<p>D got SAT II scores today and was concerned with her chem score and is contemplating taking them again in the Fall but I am not convinced it is necessary - wanted to see if anyone had any advice to share on this. Here are her current stats: </p>
<p>SATI 2240 (760CR/800W/680M);
SATII 760 Literature/690 US History/670 Chem
4.0 unweighted GPA with all honors/AP classes; </p>
<p>She is looking at some Ivy's and academic D1/D3 schools. </p>
<p>She is a swimmer (breaststroker - 1:05.2 in the 100BR and 2:24 in the 200BR). </p>
<p>She is looking to study science (pre-med or neuroscience type) and friends have her convinced that she needs to have a min of a 700 on one of the science SATIIs. Her lower scores tend to be in the math and science areas and her concern is that it will not look good on her application if she lists that as an intended major when those scores are not as strong. </p>
<p>Is it worth it to spend a good chunk of time over the summer studying chem to boost that score?</p>
<p>Her scores are more than good enough to qualify her academically if they want her for swimming. If she is looking to qualify in the general pool of applicants, then it is a crapshoot. I have no experience with swimming, so I can’t comment on whether those times qualify her as desreable from an athletic perspective.</p>
<p>Best advice I have been given by the coaches is that if a school takes highest scores, it doesn’t ever hurt to take tests as much as possible. Not sure that one chem score would tip the scales in any one direction on your Dd’s application, though there may be something to declaring chem as an intended major with a score not in the 700s. You can go pre-med with any major as long as you take the pre-med core curriculum.</p>
<p>Also, I think her application looks outstanding for a competitive athlete.</p>
<p>1.Test scores and grades are higher than required for a recruited swimmer at any Ivy.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>A 670 chem score is nothing to be concerned about. I believe that 5 of 8 Ivy’s are score choice, so there is no need to disclose this test if it doesn’t help.</p></li>
<li><p>A 105.2 should be fast enough to be seriously recruited by at least 1/2 of the Ivy’s. </p></li>
<li><p>Since your daughter’s grades and test scores are excellent, even an 800 in chem wouldn’t make much difference to a college coach. On the other hand, dropping a second in the 100 would make a huge difference in “recruitability.”</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Second hangNthere’s post. The stats are good enough. Put in the doubles and spend the summer crank up the practices to drop significant time in 2-3 events will open more doors than a 800 chem SATII.</p>
<p>Great feedback - thanks! This helped D see that scores are good where they are and she is better off focusing these next couple months on getting faster. She is packing away the SAT books now - and working on her goal times for the summer season. Thanks!</p>
<p>The academic index is used to evaluate all Ivy League recruits. To calculate this only the top 2 SAT II scores are used. Therefore her Chem SAT II score would not be used to calculate her AI. Her Ai score is 220 which will work for all of the ivies.</p>
<p>Good for your daughter to pack away those books! Don’t be so hard on yourself with those scores. I agree that the 1:05 100 breast is awesome and will count for a lot. I don’t remember exactly but I think you only need 2 subject tests anyway? My d sent three but I feel like only two were required? Good luck, focus on swimming hard and enjoy the process!</p>
<p>Probably not. I think she has the necessary academics covered. Based upon what others have shared, I’d focus on the exposure and athletic aspects of recruiting. She is going to have some really good schools to choose from. However, if she can focus and improve her time she’ll have possibly have even more to choose from, and more leverage.</p>
<p>These kids are high achievers. If her chem score really bothers her, by all means re-take it. It probably isn’t the best use of time or focus. My sons girlfriend (recruited Ivy athlete) retook the SAT because she got a question wrong. I thought that was a little over the top, but what do I know. I missed quite a few questions on the SAT.</p>
<p>Yes - I think you are right that she only needs to send 2 subject tests - but she was under the impression that since she wanted to study science that she needed to send a score for at least one science (or math) subject test. Her friends and I think one of the Ivy forums here on CC had mentioned that admissions officers may question an applicant to the science field who only submits language/history/non-technical subject tests. So she thought it would look bad if she didn’t submit a chem score which is why she thought she would have to take it again. But I am starting to see that IF she can get recruited by one of these schools that the numbers are the only part that matters and not whether it is chem or history. Maybe that will be more important if she doesn’t get recruited by her dream school and goes for that school on her own without coach support/recruitment.</p>
<p>I don’t know what her dream school is. But for H, what SAT subjects you send in doesn’t really matter. They assume a student is likely to change concentration between the application time and sophomore year.</p>