<p>okay so i got a 630 in US
i have never taken a course in US history, the closest thing was canadian history, which has few overlaps
my studying consisted of reading sparknotes for 5 days leading up to my test
i am looking at applying to top schools, and us history is my 3rd test (random decision i know)
but when adcoms see my transcript and that there is no history course (let alone ap like most of you) how much more lenient will they look upon my score</p>
<p>I don’t think they’ll be more lenient.</p>
<p>Im not sure if they would be lenient because they might view it as if why didnt this kid try to do a test he might have had a class in and gotten a higher score in instead of just randomly picking US history. This is just my opinion though and someone could probably be better at telling you what to think haha.</p>
<p>heres the thing
i live in canada, so different curriculum
i showed my some of my teachers sample problems from the test, and they said i would not be ready until grade 12, which is obviously too late
you have to remember too, that it is my third test
only 2 schools require three, right?</p>
<p>630 is not that horrible, anyway. It’s not excellent, but it is above the average 50% score…</p>
<p>obviously i am not at all happy with it
and if i had a month to review sparknotes, or at least two weeks, i could have cracked 700 forsure
so, use a testing date to retake?</p>
<p>ya retake if you want to apply to some good schools. remember this is a standardized test so they will NOT be more lenient simply because you didnt take some history course.</p>
<p>I would retake for sure.</p>
<p>careyprice, i would definetly reccommend retaking. At this point i would just get a review book and study it. I would recommend princeton review for us history. If you’re looking to get into top schools, 630 wont cut it. The sat II scores are not all important but they do have to be above a certain threshold (at least 700+). 630 will definetly warrant some unwanted antagonism from the adcoms. They probably will not be sympathetic towards just because you’re not American (especially at the Ivy League).</p>
<p>alright great feedback!
i have one question…
as this is my third sat II, will it matter that much, as all top schools except for 2 (HP) require only 2 subject tests? the other two are 700+</p>
<p>A 630 is a pretty good score given how little prep you did for the test, but adcoms won’t be impressed. As suggested above, they’ll just think it a little strange that you took the test when you obviously weren’t prepared for it, and wonder what that says about you. Not a problem for most schools as you generally don’t need to report that score, but some schools are now demanding that you report ALL SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests as well as all ACTs you’ve ever taken. So some will see it, unless you deliberately conceal it—but that’s grounds for automatic rejection and possibly expulsion after you’re admitted if it ever comes out that your admission was fraudulently obtained. So I wouldn’t go that route.</p>
<p>Now that you’ve taken that test and in some sense have it on your record, I’d suggest you put some concerted effort into it, and actually learn some substantial slice of U.S. history. My countrymen will salute you for it, and if you do well adcoms may be especially impressed that you went so far above and beyond your required HS curriculum.</p>