Really bad subject test score?

Test Preparation
1

<p>In November, I took the Bio SAT Subject Test. I'm a junior and I didn't really know how the whole "sending scores" process worked, so when the College Board said that the deadline for the four free score reports was approaching, I freaked out and thought that the four reports were the ONLY reports you could send. Obviously, this deadline is before you even see your score.</p>

<p>The problem is that I scored very, very low on this subject test (sub-600). I only took a regents (regular-level) Biology class last year, but I excelled in it, so I assumed that I'd do okay on the subject test (clearly a dumb assumption). Anyway, I sent this score to four colleges before I actually saw it. Three of those colleges I decided not to apply to, but the fourth college is my top-choice.</p>

<p>I have really good grades, a good SAT I score, etc. etc.
If the rest of my application looks pretty good, do you think this college is going to view me in a bad light simply because of the subject test score? I forgot to mention that this college does not require or even recommend subject tests for admission.</p>

<p>If you think it will really undermine my chances, should I take another subject test and try to get a really great score so that it will overshadow my Bio score?</p>

<p>My first choice college is not an Ivy League, nor a "Top 25". It is, however, pretty selective and it is also considered a really good university in its particular region.</p>

2

<p>You have time to prepare and take a different Subject Matter test. It is hard to comment on how any particular school may view it without knowing the school. But, it will only be a small piece of your application and will not be weighed nearly as much as your transcript and essays. Best of luck!</p>

3

<p>Thank you very much! If it helps at all, the school is Villanova University.</p>

4

<p>Assuming that you are not applying into biology, and this score wasn’t sent as a required science score, I don’t think that it will affect your admission. Sure the admissions person will see it, but from what I hear admissions officers often throw away unnecessary parts of your application that could hurt you. (For example, Carnegie Mellon said they would recalculate someones GPA if they failed gym)</p>