<p>SAT: CR 760 M 720 W 780 w/10 essay: 2260
But my subject test scores are atrocious... 690 on lit and 630 on math 1 </p>
<p>Vassar requires two subject tests OR the ACT, which i scored a 30 on (not that great, but not too terrible) I'm stuck because my sat is higher and will probably give me a better chance of getting in, but will my low subject test scores hold me back??? Should I send just my act? Or should I send everything - act, sat, AND sat ii? </p>
<p>All help is appreciated! </p>
<p>** Also, all other aspects of my application are well in Vassar’s range. My essays are pretty good, and I should have some pretty good recs. But Vassar is my dream school (I can’t apply ED because of financial reasons), and my SAT is above their average. </p>
<p>Would it significantly hurt my chances if I sent my SAT with these low SAT II scores??? </p>
<p>@ncccc1701 - First of all, if you send in the ACT, you must also have done the writing portion. Did you do that? Looking at those scores, I would send in the SAT with those subject matter test scores. Your SAT score is VERY good, and while your subject matter test scores aren’t as good, I don’t think they would keep you out. Sending in the ACT could only bring you down in my opinion.</p>
<p>To be admitted, you still need to have a strong GPA, a history of taking difficult classes (AP and honors), and then strong ECs can’t hurt. </p>
<p>Just FYI though…for any college you might have applied ED to, it is not binding if you find you can’t afford it once the Financial Aid Package comes in. Also, Vassar gives the same amount of aid to a student admitted ED as they do to one admitted RD.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>@stepay Yes, I took the ACT w/Writing! Thank you so much for you advice. I probably will end up sending my SAT score. Hopefully they can overlook the subject tests since the rest of my application is strong, lol! </p>
<p>Just a quick question about Financial Aid: I thought you could only get out of ED if the school doesn’t give you sufficient aid- don’t THEY determine what that is? For instance, I did the Collegeboard net price calculator for Vassar and filled in all my parents’ tax info, and it estimated a whopping $0 in financial. I couldn’t believe it I’m not sure if maybe I typed something in incorrectly, but we were sure we would get at least SOME money! My family is middle class ($57,000 income bracket), and I still have a brother who is going to college soon. I can’t afford to go there if it costs me $63,000 a semester! Will I really get ZERO financial aid from Vassar? </p>
<p>Thank you, again, for taking the time to reply 
</p>
<p>@ncccc1701 - Somehow you made a mistake with the Net Price Calculator. If your family really makes just $57,000 a year (and you don’t have piles of cash sitting around or huge assets or something), then if you are accepted, you will likely go completely for free, room and board included - at about $60,000 a year is the cutoff for that. Vassar is one of the most generous colleges out there and just landed at #6 on a “Best Value” list somewhere. Please investigate this. If you get accepted to Vassar, they will make sure you can afford to attend.</p>
<p>@ncccc1701 - I just did the Net Price Calculator for Vassar and put in $57,000 as the family income. I kept all other things I had in there for us the same (moderate home equity, another kid going to start college soon), and here’s what it says:</p>
<p>Estimated Net Price: $6,605
You would get Work-study to the tune of $2150
This leaves your parents with an annual cost of $4,455</p>
<p>Remembering that that includes BOARD, I estimate your parents pay at LEAST $2,000 for you in food over that time period, and then the school considers $1,350 in “personal expenses” to be in that price too, so if we subtract both of those from $4,455, we end up with $1,105 extra that your parents would have to come up with. Do note that NONE of this includes a loan for you. This is EXTREMELY affordable and well worth that. I hope you get in.</p>
<p>@stepay Thank god. I knew there had to be a mistake! I think the highest number on our financial aid profile was like $179,000 for my parents’ combined retirement plan. Still, that’s not a whole not.</p>
<p>I really do want to apply ED II. If accepted, I’d go to Vassar in a heartbeat, and I know Vassar has a reputation for giving great financial aid. In a hypothetical world where I still can’t afford to go there even with Vassar’s financial aid package, would I be able to get out of the binding ED agreement? That’s what we’re most concerned about. </p>
<p>@stepay Thank you SO much! I’m going to double check the numbers I plugged in. I had to do it completely by myself, with only my CSS profile for reference. </p>
<p>If I can convince my parents, I will definitely apply ED II. Wow, this just made my day! Thank you so much!! </p>
<p>@ncccc1701 - If you can not afford what Vassar offers, then you can decline and try your luck RD with other colleges. Usually though, when you apply ED, you really are hoping to be able to afford it and it should be without question your top choice. If there’s any chance at all that you can afford what Vassar gives to you, you should do it. I believe that you can STILL get a $3,500 loan your freshman year if you feel you need it. Then $4,500 as a sophomore and $5,500 as a junior and senior. Certainly good if you DON’T have to do that though. Hopefully that money for your parent’s retirement is actually in a “Retirement Account”. If it’s just sitting in a regular savings account, then that would be fair game to go after (there’s a formula for that).</p>
<p>A 30 ACT is equivalent to about 2000 on the SAT. Submitting your SAT with SAT IIs puts you in the best light.</p>
<p>I would send the ACT and the SAT 1 without the subject tests. That way, they’d see the good SAT score without the subject tests, and the decent ACT score (which is a better score than the subject tests). </p>
@97college Yup! That’s what I ended up doing! I’m going to call admissions next week and double check that they don’t still need subject test scores.