They’re pretty mediocre at 590 in molecular bio and 640 in math 2. I’m already extremely borderline with only a 31 ACT and a 1350 SAT, but I am in the IB diploma, am 6th in my grade of 300 students, have really good letters of recommendation, and have lots of extracurriculars with lots of leadership. So, should I send these scores? It’ll look good that I took the time to sit for them, but could they end up hurting me?
If subject tests are not required then I won’t send them
@annamom even if they are “highly recommended”?
I would not send them. If your test scores are already low you don’t want to risk confirming that.
I wouldn’t send them. 640 Math II is around 30th percentile and would only hurt you. 590 Bio is around 20th.
Yeah I don’t think that sending in the subject tests is a good idea. I didn’t do too well on the subject tests either so I didn’t submit them and I ended up getting in. Low subject test scores will hurt you more than not submitting any scores at all.
@WondrousWildcat did you have okay scores otherwise (as in SAT/ACT)? mine are not good so thats worrisome; i am not good at standardized testing. i retook the ACT and still dont have a higher score, hopefully it will be higher. and did you apply early decision? and what school are you at in northwestern?
@WondrousWildcat ahh that’s a typo, I meant I still don’t have my score and I hope it’s higher
@banana9 I have no idea on what to do with “highly recommended”…I just thought the scores were low, but I can see you get good recommendations here…unfortunately you are right the 31 ACT is low for northwestern (I think it is the 25 percentile rank)…if you can’t improve on the ACT score, can you look into other parts of the application? or a different school…may be it is just a reach.
@annamom yes, northwestern is my dream school, but is ask a BIG reach, I know. im doing early decision so that may help, but yeah my test scores are just too low.
@banana9 yeah, but dont give up! you have your best chance at getting in in the ED round! 