<p>This year Harvard made it optional to submit SAT II tests if it was a financial burden for your family. My family does really struggle with finances, but my parents have always made sacrifices to make sure I have the money I need for school. I know if I ask to take the test, we will find a way to pay for it, I'm just wondering if it will be a big deal without them. I have taken them once before, but I scored pretty low (high 600's in bio and chem). I wouldn't want to submit a low score, but if I don't need to submit them, then I'm not going to worry about finding a way to pay and retake them. So I guess my options are, don't submit any scores, submit my low scores, or find the money and take them again and score higher. What would you recommend? Thank you all so much for your help! </p>
<p>If you are applying to Harvard, you must show them your best. I’d say retake unless it’s too much of a financial burden. </p>
<p>It’s probably not a “financial burden” if your family already found a way to pay for the Subject tests the first time.</p>
<p>The “no Subject test” option in Harvard’s application process was not designed for a student in your situation, i.e., a student who wants to hide somewhat lower Subject test scores.</p>
<p>To be honest, I’m not sure why Harvard even has this exception since low-income families can receive fee-waivers from the College Board for standardized testing.</p>
<p>Are the rest of your scores worthy of a Harvard application? Those low subject test scores will not bolster your application. If your other scores and grades are similar, the better question would be, “why waste your money applying to Harvard?”.</p>
<p>@Bartleby007 I’m not using it to hide lower scores, I just don’t want to have to spend the money if I don’t have to. My parents work really hard and we’ll do whatever they can to help me with college, but I always feel bad asking them for more money for things like this. However, in the long run, we can make it work, so if you think we should do that, then we will. </p>
<p>@mnm111 The rest of my application is “worthy” of a Harvard application. Test scores are in their range, challenging course load, extracurriculars etc. (Will I get accepted is a whole other story, lol.) </p>
<p>I guess I just wanted to know how big of an influence the absence of subject test scores would be. </p>
<p>If you explain that it is a burden, by calling admissions (this way they might note it in your file), I think you should be all right without retaking them or sending them.</p>
<p>Question: for those who took the ACT, should they still take the SAT Subject II tests?</p>
<p>@lemons4life Seriously, I have no idea! I would love an answer though. All the other schools I’m applying to say you need subject tests if you took the SAT, but you could just submit the ACT. I took the ACT so I honestly don’t know. </p>
<p>I guess I should just try and do everything in my power to make my application look good, no matter what it takes. Even if that means spending money and studying for yet another standardized test… haha. </p>
<p>Isn’t there a fee waiver for the Sat 2</p>
<p>@lemons4life @KW1217 </p>
<p>If you choose to use the ACT for your application then there is no obligation to take the SAT II’s really. You can always just unofficially (not through college board, but on the Common App) report good SAT II scores. You may as well take them so you can compare ACT w/Writing vs. SAT + 2 SAT II’s, and make sure you have the best standardized test scores to send to colleges.</p>
<p>@KW1217 I’m in the exact same boat as you! I feel like if you take the ACT test and not the SAT, you shouldn’t have to take the SAT subject tests. But, I am just not sure if other colleges that mark the SAT IIs as “optional” see it the same way. I wish I could have an official answer from the college 
@uniforex great advice! Thank you</p>
<p>There seems to be some misinformation on this thread. If you apply to Harvard, regardless of submitting an ACT or SAT score, you MUST, under “normal” circumstances, submit 2 official SAT II scores. Here are Harvard’s requirements:
<a href=“First-Year Applicants | Harvard”>https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-requirements</a>
Harvard requires 2 SAT IIs from all applicants, expect those with special circumstances.
The SAT IIs are marked as optional in an attempt to encourage more low-income students to apply. The exemption is designed for kids who come from schools with poor counseling systems who probably don’t even know that SAT IIs exist or for students who cannot afford them. If you can afford them and don’t submit them, you either look like 1) you don’t care enough about getting into Harvard to take the tests that will bolster your application or 2) you are hiding bad scores. It’s important to note that just because something is “optional” doesn’t mean it isn’t almost absolutely necessary if you want to be admitted. For example, Harvard’s supplemental essay is “optional,” but I don’t think anyone would ever recommend you not to write it.</p>
<p>If you cannot afford the SAT2, I think you may be exempted. However, if you cannot afford a retake, it is a different story. Your intention is more to hide your poor score as you have already taken it.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help everyone. I talked to my school and got a fee waiver, so now it’s time to study. </p>