Therefore, if you have two scores above 750/close to 800, it will be great, and the rest, as long as they are >700, can only help you.</p>

<p>And one more thing. By the fact that you are in the army and taking into account your nick and your first post, I assume that you are Israeli. This means that the Hebrew test that you are going to take, will not count as one of the two SAT Subject Tests, for its is your mothertongue. It is okay to submit it as a third one, but will not count towards the requirement for two subject tests. So, if you take French, Hebrew, Math I and Math II, one of the maths (the higher one as a score) and the French one will count, the other math and the Henbrew will count more as supplementary.</p>

<p>Actually I was born in France and used to live there until I was 13 so French is my first language…</p>

<p>There is something I really don’t understand!
How Harvard knows whom to take to which courses ?
Everyone just have to ask what they want and are in the same pool (the first who ask get it?) ?
An example : A guy who takes French and literature can take applied maths ? It doesn’t make any sense…
Or anyone can take architecture course ? There isn’t any requirements ?</p>

<p>That’s the “beauty” of the American college system. You must take some required courses, and then take courses required for your major, after that you’re on your own. Go ahead and take anything. People that major in engineering or are on the pre-med track, etc dont have as much flexibility as those with straight forward majors.<br>
In terms of the SAT2’s, a math (or physics/chemistry) and a humanity are the preferred ones. I would investigate 2 issues - 1) whether a language that is native to you counts as an SAT2 (Im 85% sure it does) and 2) since you are older than an average student, and are fairly untraditional (army) do you submit the regular application or is there something else. Check Harvards website and perhaps send them an email. Also check the " non-traditional" section of the Specialized College Admissions in the College Admission section of the CC. I would attach a link but have no idea how to do that.</p>

<p>mhmm, I’m not sure I got you… I know that Graduate programm has nothing to do with undergraduate (you can go to med school after undergrate with history major), but I’m talking about the major of the undergraduate programm. Can I chose any of the courses propose by the College ? And if I can, how they chose whom to take to which courses (I’m sure there are more populars courses than others and the places is limited).</p>

<p>About the 2 issues, the native language doesn’t count in the 2 SAT’s subject Test asked (.
I can take it as a third subject.
On the Admissions website of Harvard :
“Candidates whose first language is not English should ordinarily not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet the two Subject Tests requirement. All students are encouraged to submit additional Subject Tests (which may include one in a student’s first language)”</p>

<p>I’m gonna take Maths II and Hebrew (which isn’t my native language), and French (which is) as a third subject.</p>

<p>And about the second issue, I do submit the regular application as anyone else…I didn’t see any “non traditional” section on the Common App website or any others applications forms.</p>

<p>^^ the non traditional section is in this forum. on the cc. its under college admissions, then under specialty colleges, and then there are 4 subsections (athletes, african americans, hispanic, non-traditional). I thought you may get some information there.</p>

<p>You have a set program of courses that you take for your major. Usually there are 2-6 courses that you absolutely must take, and then the rest you have a choice from many. Still in your major department. The basic courses usually have many sections to make sure everyone gets in. Generally course registration is a race. I dont know about Harvard, but in majority of colleges priority is given to Seniors, then juniors, then sophomores and freshmen last. Usually after your first semester as you make friends and talk to people in your department, you will find out the reputation of a particular teacher, so you will know which section of a required class to sign up for, or which one of the supplementary classes to take. You can also go to a website called Rate my professor and see if they are there. Generally as you complete your requirements, you can then take other classes that may interest you. Again, its all done by priority in terms of which year you are in. Often, if a class is closed, you can talk to the professor, express your undying love for him/his subject and get in.</p>

<p>By no means should you ever take the Level 1 test. Level 2 is simultaneously easier (through its breadth, it loses depth) and more impressive.</p>

<p>“2 or 3 months of prep” More like a few weeks, if you don’t have much studying time every day.</p>

<p>Don’t forget that the author of the thread has already graduated from high school. We are talking about 10th grade math which he has probably gone through ages ago. I mean…3 years are enough time to forget a lot of things. That’s why I said 2-3 months. And I don’t believe that in this situation 2 weeks will NOT be enough, if the aim is 800. ;)</p>