Qualified Students Worried about Subpar SATII Scores- Advice Please

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>***Okay, just a disclaimer before I begin: I’m an incoming senior looking at schools. I know my stats qualify me for high-level schools generally speaking but I was wondering how my not-so-great SATII scores will affect my application overall and if they’re worth retaking. Thank you. Sorry in advance that this is long.</p>

<p>-Colleges I’m Applying to: Princeton, Columbia, UC Berkeley, Stanford, McGill, and Guelph University (I am a Canadian/American Dual Citizen, hence Canadian schools as safeties)</p>

<ul>
<li>White female,upper-middle class, from NJ</li>
</ul>

<p>-GPA : 3.9something UW (school doesn’t provide- one B+ over highschool career), 4.52W (not updated from 6th semester-should go up a tiny, tiny bit)</p>

<p>-Number of AP/IB/honors courses: 9 AP, 9 Honors (Never took CP level), No IB offered</p>

<p>-Class rank/size: School doesn't rank but I should be top 5% (will find out eventually) / 296 (class size)</p>

<p>-SAT Scores – single sitting: 2260 (CR: 750, M: 730,W: 780), Superscore (took twice total): 2280 (CR: 770, M: 730, W: 780)</p>

<p>-<strong><em>SAT II scores</em></strong>*: US 780, Chem 690, MathII 640</p>

<p>-AP scores: World (5), Eng. Lang (5), Stats (5), US (5), Chem (4), expected: German, Calc BC, Physics C, English Lit</p>

<ul>
<li><p>(My Important) EXTRACURRICULARS:</p>

<pre><code>• Volunteer Work at Weeklong Summer Camp for kids with Cancer and blood disorders as lifeguard and counselor (10,11,12)
• Peer Ministry at my church (11,12) It’s a selective volunteer organization where we prepare kids in our community for their confirmation… We also do other volunteer work. Basically like teaching CCD
• Superintendent Student Advisory Committee (9,10,11,12) It’s basically a group of 30 kids of all grades who are selected in freshman year and we eat pizza with the superintendent and principals once a month and discuss school/district issues. (We call it pizza club most of the time, lol, but it looks good).
• Treasurer of Class of 2015 (9,10,11,12)
</code></pre>

<p>• National Honor Society: (11,12; President)
• German Honor Society: (11,12; President)
• Mu Alpha Theta / Math Honor Society (11,12)
• Varsity Swim Team (10,11,12)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>-Employment: Lifeguard at local gym (10,11,12). I work all year round, though more heavily in the summer months. An average of 9 hours weekly (4 days usually) during school year and 16 hours weekly (4 days) over summer.</p>

<p>-Honors/Awards:
• AP Scholar with Distinction
• National Merit Commended Scholar
• Cornell Junior Book Award
• AATG Achievement Award (German standardized test)</p>

<p>-Recommendations: I waived my right to read them but APUSH teacher and my AP Chem teacher: I was very friendly with both and knew both personally. Did well in their classes too! </p>

<p>-Essays: My common app essay (which is in the works) is about my camp that I volunteer at and how that is where I am most content. I am very passionate about it. It explores my future interest in working with nonprofits/human rights which stems from my camp experience. Supplemental essays are TBD but I have been brainstorming a bunch.</p>

<p>-Additional Information: As mentioned above, I’m a dual US/Canadian citizen so I am highly considering my Canadian options if I don't (probably won't) get into Ivy level schools. Also, this is random but I am very interested in Princeton’s Bridge Year Program and plan to make that clear to them.</p>

<p>SO to CONCLUDE: The SATII scores are my major weakness. Obviously I’m fine with my 780 in US. The 690 is Chem is not great I could probably do better with preparation but I refuse to take another standardized Chemistry test (AP Chem is painful). The 640 in MathII is not a good representation of my math skills (always get A’s in advanced math classes, 730 on SATI Math, AP Scores)- I did not prepare well for the test itself, which is my fault. That being said, will these scores drag my application down enough to be worth retaking? I believe I can improve my math with preparation and do well on the English SATII and replace my Chem with that. (My dad thinks it’s not worth it, FYI).</p>

<p>Feel free to chance me as well, though I know that Ivy/Stanford chancing gets silly after a while because once you qualify academically it becomes kind of random and hard to predict. Don't worry, I'm really not expecting to get into these high level schools, I know the drill. </p>

<p>THANK YOU SO MUCH IF YOU READ THIS WHOLE THING. 100% CHANCE I LOVE YOU. </p>

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<p>Also: forgot to mention but have played violin in my school’s orchestra grades 9-12</p>

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<p>With your American schools, the one bad SAT II Math score may not be a big problem. However,if you apply to McGill, a 640 will almost certainly scuttle your application. McGill has very strict entrance minimas and if you fall below them, then you will be flat-out rejected regardless of how good your application is otherwise. </p>

<p>For Faculty of science at McGill you need 680 in each SAT I and II
For Faculty of arts and science you need 660 in each SAT I and II
For Management you need 650 in each SAT I and II
For Engineering you need 670 in each SAT I and II</p>

<p>I suggest you retake both the Math and Chem Subject Tests and aim for a 700+ score. McGill’s SAT minimums have been on the rise for years, so there’s not certainty that you’ll be safe just because you met last year’s requirements. It’s definitely worth spending about a month or two to improve your SAT II scores because doing so would pretty much guarantee admission at McGill (and other top Canadian Univs).</p>

<p>Good SAT II scores would also boost your chances at most American colleges as they like to see a well-rounded and even application. </p>

<p>The Math Level 2 isn’t that hard. I scored a 790 after only a week and a half of study. You just have to familiarize yourself with the time controls and the format.</p>

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<p>@upapilot Thanks for the response! I am definitely considering retaking my Math SATII now. As far as McGill goes, they only need two SATII tests (with at least one mathematics). So I don’t think retaking Chem is worth my time… Also, I really don’t want to take another chem test. I’m not taking chemistry this year and really am tired of studying it… Other option would be to take the English SATII and use that as my third score for US schools that want three. I think I could safely get a 700+ in that.</p>

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<p>You have some of the most competitive schools on your list. So even if they only recommend SAT2 (e.g. Stanford), you really want to submit great SAT2 scores to them. Having SAT2 scores below 700 (particularly Math2) is really lame. Fortunately, you may do score choice on SAT2 for most schools even for Stanford who wants all score. Just pick a subject you will do best to go with your USH. If you are considering a STEM major, then you really want to bring up your Math2 score a lot.</p>

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<p>I, honestly, would also say your EC’s are not super strong. Do you have any matches or safeties…?</p>

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<p>2500 SAT or g t f o </p>

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<p>With you stats, Princeton, Columbia, and Stanford are all pretty high reaches. Berkeley is a low match, as long as you don’t apply engineering. </p>

<p>To answer your question: your Math II is the only one you should be worried about. Definitely retake that, its a very easy test, and considering your GPA/AP course count, it should be an easy 800 in October. Use barrons, its pretty much impossible to get lower than a 750 if you do that book cover to cover. </p>

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<p>@billcsho‌ not really considering STEM. I only want my MathII up for McGill. I was definitely only planning on including SATII for schools that made me. Thanks for that advice!</p>

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<p>@noel597‌ I didn’t include everything… Also do German club, math league, more church volunteering etc. I respect your opinion though, but I do the things I like and am very busy, so I have no regrets in that aspect. I know all the US schools are reaches, thanks. However, the Canadian schools on my list, especially Guelph should be a safety for me definitely. Also McGill is a very stats based school and all my numbers are above average except for maybe that one SATII. So I would consider the Canadian schools matches and safeties because I am very happy with them and am not banking on high level US schools.</p>

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<p>@puzzled123‌ agreed, they are definitely high reaches, which is why I’m not counting on them. I’m not planning on applying to any engineering. I actually have that Baron’s book… I barely read it before my other exam which was a mistake but if I retake it, which I think I will, I will do that book cover to cover. My main problem with the exam was timing so if I get used to the format I should hopefully be fine. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Thinking about this- sorry I’m getting a little defensive. It is a little frustrating to be judged based on this post, but then again you guys are just literally doing what I asked. I am the youngest of five children, I don’t have idealized dreams about the application process; I’m not expecting any miracles or acceptances from top tier schools. I just wanted to put my SATII scores in context so you guys could help advise me if they were worth retaking. Lol sorry I’m being dramatic and thanks for all the feedback!!! :)</p>

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<p>Hi, I would recommend retaking if you have the time to really improve them. lol we r opposites, I got 650 USH and 740 800 math 2 and chem. I am retaking the 650. You don’t want to give them a reason to reject you. I would say you have a strong shot at the UCs, but your ECs r just a bit mundane. Chance back if you have a few minutes :)</p>

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<p>I did well on all of my other standardized tests, but for some reason I was never able to get a single SAT II score above a 700. Maybe the format of the tests is just harder for some people. I don’t know. But the rest of your application is solid, so if I were you I would retake the lower ones if you want, but not stress too much over them. Everything else is fine, including your US SAT II.</p>

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<p>@Hind2015‌ good luck on the US test! I took the US Ap exam around the same time so the SATII exam wasn’t bad because the questions are similar and time wasn’t a problem. I will probably retake my math SATII. Lol and my extracurriculars are what they are but I’ll try to show what they mean to me through essays and supplements. :smiley: </p>

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<p>@Ranza123‌ yeah the SATII’s were frustrating for me. Everyone said they weren’t a big deal but then I was disappointed with my scores. I just kept running out of time… Whoops… And the chem one had a reallllly weird format. I mean there was a section called true, false, correct explanation… So unnecessary. Thanks for the feedback! :)</p>

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<p>@yebhip thanks! and I didn’t mean to call them boring lol, since everyone’s ECs are great if they have made an impact regardless of how “common” it may seem. your pizza club thing seems pretty cool hahaha</p>

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<p>@yebhip Have you considered taking the ACT? With your SAT, Im sure you will be fine. One huge advantage is that if you do ACT, Mcgill won’t require subject tests. </p>

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<p>@purified‌ that’s an idea and it makes sense. However since I’ve already paid and spent time on SAT stuff and the alternative is retaking 1 or 2 short SATII tests rather than a whole long ACT I’ll probably just stick with the subject tests, annoying as they are. Thanks for the idea though!! :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>Thanks to everyone who responded to this post! I just registered to take the math II and English literature subject tests on October 11. I should get my scores on the 30th and be able to send them to Princeton that next day, as I’m doing restrictive early action, because why the hell not? :slight_smile: hopefully they’re better than last time lol. I will definitely study a lot! :D</p>