<p>@sherpa I quite don’t understand the question. “Math 2” was the name when I registered. Is that what you mean, math2 and math2c? If yes, it’s just simply because my friends and many Asians call it math2c, lol.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s what confuses me. The test was called Math 2C years ago but was changed to Math Level 2 nine years go, in 2005. Since all the testing materials, test prep books, etc. have called it Math Level 2 for the past nine years, why would your friends even be aware of the old name, much less use it?</p>
<p>I know you won’t have the answer, but it always catches my attention. </p>
<p>Come to think of it, the only person I’ve heard call it Math 2c in real life was a Korean friend of my daughter. Who knows, maybe there’s a bunch of old Math 2c practice tests floating around certain Asian communities and that’s why the name sticks.</p>
<p>@sherpa sorry, but I don’t have the answer for that one, haha… I used to call it math2 but then one of my friends once corrected me like a year ago. It was like</p>
<p>Me: Are you going to take subject tests in June?
Friend: Yeah, I’m taking Bio, USH, and Math 2c.
Me: Yeah, I’m gonna take those in October. Isn’t it “Math Level 2” though?
Friend: Nah, Math 2c.
Me: Okay…? I’ll call it Math 2c then… I guess.</p>
<p>Everyone seems to call it Math 2c. Asians especially. That friend of mine is a white girl, and she calls it Math 2c. So practically everyone except a few…</p>
<p>bump…? anyone??? 
SCEA or RD? I’ll greatly appreciate if you could help me on it :)</p>
<p>@sherpa P.S. I’m not really involved in the Korean community around this area although I myself am Korean. But I often heard them referring to the test as Math 2c, so probably that’s why I keep calling it that way. Also, as I mentioned above, people of other ethnicities also seem to call it Math 2c, so… yes. Sorry I can’t help you much on that! :)</p>
<p>Thanks for indulging my curiosity. Now, back to your question. RD or SCEA? Here’s how I see it. Your chances should be higher under SCEA, So, if you truly have your heart set on Harvard, then apply SCEA. But keep in mind that a rejection is still likely. Not that your’e unqualified, but that’s the stark truth with the numbers being what they are.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it looks like you have a realistic college list, and if you were to apply early to one of your other reaches, your chances of acceptance there would probably be more likely than at Harvard.</p>
<p>So, in my view, if it’s Harvard or bust, apply SCEA. Otherwise, consider applying early to another selective school where you’re sure you’d be happy.</p>
<p>One other thing. I don’t see any reason to load up on any more subject tests. With 800s on Math Level 2 and Literature, you’ve already cleared that bar.</p>
<p>@peatnutbutterlol: What is your unweighted GPA? And what is your approximate ranking? </p>
<p>Harvard has stated that that do not admit any student in SCEA round who would not also be admitted in the regular round. That’s admissions-speak for “We take the best of the best in the SCEA round.” So, if you are ranked in the top 1% to 2% of your high school, I would say go for it. However, if you are ranked from 3% to 10%, Harvard will probably want to wait to see who else applies in the RD round and might defer you. So, much depends on where you stand in the pecking order at your high school.</p>
<p>@gibby Thank you very much for your reply! 
As I said above, I have been homeschooled. They said I would not be required to submit my school report. I think you missed that part, but that’s ok Before I turned to homeschooling (I had a major surgery), I had all As and was among those with top GPAs, but it won’t be able to be used for my college admission due to my status as a homeschooler. Considering my extracurriculars and test scores and that I’ve been homeschooled, do you think it’s ok for me to go for SCEA? I think I’m not one of the most impressive applicants… Then should I go for RD? If I get deferred, is it highly possible I get accepted during the RD round? Or is it almost the same as getting rejected? Lots of questions, sorry, but I really appreciate your help ;)</p>
<p>@sherpa Thank you for your reply!
Yes, I really wish to continue higher studies at Harvard. I’m soooo desperate it’s just like what you said in your post: Harvard or burst (haha). Which do you think, from my list of colleges, would be a decent match for me???</p>
<p>As homeschoolers do not have a GPA, I heard I’d need to take more subject tests since it’s one of the only standardized scores that I can actually provide. Do you think it is enough to submit those I’ve taken even though I’ve been homeschooled???</p>
<p>Thank you again :)</p>
<p>Sorry, I missed that you were home schooled. While it’s impossible to predict an applicant’s chances, it’s doubly impossible to predict the chances of a home schooled applicant, as colleges by comparison just do not see that many homeschooled students. This from Yale about 6 years ago: <a href=“Q. and A.: College Admissions - The New York Times”>Q. and A.: College Admissions - The New York Times;
<p>
And from Harvard about 8 years ago: <a href=“Homeschoolers A Small But Growing Minority | News | The Harvard Crimson”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/4/17/homeschoolers-a-small-but-growing-minority/</a></p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Also see: <a href=“http://smartharvardadmissions.com/harvard-home-school-program/”>http://smartharvardadmissions.com/harvard-home-school-program/</a>
</p>
<p>@gibby Thanks!!! :)</p>
<p>If I get to have better standardized test scores by the end of December, will it increase my change of being admitted during the RD round? --If we say the rest of the application remains the same?(like ecs, essays, recs, etc.)
If you can have perfect scores by December and you really have to get into Harvard, would you go for RD?</p>
<p>Also, for everyone: I have three recommenders ready for the application.
I heard that I could only assign two recommenders on the common app and that I would have to have one of them send in her letter via mail. </p>
<ol>
<li>English teacher for whom I worked as a TA. She knows me so well since she has seen me since I first moved to the US.</li>
<li>AP Lang teacher whose class I had taken before I turned to homeschooling. She was very encouraging and helped me become a true writer. I went to her class at lunch every single day for her help on my writing. We weren’t as close as I was to the other two, but her essay was very personal when I read. She seemed to know me quite well. She always sent emails to all her students with my essay attatched as the best example.</li>
<li>Retired English teacher-- she was the head of the English department of the school I attended, and I was in two of her classes. As I was always the best in her classes, she loved me so much(like really personally) and she has had an immense influence on my life. She’s a famous person (really, really famous-- she and her husband are very well-known people) and I also worked as her TA. She awarded me a certificate of the Best TA recognition.</li>
</ol>
<p>Do you think it’s worth sending them all?
If not, which ones should I choose to send in? If yes, will all three letters be treated equally no matter which I choose to send in via mail?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Oops, I forgot. For the first teacher, I was also the best in her class, and she loved me as much as the third one did. I could take college level English classes in my sophomore year because she recommended me. The description seems a bit short up there, so I just wanted to add ;)</p>
<p>
Colleges use test scores to gauge how you well you would do if admitted to their school. The higher your score, the less an Admissions Directors will question if you can handle the work load on their campus. Once your test scores reach a certain threshold (about 2200 for Harvard), having a higher test score DOES NOT necessarily increase your chances. That’s because other more subjective factors such as your teacher recommendations, EC’s and essays reveal more about your “character” than a number on an SAT score.</p>
<p>At colleges like Harvard which receive 35,000+ applications, Admissions Directors have about 12 minutes to read a file, which includes looking at your test scores, transcript, course rigor, looking over your EC’s, reading your high school profile, guidance counselor’s Secondary School Report, teacher recommendations and essays – and then making notes. Admissions Directors probably spend less than 10 seconds looking at your test scores, yet, student’s spend so much time focusing on their test scores, thinking that higher scores will increase their chances. </p>
<p>When my daughter and son received their acceptance letters three and four years ago, there were handwritten notes from Admissions Directors on them saying “Welcome! Congratulations! We hope you say yes!” In addition, there were specific personal comments all having to do with their essays. Comments such as “Loved your essay about your baseball coach. Your application was such a joy to present to the committee; after reading your essay, the vote was unanimous!”</p>
<p>Not one comment said “Wonderful test scores.” In fact, in all my years on CC, I have NEVER EVER heard of an Admissions Director from any college make that kind of comment. Test scores matter, but they don’t matter!</p>
<p>
Given that you are homeschooled, I would send them all.</p>
<p>“Test scores matter, but they don’t matter!”</p>
<p>I’d say that test scores don’t matter unless you don’t have them (high ones, that is).</p>
<p>I read online that SCEA for Harvard dramatically helps if you are URM, if not, its still incredibly difficult to get in. Also, Harvard defers most of their SCEA applicants, so that’s something to plan for as well. </p>