So I’ve taken the ACT once (got a 31) and have taken the old SAT(1950) along with 3 subject test scores(720math2 670USH 550physics). Since USC doesn’t require SAT subject tests, I was thinking about just sending in my ACT especially since my subject test scores are bad. What do you guys think? And no, I don’t think I’ll consider score choice an option.
What major are you applying for?
Your Math 2 score isn’t bad at all, and if you’re applying for a STEM major, sending it might help!
Send the math score for sure, anything above 700 is great.
Applying for comp sci, I’m scared that my physics score may hurt my admission chances and raise a red flag for admissions officers
Ya I wouldn’t send the physics. You can just send the math.
Based on conversations I’ve had with a Viterbi admissions officer about subject tests, do NOT send your physics score if you want a chance at being admitted. Your math score won’t hurt you, but that doesn’t guarantee it will help; it depends on how you’ve done in whatever math classes you’ve taken. For example, if you’ve already taken a full year of Calculus and did well in it, you can save your money and not send the math score.
Send the math score, it is decent and certainly won’t hurt, and it shows you made an effort. Do not send Physics. Did you take the AP test in Physics?
When I took subject tests, I scored over 700 on all of them and thought that my scores were “good”. I couldn’t have been more wrong! My counselor pointed out to me the percentile ranks of the various subject tests and I was really surprised. You’ve got to be really close to 800 on most of the tests to even get into the top 90th percentile. In other words, a lot of kids who take these tests score really highly.
Looking at the scores that @wilsonianh posted:
Math 2: 720 = 52nd percentile
US History: 670 = 51st percentile
Physics: 550 = 14th percentile
These percentage ranks come directly from the College Board (https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/sat/sat-percentile-ranks-subject-tests-2015.pdf).
The overwhelming advice on this thread so far is that your 720 math 2 score is good/decent. The percentiles suggest that this might not be true. Yeah, a 720 math on the main SAT is pretty good (I think it’s like the 95th percentile), but even an 800 on the math 2 subject test is only the 81st percentile, which means that about 20% of all test takers get the top score.
Since USC doesn’t require the subject tests, I wouldn’t send them unless my scores were very close to the top of the range (770-800)
But, of the approx. 1.7 million people who took the SAT, only 144,772 took the Math 2 subject test in 2015. Presumably, those who take it are mostly the “best of the best” and are applying to the Ivies since most other schools no longer require subject tests. So, if you put it in perspective, being 52nd percentile of that group is no where near like being in the 52nd percentile of the SAT.
I think the answer to the question still depends on what math you have taken and what your grades are in those classes.
This is a good point. However even given this, I can’t imagine why someone would want to needlessly point out to a really competitive college’s adcom that there were 70,000+ students who had higher math scores than them. I am certain that admissions officers understand the dynamics of the various tests and aren’t going to be jazzed about less than stellar percentiles, regardless of how many test takers are out there.
I understand the toss up, but I think it can be difficult to get into comp sci without any subject tests - it’s one of those differentials that moves someone ahead of someone else. And in the competitive environment today, it only takes one thing.