<p>I'd like to ask you guys some questions as I'm worried about the SAT II scores that I will submit to Harvard, Cornell, and U-Penn.</p>
<p>1) I'm concerned about my SAT II situation. Harvard still requires three. As a poli sci student, I was going to take US History, World History and French, as I know that I would get really high scores. Because of time constraints, I won't have time to prepare for US History for this Saturday's test and I'm retaking SAT I in Jan, so this will be my only opportunity. Now I'm concerned that even if I get top 700s or 800s in my World History and French, not having a third SAT score will put me at a disad. What do you guys think? I asked the transfer office and they said that since they're not really REQUIRED, it's not a big problem, but I'm still wary.</p>
<p>I wanted to be a bio major back in high school. My SAT II back then were Writing, French, and Bio. I am naturally retaking Writing under SAT I and French. Since I am now a committed poli sci student, I thought that instead of optimizing my bio score (I only got 680), I should have taken US History as I would get a much more impressive test. Now that I won't take that test, I'm afraid that they'll look at my old bio score more. What's worse is that I retook bio-M in high school, and I did the Molecular version, however, I ACTUALLY marked the Environmental option on the test, so that I automatically lost, like, 15 questions, and got an abysmal 590. Should I explain this to them or would it sound stupid?</p>
<p>So my new scores will be really good and significantly higher than those in high school, but I'm scared about the old bio's and not having a third new SAT II. What do you guys think? Btw, I'm applying as a junior.</p>
<p>Is the rest of your application spectacular enough for you to think you're in the running for harvard? (GPA 3.8+, national recognition for ECs, etc.?)</p>
<p>Your old SATIIs will be sent with your new ones in the official collegeboard record, so you have more than three. I'd say you want three 750+, so if you think you can get that in retaking a test, go for it.</p>
<p>Here's the dilemma, though. Take two tests this Saturday and, I'm hoping, come away with 800s (plus 680 on old bio) or take US History in addition after all, spend all of tomorrow cramming for it instead of reviewing for the other two tests, and get potentially get somewhat lower scores overall? I'm leaning towards former, since I don't think SAT IIs are even that important for transfers (they're not required), yet having 800s would at least call attention to itself.</p>
<p>I have my IB higher level scores at least--7 History, 7 English and 6 French which should help. I think I will explain about my Bio-E, because I don't want them to think the wrong thing. </p>
<p>As for why Harvard, I'm interested in Chinese foreign policy and Sino-US relations which I want to pursue in grad school and my current college doesn't have anybody who specializes in this and doesn't even offer those two classes. As for the price, it's my second reason. For me, Harvard would actually be the cheapest. I'm from an under 40K family. I get fin aid, but my parents refuse to pay the parental contribution. They also don't provide me with med insurance. I can't afford to buy insurance from my college and I have to tackle both my personal contribution and my parental contribution out of my pocket, which is really hard for me. Harvard has that really neat program where parents who make less than 45K aren't expected to pay the parental contribution. Harvard's grants are also the most generous.</p>
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Is the rest of your application spectacular enough for you to think you're in the running for harvard? (GPA 3.8+, national recognition for ECs, etc.?)
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<p>One does not need national recognition to be admitted into Harvard.</p>
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I can't afford to buy insurance from my college and I have to tackle both my personal contribution and my parental contribution out of my pocket, which is really hard for me. Harvard has that really neat program where parents who make less than 45K aren't expected to pay the parental contribution. Harvard's grants are also the most generous.
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<p>I think there are other Ivys that are just as generous; you would do well do research them.</p>
<p>Apply to Brown - its currently the easiest Ivy transfer (was one of the hardest a few years ago interestingly)</p>
<p>Apply to Dartmouth - Probably the most transfer friendly school in the county in terms of assimilating students into the overall culture. Also Dartmouth throws research money at people and fnancial aid is great.</p>
but you dont hvae to have this. SAT II's have little importance as a transfer student, especially with a number of classes under your belt (and even better, in those subjects with A's)</p>
<p>Yeah, I'll go with only two new ones, because I'd rather ace those than divert prep time from them to a third one that I won't do super well on. I figured they wouldn't be that important for transfer, but if I got 800s on them, it would still stand out. Can't hurt, especially since the competition is so keen. I'll try to explain about Bio-E.</p>
<p>As for fin aid, yes, I've checked all Ivies for that. I'm not interested in Dartmouth. Brown and Columbia have limited aid for transfer students (none for Brown even, I think), so I can't apply there. Yale has the same program for under 45K families, but (1) I won't get in, because my extracurricular record in high school was weak and (2) they don't have any China stuff, either. To transfer into Harvard and Yale, from what I've read on these boards before, you need REAL transfer reasons, not just stuff like "my school's too big" or "it's not stimulating enough".</p>
<p>yo, but i am afraid that brown is gonna get so much harder to get into. Brown is like my #3 right choice, out of high school, i never even considered it. let's hope things work out.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know Brown was 25% acceptance last year for transfers, but does anyone have any idea what it was like 2 or 3 years ago? How much does it change from year to year?</p>