Finally dared to check my subject test scores (chem and math 2). I’m not sure how to feel. On one hand, I was sick/dead af during that entire week. On the other hand, I was so so close. I got 790 on math (first try) and 780 on chem (second try). I’m fine with chem, I suppose, but should I retake math? I’ve been told that anything less than 800 on math 2 is not going to cut it.
You’ve been told wrong. The scores are excellent. Move on to other parts of the application process.
If you are concerned about the percentile, it is important to understand that for several subjects, the percentiles are depressed because so few colleges request Subject Tests, that the one that do are the ultra selective ones. As a result, it is the high achieving kids taking the tests. No AO is sitting on the floor cross-referencing scores with percentiles.
I just posted this elsewhere, so I’m going to just copy and paste here:
SAT, SATII and ACT scores are like tallness in NBA. You need to be pretty tall to make the NBA roster, but beyond that point, tallness makes no difference. Just as someone 7’ tall isn’t necessarily a better player than someone 6’ 6" (remember one M. Jordan?), scoring 800 isn’t any better than someone scoring 780 as far adcoms are concerned. Colleges know that there’s NO correlation between high test scores and success, for which reason they decided to go “holistic” in admissions approach.
Yeah, you were told wrong. The analogy I used is from Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers,” by the way. Move on.
Alright, thanks @skieurope and @TiggerDad! I’ve decided to not retake them, especially since I probably won’t have the time.