<p>I've been starting the college search and certain schools for admissions say SAT II: Recommended. What exactly does this mean? I realize that it means that you don't have to submit scores or take them. I did horrible on my SAT's partially because I wasn't focused enough, and I want to take the ACT instead, so naturally if I dont have to submit the SAT II scores, which werent that great anyways, I can just work hard to get a great score on the ACT. Will it hurt my chances?</p>
<p>Its ambiguous. It means they are not required and you can be admitted without them but many applicants construe it as meaning you better submit them because if you don't and get rejected you will always believe it is because you failed to submit them. It also means that you should assume that most applicants will submit them.</p>
<p>i asked the college admissions officer at duke, and this is what she said:
if it says recommended, it means it is required for everyone except those who are too poor or unable to get access to testing. so, for you, it's required.</p>
<p>what about if you have an early case of senioritis and you are tired of taking tests? That might make me "unable to get access to testing". sigh. I guess I'll take them in october.
What SAT IIs should be taken? Math II ? English? Some sort of Science/History?</p>
<p>If SAT Subject Tests are "recommended", they are just about "required" because most applicants will take them in additon to the SAT Reasoning Test. </p>
<p>More importantly, if you have your SAT scores sent, ALL of the scores from ALL tests taken to date will be sent, so even if you have done poorly, if the school you are applying to requires the SAT I, the SAT II scores will also be sent. Your alternative is to take the ACT test (likely with Writing, because many colleges are now requiring that). If you do better with the ACT, then you have the options of sending your ACT scores or your SAT scores or both sets.</p>
<p>Here is what the College Board states about sending SAT scores:</p>
<p>"All available scores will be sent, including those from previous test administrations. You cannot send only your latest or highest SAT Reasoning Test scores, or separate scores for critical reading or math or writing, or only SAT Reasoning Test or only SAT Subject Tests scores. "</p>
<p>BingCold, I would translate "encouraged" as being "do your best to take them".</p>
<p>Regarding Penn and Duke, if you do not take the ACT with Writing component, then both the SAT Reasoning Test and two (2) SAT Subject Tests are REQUIRED, not merely encouraged.</p>
<p>BingCold, I see what you mean. Here is the comment by Penn:</p>
<p>
[quote]
"Students applying to the College are encouraged to take a foreign language Subject Test. This test is used for both admissions and proper placement at the college level. Appropriate language scores also afford exemption from the language requirement."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The suggestion would be for those applying to Penn's College of Arts & Sciences, which has a core foundational requirement in foreign language. The SAT Subject Test would serve the purpose of aiding placement into this disciplinary requirement. Alternatively, Penn will also consider an AP score of "5" in selected foreign language tests for placement/credit purposes. I would think if you choose not to take the SAT II in a foreign language, it wouldn't hurt your chances much, assuming you presented competitive scores in your other SAT II tests. You may have to take a lower entry level foreign language course as a result, however. Note that this foundational approach for the College does not apply to Wharton or the Schools of Engineering or Nursing.</p>
<p>Similarly at Duke, a general education requirement exists for Trinity College for Foreign Language, whereby a student will need 1 to 3 courses to fulfill the requirement. Again, the SAT Subject Test is one alternative to help determine placement/credit in foreign language. As with Penn, if you are in position to gain this advantage through testing, do so. If not, you will have to take additional courses to fulfill the schools general education requirement.</p>