Hello I am a sophomore living outside USA. Next year I am going to be taking the New SAT and I am aiming for a score of 1400 and higher if possible. I am also going to finish my high school career with about 10 APs and a GPA of 3.9. One big problem is that I do not!!! want to take any subject tests. I made a quick search on the colleges that do not require the SAT Subject tests and found a few schools that I am also interested in: Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. I have two questions. First, do you think that it would be a big disadvantage if I do not take the subject tests when applying to these 7 schools. My second and the more important question is if it will be a disadvantage when applying specifically to Georgetown, as it is the one I want to go to most, but in the website it says that they strongly recommend taking 3 subject tests. I really do not want to take any subject test, and I do believe the rest of my academic achievements (3.9 GPA, hopefully a new sat score of about 1400 or higher, and 10 APs) , as well as my extracurriculars will be enough to show my potential. So guys what do you think about my 2 questions?
Thanks a lot !
Princeton requires subject tests. Yale does not. D did not look at Georgetown so no information there. I would aim for 750 per section on the SAT not 700. Generally on the old test you were in a different category when you got to 2200 or 2250 and your point variations stopped mattering around 2300 (2300 or 2330 is the same) unless you got a 2380 or 2400.
Schools that recommend them want you to take them unless it would be a hardship for you not to, such as you are low income, they are not given in your area, things like that. I do know someone who was admitted to some of the lesser Ivies without them.
However, most people do take them who apply to these schools so they want to see where you fit in. If you have gotten a 5 on all 10 APs then perhaps not.
If you have already taken APs you would probably do fine. For example people that get a 5 on AP US usually can get above a 750 without much work on the SAT2. Same with Physics.
I would recommend taking subject tests in subjects you know you will do well in especially for Georgetown. I was in the same position as you where I had no interest in doing subject tests; however, as it was highly recommended for Georgetown which was my number one at the time I sucked it up and did them. That is what I would advise you to do.
Well, Georgetown EA, does not require SAT 2s. I got in EA without any SAT 2s. And I’m an international.
Also, unless your applying to engineering at Berkeley, not sending SAT 2s, wont hurt your chances.
SeekingPAM you are wrong princeton does not require subjects
Hey thanks for the reply what was your SAT score, btw guys I am will apply for poly science
@opposity you are correct. I think this may have changed from last year when D applied. However, does this sound optional to you:
if you apply for the B.S.E degree, we recommend that you take either mathematics Level I or II, and either physics or chemistry. Some students may find the cost of taking and submitting SAT Subject Tests to be prohibitive. Please note you will not be penalized for not submitting SAT Subject Tests if the cost of taking the tests causes financial hardship. In such instances, we will rely on rigor of coursework, strength of recommendations, quality of writing in the essays and any other information available to us.
This is from Princeton’s web site. The implication being that you will be penalized if you are able to afford it and choose not to.
Thanks for the information SeekingPam !
For UCB/UCLA have only recommended SAT subject tests for the College of Engineering.
why don’t you want to take it? you can’t in your country? if you can’t explain that in your app and they’ll note that. If it’s just because you don’t want to, just bite the bullet and take some. It doesn’t take too much effort to get a 700+ on 3 subject tests.