<p>My son will graduate with an IB diploma from an excellent school and wants to apply to top schools. He only wants to take 3 SAT II tests -- </p>
<p>Literature
Math II
US History</p>
<p>He is a humanities kind of person -- so the lack of a science shouldn't be an issue (he will have 5 science classes on his transcript).</p>
<p>His language isn't offered (Arabic) so that isn't an option.</p>
<p>Is there any reason to take more than 3? any school out there that requires more than 3? (I looked and couldn't find any)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>No -- he really doesn't need to.</p>
<p>If he's confident that he's going to do very well in all 3, then I don't see any reason to take any more. I took 4 (both Math tests because I wasn't really sure how well I'd do on either, French with Listening, and Physics). Of course, he could take some others just for the fun of it. :)</p>
<p>I think your son at least take one science SAT II. According to my D's college counsling dept. Following is the preferred SAT II</p>
<p>SAT MATH IIC</p>
<p>1 SAT II -- From history/Languages
1 SAT II -- From Sciences</p>
<p>You can take multiple SAT II from different group but only if you have the above. Your son miss the Sciences SAT II.</p>
<p>There is no reason to take more than 3 SAT IIs if the three you have chosen are best suited to showing your strengths. No school requires more than 3.</p>
<p>Look at the websites of his college choices to ensure that they do not identify specific areas in which these should be taken so that all bases are covered. </p>
<p>If the schools/programs in which he is interested do not require a science SAT II then he does not need to take one. Counseling advice indicating that a student should take certain ones is shotgun advice to make sure that students are not caught short. If your student does not need science for his choices, he does not need to take one of them.</p>
<p>thanks for the info -- anyone know about taking a science SAT II test?</p>
<p>I know that some of the top schools require a science SAT II for engineering majors -- but I haven't seen any requirements for humanities majors or general colleges.</p>
<p>He will probably take IB enviromental studies SL (they don't offer HL) and there really isn't an SAT II test that goes with it. He took Physics at the community college last semester -- but doesn't feel comfortable enough with the information to take the SAT II. Biology was taken last year and Chem before that -- and since he is not a science kid, he really doesn't want to take the science test without taking it right after the class.</p>
<p>He is also planning on taking the ACT with writing -- many schools will accept that in lieu of any SAT II tests.</p>
<p>I have checked all the schools on his list -- I am just afraid that he will add one later on that will have a different requirement. I know for sure he isn't going to suddenly decide to be an engineer, though, so I think he will probably be ok with those three.</p>
<p>No.....No.......No....3 is fine</p>
<p>It sounds like he will be just fine with the three he has chosen. If he decides to apply to a school that wants to see a science one, he can always take it in the fall. But I have looked at the sites for a bunch of top schools and, with the exception of something like MIT or a dedicated engineering program, they leave the choices pretty much up to the student.</p>
<p>I never said you need more than 3 SAT II "ferrisbueller".</p>
<p>I only said that for top schools the best 3 SAT II you can take should be as follows</p>
<p>SAT MATH IIC
1 SAT II from History/Languages
1 SAT II from Sciences</p>
<p>Top schools do like to see the breadth of your knowledge and that is what distinguish these schools from rest. </p>
<p>I'll highly recomend taking a Science SAT II.</p>
<p>My 2 cents.</p>
<p>3 is the most any school asks.
You have a humanities, math, and social science there, so you show a nice distribution of skills.
And you say he's not heading for a science/engineering/pre-med program.</p>
<p>So, best to concentrate and prepare well for those 3 than to spread thin.</p>
<p>This is from Harvard Admission FAQ:</p>
<p>Which SAT II Subject Tests should students take?
To satisfy our application requirements, applicants must take three SAT IIs, and students may choose any three subjects, with the exception of the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT). "</p>
<p>The following is what I was referring too:</p>
<p>"
Applicants may wish to convey the breadth of their academic interests by taking tests in different subjects.
"</p>
<p>Languages/History are not considered as breadth of the academic interests as these are interlinked into one Humanities stream.</p>
<p>parentofivyhope--while I think that you have gotten perfectly fine advice for general consumption, I have never heard any admissions folks (at top schools) say anything about the necessity of taking one from each area. They write that stuff on their websites with the hope that we will read it and actually believe what they say. Schools often very much want to see math, and that is on their websites, but past that, you would want to take the tests that show you off to best advantage. If you took four and your weakest one was science and they look at two or three, the science score would be one of the ones they considered. So it doesn't make sense to suggest that a humanities kid, with no interest in studying the sciences, take a test that would be both a huge pain and likely a less impressive performance than his other scores.</p>
<p>nimby58: Either we talk about top schools or any other schools.</p>
<p>Princeton doesn't take students according to the major, So your statement regarding that a Humanity kid who is week in sciences and no interest in studying science will never be able to go past Princeton Admission department.</p>
<p>The reasoning at the top school admission is that what ever major you would like to pursue doesn't stop you to excel at a subject that is not of your liking because not everything in the world can be planned. You are suppose to be able to tread in unknown waters.</p>
<p>I'm interested in top schools only for my daughter because the student body there consists of strong students that can excel in any stream and not necessarily only languages or only sciences.</p>
<p>Again it is my analysis of the top schools but I might be wrong.</p>
<p>The info that ParentofIvyHope is good -- and if it would work out, I think there is no question but that he would take a science test. If he could, he would also take a language test. Unfortunately, enviromental studies and arabic are not offered yet (maybe in the future?).</p>
<p>I think that the combination of IB diploma studies, his community college courses and the three SAT II tests he has planned will communicate his breadth of knowledge sufficiently. I realize that he will be weighted heavily in the area of humanities (in classes, interests, tests and ECs) but he is clearly a humanities kid. He won't lack in the science area -- but it is not his passion. He does have good ECs in Enviromental Studies and sustainability, but those three biggies (Chem, Bio and Physics) he just took the basic class and was done.</p>
<p>ParentofanIvyHope -- I understand your reasoning about students excelling across the board, but I think the reality of that is not happening. Kids who excell in languages, taking more than one to the AP level -- rarely have the time with a normal school schedule to also excel in science and English and history.</p>
<p>I think schools are looking for kids that are either excelling -- or clearly have the potential. My son took college physics as a freshman in high school and high school chemistry as an 8th grader. He was selected to participate in a very competitive program on enviromental studies and ethics and practices in the natural world. I don't think there is any doubt that he can excel in a science area -- he just can't do a good job of demonstrating it on an SAT II. I appreciate your words, though. It makes me think that he needs to make sure and convey to schools that he isn't lacking in science just because it isn't one of the three main areas.</p>
<p>Allow me to clarify--we are not talking about the ability to successfully take science classes at an ivy--we are talking about presenting an SAT II as strong evidence of ability to enhance an application. I never said that he was weak in science--only that it appeared from what his mom said that this was not where he really shined. A student, such as the one described by the OP who is a full IB candidate has to be taking a high level of math and science courses. The performance in these courses will speak to the ability to do well in college in these areas. In fact, a full IB diploma candidate is by definition taking the most rigorous course of study possible if you are to believe the words of adcoms from Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Cornell, Rice (sorry--never asked Princeton). There will be no question about this student's ability to major in whatever he wants. I was just trying to differentiate between the OP's son and a student who is very oriented toward math and science for the purpose of SAT IIs.</p>
<p>I understand that but I think what did you ask for the best advice. I personally think that it is better to be cautious than sorry.</p>
<p>My Daughter's school only require 2 years of History and she is more interested in Sciences. The counsling department was also in favor only of 2 years of History for science major. But What I could make out from the top schools that a third year History actually will benfit if she can perform good.</p>
<p>So she is taking AP Euro in her Sophomore year now and will have her AP this friday. We hope she does well. Point is by taking this she will cover herself agaisnt the strong Humanity Children like your Son who will be taking 3 year of History. She is also taking AP Chem and AP BC calc to cover against the strong Science and Math children too.</p>
<p>So I just tried to give an advice that should help your child against other children during admission.</p>
<p>Now getting into Top school is totally a random subjective thing but you can cover yourself as much as possible.</p>
<p>thanks, nimby58. sometimes it is hard not to overthink things!</p>
<p>two other items I just thought of that I wanted to mention to ParentofIvyHope -- Physics is generally considered to be a math, so if you really want that breadth (which can be a good idea for a kid that can do it) you need either Bio or Chem SAT II test. The other thing is that from everything I had read and heard from adcoms, if you can't score well -- the test can hurt more than help. so picking the areas you can do really well in is the best strategy.</p>
<p>I think the widespread notion that a math SAT II is required by most highly selective colleges is somewhat out of date. Most highly selective schools require 2 or 3 SAT IIs of the student's choice.</p>
<p>MIT, Caltech and RPI (and perhaps a few other engineering schools) do require a Math SAT II, as do the engineering programs at various research universities.</p>
<p>A math SAT II is not required of most students at any of the Ivies and similar Top Tier brethren.</p>
<p>I have been very frustrated with my D's guidance counselor who has been pressuring all of the top students, regardless of their interests, to take one of the math SAT II's. My D has taken Chem, Bio and US History because they reflect her interests and she has/expects to score 700+ on them. Although she scored 700 on the M section of the SAT I math is not one of her strengths, just a necessary nuisance that permits her to pursue her scientific interests.</p>