<p>I feel that my SAT II scores (770 Math II, 750 Bio, 740 US History) are an anomaly on my otherwise strong application. About two weeks before taking the tests, I found out that my dad had cancer; therefore, I spent my time with him instead of practicing for the tests. Should I add this in the additional information section? I really feel I could have could have gotten perfect scores on the tests if I hadn't been so busy (I got 5 on all the AP tests and my teachers actually told me not to study). Would this be inappropriate or would it sound like I was making excuses? </p>
<p>Thanks for the help and wish me luck in admissions!</p>
<p>i would maybe include that your dad was recently diagnosed. maybe one or two sentences in the additional info section. but i would not link it to the Sat IIs, it looks like too much of an excuse, and they are solid anyways. there is no way that those scores will hurt you.</p>
<p>If you think that those scores are low...okay, but they are definitely not! You have absolutely nothing to worry about submitting those scores--they really don't have to be perfect for them to be worthy of submission to Midd. </p>
<p>So, it's really up to you on how much/how little you reveal to them about your dad's illness. In no way will that sound like an excuse for any part of your application...although I strongly suspect that the adcoms might be confused that you feel that your SAT IIs are a low point in you application due to your dad's condition, since they really aren't! As far as I see, there's no need to link that to explain why some part of your application isn't what it could be, since you clearly are a pretty strong candidate. It's up to you, but I would just add that as an extra here's-who-I-am tidbit than as anything else.</p>
<p>I wouldn't add a note mostly because it's not anything that needs to be explained and because, I'll be honest, it'll sound like you're arrogant (sorry). Not to say that your dad's condition isn't serious, but I don't think it'll convince them any more to accept you. Plus, I've heard that at Middlebury, test scores are NOT the biggest factor and that they consider your essays more than anything else. 800s on Subject Tests aren't going to get you automatically accepted there.</p>
<p>You could always re-take all three in December...?</p>
<p>At HYP those scores would be a problem. However, Middlebury will be ambivalent to those scores, so I wouldn't worry about it. Considering middlebury is a "test-optional" school, I would guess that those scores are actually above average for an applicant. Bottomline: They won't help too much, but they won't hurt.
What did you get on your SAT 1?</p>