Sending Subject Tests?

This discussion was created from comments split from: Not Submitting Subject Tests.

@gibby Hi. I think you may have responded to something like this before for me on another thread. My dd has a 36 ACT on her first sitting. SHe has taken 6 AP tests to date and has scored all 5s. So, in looking at your comment, it doesn’t appear that she would really have reason to send in her SAT subject tests? We have been advised to actually send in her AP official tests. her subject tests were in US History, Math 2 and Chemistry. She did NOT score any 800s. She got 790 and 770s. What would your thoughts be? I think in some ways it shows her well roundedness and then in other ways, with everyone getting 800s who apply to Harvard…well, I am not sure. Any thoughts are appreciated? thank you!

@gibby and wanted to add that she has an extremely high GPA and is probably the top 4 of her class.

@hcmom65 For further reference, what you did was hijack a thread and is considered rude to the original poster. You are better off starting a new discussion with your question, which I have done for you.

@hcmom65: Here’s the deal. Ivy League schools calculate an Academic Index (AI) on every applicant and they put that number right on your application folder: http://www.toptieradmissions.com/understanding-the-academic-index/

The AI calculation combines a student’s GPA, class rank (or decile) with their SAT Score (or ACT translated score) and two top SAT Subject Test scores. How does a college calculate an applicant’s Academic Index when the student doesn’t submit SAT Subject Test scores?

I don’t know the answer, as Harvard has not been forthcoming on this issue, so it’s anyone’s guess. As most students submit SAT Subject Test scores with their application, I could imagine a scenario that when a student doesn’t submit SAT Subject Test scores, Admissions assigns the applicant SAT Subject Test scores by dividing their SAT score by 3 (on the old SAT) for an approximate SAT Subject test score, which would allow them to run the numbers on every applicant. Again, I have no idea if that’s true, but it would seem that Admissions must include SAT Subject test scores in the calculation for everyone or exclude them for everyone.

College Confidential has their own Academic Index calculator that includes SAT Subject Test Scores. I haven’t yet seen an AI calculator that doesn’t include SAT Subject Test scores: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/academic_index/

A 790 and 770 are great SAT Subject Test scores, so I would send them as NOT everyone admitted to Harvard scores 800 in their SAT Subject test scores. My daughter didn’t; her top scores were 750 and 740.