<p>On the collegeboard site, it says Harvard requires 3 subject test.</p>
<p>What if I take Math IIC, Math IC, and Biology.</p>
<p>Would that fit the requirement for subject test?</p>
<p>Yes. (10 char)</p>
<p>colleges prefer that u take EITHER the math IC or math IIC.. not both</p>
<p>Officially for Harvard, you can take both and have it count for two.</p>
<p>BUT its not the best idea</p>
<p>recomended is math iic, literature, and a science or language</p>
<p>thanks for the response. yeah sadly I do know that taking 2 math is bad, but i feel like my school didn't prepare me well enough for ANY of the subject test. The only reason I feel pretty confident in math is because it is simply my strongest subject and that I can do many problems in both the IIC and the IC with basic math knowledge.</p>
<p>For many, Math 2 is actually easier & has a more generous curve than Math I of the SATII tests. My S & many others scored higher (800) than on math1, which will catch you with careless errors.</p>
<p>Many schools want you to have at least one subject test in an area like social studies (US History, World History) or English Lit, so that's what the counselor at my kids' HS recommends to all students.</p>
<p>ah.... hmm well heres basically how I did on my practice tests:</p>
<p>Math IIC: 660 (I think I could do better if I used time more efficiently. Oh and in H.S. I consistently had the highest grade of all classes in math)
US History: 530 (brutal. I had a 97% in my College US history class and still I can't pull off a decent score)
Biology-E: 590 (Highest grade in Advanced Biology. With my school system, I can't take college biology till I'm a senior)
Biology-M: 560(brutal)</p>
<p>If I take the Math IC, I'll expect a score of around 700+.</p>
<p>So from these test scores, I can actually see that my school hasn't prepared me well enough. I'm taking all the hardest classload, yet half the test material seems completely foreign to me.</p>
<p>What might be the best for me to do.</p>
<p>I see. Well, clearly you don't go to the best school ever. SAT IIs don't matter much so don't fret.</p>
<p>Those scores are lower than Harvard's median range. If you look at SAT I scores, students who are accepted score between 700-800 on the Verbal and 690-790 on the Mathematics section. I highly doubt the SAT II averages would differ. As Michele Hernandez states in "A is for Admission," SAT IIs are relatively straightforward to prepare for and is not a test designed to test aptitude.</p>
<p>Your high school's poor curriculum, unfortunately, is not a good excuse. Unless you are a URM with a strong hook, I do not believe that an acceptance letter is in your future.</p>
<p>i guess. I still don't want to post redflags to colleges when they see my subject test in the 500s or low 600s. I'm just not sure which is a bigger redflag.</p>
<p>Seeing a score of 550-600
or
Seeing the student take 2 Math subject test just to get by the requirement</p>
<p>Oh and I'm in a class of 600 students :) my school isn't the best prep and counselors pushes students to state schools even if you're rank 1 in your school.</p>
<p>xjayz: true. I know the situation I'm in and a poor curriculum isn't exactly the best excuse. I actually don't intend to even mention my schools poor curriculum in my app and just go with luck. I still feel like I have somewhat of a shot. I'm only giving myself a 2-3% chance, and I would like that my subject doesn't kill my 2-3% chance. Oh and I'm not a URM, but I do hope that my 2100 SAT I, my valedictorian status (although its shared with 15 students), and my wellrounded EC could get me in.</p>
<p>Hmm, yeah I would suggest not taking both math tests since it doesn't show much diversity, all I can really say is study hard for another test and aim for the high 600s and that should put you in a good enough spot to still be in the running.</p>
<p>Your composite score of SAT I doesn't matter; you have to have a 700+ on the Verbal and on the Mathematics (that is, if you're not a URM, developmental admit, celebrity, etc.) In addition, the fact that your valedictorian status is shared with 15 students unfortunately devalues the #1 position. Your "well rounded extracurriculars" should be outstanding at this point.</p>
<p>Tonyt88: How's freshman year going? PM me and you can join the undergraduate crowd here on CC! :)</p>
<p>I'd suggest you work to self-study these subjects to bring up your scores if you're seriously shooting for the most competitive colleges. The thing is even if you get in, you'll be entering with lots of kids whose HS HAVE prepared them for the more rigorous coursework of college, which is something to keep in mind. If you've never seen some of the material that is tested, you know you need to study to learn those subjects more thoroughly.</p>
<p>hmmm.....
Hard position to be in....</p>
<p>So hypothetically... if you were adcom and you HAD to take one of these students, who would you take</p>
<p>Student 1 and Student 2 are identical except...</p>
<p>Student 1 subject test score:
Math IC: 720
Math IIC: 720
Biology-E: 600</p>
<p>or....</p>
<p>Student 2 subject test score:
Math IIC: 720
Biology-E: 600
US History: 560</p>
<p>Who would you rather take if you had to pick one.</p>
<p>Hmmm, well I don't think they ever compare just two applicants against each other, plus if the only thing they differ by is SAT II's I would definitely bet that either both or none would be accepted, but granted the first student looks better, but hmmm i don't think one has any intense advantage over the other if this is the source of their only difference.</p>
<p>Having to choose, I would say student 1, because we said the colleged said three, but they didn't say three of different areas. The same would apply if it was Bio-E and Bio-M.</p>
<p>ah... I'm thinking about going the student 1 way. that way i guess I could keep adcoms guessing :)</p>
<p>oh if anybody else want to see the comparision, I posted the hypothetical question of this thread first page bottom post.</p>
<p>I think most adcoms would ignore the math1 if you take math2 anyway & just consider that you only took 2 different subject exams. That's what my S was advised & why he ended up taking 5 subject exams--math1, math2, bio, physics, US history.</p>
<p>What about this: I took 3 Subject tests in one day. I intended to take Bio, Math IIC, and US History but ended up taking Math IC instead of Bio b/c I didn't think I was ready. I actually scored decent on them, but best on Math IC which has the harder curve. </p>
<p>IC: 750
IIC: 740
Hist: 740</p>
<p>So if I end up taking the Bio test and scoring lower on it (like below 700) should I just send in the first three tests? Or do they see them all and just evaluate you based on the highest scores?</p>