Question on injury prohibiting testing

<p>Could use some advise from the longtime posters. S broke his neck sophmore year and was out for many months. He maintained his grades but pain precluded him from testing at the end of year. This year he slogged through New SATs once and one SATII (got 1540 and 750). He will be able to fit one more in in Oct, but will not have knowledge or ability to study for a new (or very old) subject. Many colleges are still requiring 3 SATIIs, even with the writing section on the New SAT. This surpirsies me and narrows his choices greatly. Do you think some of these schools will change their mind on the number of SATIIs required for this application year or will our 2010 kids take it on th chin again?</p>

<p>You could certainly contact the admissions department at those prospective schools where 3 SAT II's are required and discuss the situation with them. I think you should be prepared to defend your statement that he would not have the "knowledge or ability to study for a new (or old subject)". You would probably have to persuade then that his inability to take a third test is due to his medical condition and may need medical documentation to support your hope that they would waive the third SAT II.</p>

<p>Forgive me if I sound harsh or nosy. If he made a 1540 on the NEW SAT, because of pain and injury - will he be well enough for college - I'm a little confused. Yes, Oct is the last date for ED, but it is possible that he can test in Oct and Nov for ED, and still have scores available in time, particularly if the admissions office is contacted, and the situation is discussed. Certainly Nov scores are fine for RD. If his health is such that he still may not be able to prepare for the Nov tests - how do you know he will be well enough to go to college?
A broken neck is a very serious injury, as you know, if his doctors are saying he will be well for college, but he is still in pain now, maybe he should just plan for a gap year, then apply.
Also there are schools that don't require any tests - like Bowdoin for instance - maybe he should look at those?</p>

<p>Hate to suggest another test, but every single college that I have looked at - with the exception of the UC system - will accept ACT+writing in lieu of New SAT + SAT II's. Maybe I'm just looking at different colleges, but it is something you want to consider. My daughter is in the same position: because of an unorthodox pattern of course scheduling, she will either have to self-study new material or revisit very old material in order to take SAT II's.</p>