<p>No, I'm kidding. I really don't think that. HONESTLY. But I am a little disappointed, and I've got a problem.</p>
<p>I didn't do as well as I'd hoped on the chem SAT II. I got a 730, and I was hoping for a 750+. I've already got one science SAT II done - Bio M 780. My dad is adamant that I retake the chem SAT II (well, at least he was over the phone this morning). I am equally adamant that I should NOT take it again.</p>
<p>Studying for this test was an incredibly bitter experience. I hated it every step of the way, and every time I cracked open those two prep books I had to fight with my concentration to keep it on chem. I've heard that this particular test was harder than the rest, but I don't think I can do much better the second time around, even if the test is easier. I have trouble enough just finishing the test.</p>
<p>What can I say to convince the padre to allay his fears of my being rejected from HYPS if I don't retake the test?</p>
<p>How will this impact me if I choose to go the medical path?</p>
<p>And I'm not sure if this information will help, but I'm currently a sophomore. Haven't taken the SAT I's yet. Only took the bio SAT II last year as a freshman.</p>
<p>a 730 is great for a soph, & 780 is incredible for a freshman. There are plenty of SAT II's for you to take next yr, including the near-required Math IIC. Top schools only look at your top scores, so I wouldn't worry about it. But even if they see a 730, that's not so bad.</p>
<p>well, first of all, remember that the SAT's have experimental error. I believe the score is what you receive plus/minus 30 points.</p>
<p>in addition, the score seems to be high enough to not be a "bullet to the head of your ivy app". perhaps if you plan on majoring in medicine or a similar field then the chem test might be more important, but i would keep it.</p>
<p>I feel it would be better for you to spend more time concentrating on the SAT I currently, since those carry significant value as well. And depending on your scores from those you can always go back and take SAT IIs again later. Especially since you're an entering junior you have plenty of time.</p>
<p>summary: SAT I now, then perhaps SAT IIs again.</p>
<p>Xjayz, You speak of an Amherst Open house in your profile (lol sorry if I'm being stalker) and you say that it has a 75% acceptance rate for attendees... how did you get into it in the first place?</p>
<p>720 is fine for ivies. check the MIT site for undergraduate admissions and you'll see you easily fall in the middle 50% (although thats not an ivy, its at the same level if not higher)</p>
<p>tilteddriveway - You make a good point. I'll tell my dad about it, and I guess it's a compromise of sorts.</p>
<p>What would you guess is the percentile for a 730? I mean, I've already seen several people post their chem scores, and they were all 750+, so I know the percentile can't be too great for my score, but it'd still be nice to know.</p>
<p>By the way, thank you for all your replies. (: They were very reassuring.</p>
<p>filmxoxo, Amherst sent me an application for their DiVOH (Diversity Open House) over the summer. They determine this by the pre-application information they ask for (when you request an application). The application is fairly easy to fill out; then you wait to see if you will be accepted or not!</p>
<p>I talked it over with my parents, and we decided that I should wait until I get my SAT II Math 2c score next year to see whether or not I should retake the chem. My dad's logic is that if I do well on the 2c, it'll make up for my disappointing chem score.</p>
<p>And here's the thing about why my dad's so bent on my retaking the test. We've pretty much decided that I'm going to go on to medical school and become a doctor. Since there is still chemistry ahead of me in my future, he doesn't think it'd look too good to an admissions officer to see that 730. My dad also believes that the 730 will make my bio 780 look bad because the admissions officer will just think that my bio score was just a fluke, since I did so "badly" on the chem.</p>
<p>what's worrying me is the fact that you're saying "we [my parents and i] have decided that i'm going to become a doctor". do YOU want to become a doctor? or does some other field interest you? cause you'll do better in a subject area that you are interested in, naturally. And as such, you should study for the test in that subject.</p>
<p>that may or not be chem, regardless of how much your parents wish it to be.</p>
<p>Because I'm afraid that I've learned about as much about chem as I can handle. If there's even such a thing as a learning limit. I mean, during the last week of studying, I started rereading the chapters in my prep book, and I realized that I knew everything the book was saying. But even so, I was consistently getting 720's on my practice tests.</p>
<p>Maybe it's my method of preparation, or maybe I'm just lazy.</p>
<p>But I'm not confident that I can do any better on a retake.</p>
<p>730 isn't great, but it's not horrible either. Tell your dad that if everyting else is good (GPA, SAT I, math IIc, EC's, essay, recommendations, etc) then it won't have much significance.</p>
<p>tilteddriveway - Well, there aren't any particular subject areas that interest me. I'm not one of those people who has always known what I want to be. I like biology, and being a doctor is a relatively appealing option.</p>
<p>Well they're going to see the 730 anyway. I don't see it helping much to retake it. Will it change an admission officer's mind to see that you got a 730 on chem and then re-took and got a 770? I doubt it. It might even work against you that you re-took with such a high score.</p>
<p>guys, I was wondering. These are my SAT II scores I just got back:
Chem 710
Math IIC 790
US History 680</p>
<p>I want to apply to HYPS and probably major in engineering, and have pretty good credentials otherwise (GPA, SAT I, etc.). Is it worth it to try to retake any of these? And since I just happen to find US History difficult, are there any specific subjects that are just easier to score well on than others?</p>