<p>Actually, I would argue that a day taking the SAT 1 has a moderate cost in terms of other things not done. As a single example, for those who work on the weekends, every day off comes at some considerable cost, both financial and other.</p>
<p>^ The SAT usually wraps up around noon.</p>
<p>Ah, so I guess I should rephrase the question. At what point would the 3rd subject test hurt the applicant (Surely, a 500 would be detrimental?). Or for a score choice university, at what point would the 3rd test not be worth sending?</p>
<p>silverturtle - she loves physics at H and loves H. She couldn’t be happier with her choice.</p>
<p>would anyone recommend sending 3 or 4 subject test scores if they require only 2? beneficial? makes no difference?</p>
<p>^ Harvard considers additional scores if you send them.</p>
<p>I just feel like standardized testing is something I can control at this point in the game (I’m a rising senior myself). Maybe a 760 is just as good as a 780 is just as good an 800, maybe it’s not. The point is, it can’t really hurt to get the highest score that I can possibly achieve. </p>
<p>When Harvard rejects me, I want them to reject me for my insane test scores, grades, and too many leadership positions in EC’s.</p>
<p>@jollyrancher I’m interested in the answer to your question as well! I just took my SAT IIs, and while two of them were great (800 and 780… I really don’t want to risk getting a lower score and retaking the 780 test), one of them was a 690 (on lit)… How badly would that affect my chances of getting anywhere near harvard?</p>
<p>I was admitted to Harvard having taken the three percentile-wise easiest tests (math II, physics, chemistry) and I didn’t try to include a humanities test, which is something many CCers seem to feel is necessary. It didn’t affect me, so frankly I think SAT II scores really aren’t such a big deal. Doing well on AP’s proves more in my opinion.</p>
<p>well like what if you just get low 700s is that going to be unfavorable to me? in lit i got 700 and us 720.</p>
<p>I don’t remember my exact SAT II scores but I know I retook Math II and bumped it up from like a 720 to a 760 or something. My other two SAT II scores were (I think) 790 on Lit and 750 on Bio, which was fine with me and fine with Harvard. I think my personal threshold was to get at least a 750 on each test. If your application is otherwise exceptional you could probably get away with a threshold of 700 on each test… not sure where I’m getting that estimate from but it sounds reasonable enough.</p>