I just took the sat math II and chem subject tests today. However, I feel that I did poorly and probably got a 790 on math and 700 on chem. I want to apply to cornell but they require that you send all scores and Im worried that they will punish for my low chem score, especially bc im from a compettive north virginia school. I am a junior, so should I cancel my scores and retake, or see my scores and retake, knowing that I will have to send all scores to cornell?
Please tell me that you did not mean for this to come across as hubristic as it sounds.
Personally, I can’t see the value of guessing scores before the actual results are in your hand. But I’ll play along.
If you score low, and decide to retake, then Cornell will consider the higher score. Therefore, no, I would not cancel the scores nor assume that Cornell will look for some hidden meaning in a lower score. At this point, though, I also would not spend time assessing the value of a retake until you actually get your scores.
I would also follow Cornell’s guidance that standardized tests are but one part of the package, and that you might want to spend additional time on other parts of the package, including )and perhaps most importantly) your essays.
https://blogs.cornell.edu/admissions/2011/10/19/the-faqs-of-sats-and-acts/
Your notions of what constitutes a poor score are completely out of whack.
In addition to the above answers, you are a junior. You have an entire year to retake them if need be. Although, as to why you’d want to retake a 790, I have no clue.
You do know Cornell does not force you to send all your Subject Test scores, right? You can exercise Score Choice with your SAT IIs.
I checked cornell website and it says they do not participate in score choice, and one must send all sat and subject test scores
You might want to contact Cornell to confirm. In the past, it is true they wanted all Subject Test scores, but the current site is vague, IMO (although it is clear that they want all SAT 1 and/or ACT scores).
https://admissions.cornell.edu/standardized-testing-requirements
The page I found that states that all Subject Tests are required is dated 2011. Having been around here for a while, I will tell you that every every admissions cycle, some top colleges change their requirements of what is “required” vs. “recommended,” so it is worth double checking with the source.
Oh stop it. Don’t cancel the scores. Don’ t worry about what Cornell sees (really a computer program at Cornell sees). Stop being a terrified loser. Present yourself openly and honestly with nothing to hide and if they don’t admit you, they don’t deserve you, end of story. Your talents and money will go to a worthier school, have no fear. You are the prize not the school!
I am thinking about this too. I am sure I missed 3-4 questions on the Math II test I just took today… But if I make a lot of stupid mistakes it could be 780 or 770 something like that (worst case), but if I do get lucky and got everything else right it would be 800. So really… it is a gamble…
Honestly, this is not something you should take the time to worry about. Those scores seem fine for Cornell, as there are far more important things in applications that would require your time and effort. And why worry about scores that haven’t been graded yet? Later in the school year, if your scores come out, and you decide they’re lower than you expected, you could retake. Cornell would rather care about your highest scores, not your lowest ones. If you show improvement, that’s also a plus.
Worrying about this is a waste of time and energy. But if you really think it’s worth it to stress out about the slightest point deductions, then Cornell might just not be for you.