Hi, guys. I’m an international student from Bangladesh, and I plan to apply ED to Wharton, Upenn. I will sit for the SAT subject tests, on October. On Wharton’s website it’s stated that I’m required to take 2 subject tests (Math level 2 being one of them). Are two subject tests with a good score (perfect 800, hopefully) sufficient to make me a competitive applicant for Wharton? Or would there be an added benefit if I were to sit for an additional subject test? If there is some benefit, how much of a difference does it make? I understand that subject tests are a very small part of the admission process, but I ask this question, considering that all other factors are constant. To add some context to this, my SAT score is 1520. I sat for the CAIE GCE O levels and AS level examination, getting 90+ in all examinations (maximum possible grade). Hopefully, my predicted grades will be all A*'s. Not elaborating on my extracurriculars here, since the subject tests fall in the context of academics, but I’ll surely elaborate on that if needed. Thanks in advance!
No need to take more subject tests than the school asks for.
Keep in mind that Wharton is a reach for any unhooked applicant (even with perfect grades), and even more so for an international student.
Thanks so much for your advice. And yes of course, I understand that Wharton is a huge reach, regardl of my test scores. I’m just deliberating on whether I should give 2 subject tests instead of 3, so that I can focus my remaining time elsewhere. Thanks again.
Despite the fact that the original post contains a lots of wishing and hoping, I’ll play along
The most valid reason to take 3 Subject Tests is, ideally, to get 2 scores that are satisfactorily high enough according to the applicant’s standards. If you get 3 great scores, send all 3 in. Will it impact the admissions decision? IMO, no. At some point, the old adage of the thicker the file, the thicker the kid kicks in. But if it makes you feel better, go ahead and do it. That said, if preparing for the 3rd test is so time consuming that it impacts your grades, ECs, essay writing, etc., then don’t do it.
UPenn does not require subject tests. It recommends them. Its A&S college and STEM colleges each recommend two subject tests. Wharton, its business college, recommends only one, Math 2. See https://admissions.upenn.edu/admissions-and-financial-aid/what-penn-looks-for/testing. In other words, that is the key one Wharton will focus on if you submit more than one. Submitting two subject tests with high scores would be enough for Wharton, as long as one is math 2.
Thank you all for your advice! I’ve decided to take two subject tests
I think Math2+ a humanities/social science (literature, history, Foreign language) would be the best combination, especially if your ALevels are in one stream only (STEM, for example).
“Are two subject tests with a good score (perfect 800, hopefully) sufficient to make me a competitive applicant for Wharton?”
No, there is much much more to make you competitive besides test scores.
I’d say just go for Math 2 tbh. That’s what their website recs