So my SAT II’s shouldn’t be at an impressive number with the way I’ve been performing on practice tests (Maybe around 720 at best) and I’m applying to schools where most of them don’t require them/are replaced by the ACT. However, when I was reading the policy of all of the schools I came across the lines in U Penn and Harvard’s policies that stated that they are recommended but it won’t hurt you if you don’t send them. Is this really true? At my georgetown info session they hinted that it really hurts your app without subject tests even if they don’t truly “require” them.
If you were my kid I would say to submit them, certainly if the scores are 700 or better. I had my D do everything even if it was just “recommended.”
I know specifically for Georgetown, an admissions officer in an info session that I was in said that the “recommendation” is there so international students who cannot access the exams or students for whom it would be a financial hardship do not feel obligated to send them. But other than those situations, Georgetown does expect applicants to send SAT IIs.
As for other top schools, it is best to do everything that is recommended in order to give yourself the best shot.