What if I only take 2 SAT subject tests?

Applying to College
1

<p>i posted the same question on the SAt subject test secion, but I'll ask it again here.</p>

<p>HI all,</p>

<p>I am an international student planning on applying to several top schools in the US
I know it's really hard for me to get in, given my ethnic status (i'm korean), but i'm not asking you to chance me</p>

<p>Currently, as a rising senior, I have an SAT score of 2300 (CR 750 MA 800 WR 750).
As for SAT subject tests, I have two results : 800 for Math 2 and 800 for French</p>

<p>I know that I meet the requirements at most of the colleges in the US with these scores,
with the exception of Georgetown (3 subject tests), MIT, CAltech and some other tech colleges (1 math 1 science required)</p>

<p>however, i have not seen a single person here (and I mean, not a single person) who applies to any top colleges
with less than 3 SAT subject tests. People sometimes have as many as 5 subject tests and more</p>

<p>The question : What if I apply with only 2 SAT subject tests?
Would this negativfely affect me in any way? I mean why would they ask for 2 if they actually want 3 or 4?
(especially colleges like harvard and princeton, who only chnaged to 2 this year)</p>

<p>I plan to major in economics or business, but
If I take another subject test,it would be physics (no doubt about this. please don't tell me to take history or anything)
however, if I study for this, I would need to spend a significant amount of time revising and learning new stuff,
as we've only gone over half the materials at school. I got like 500 sth on a practice test i took like 2 months ago, with some prep. (ouch)
I'd rather spend that time improving my college essays, and there is no guarantee that I would achieve an acceptable score
(I would consider anything less than an 800 a low score, given the generous curve.)</p>

<p>I am thiniking of applying to Yale SCEA (I know. hard.) should I just leave it at 2 tests or should I spend the time to take another one?
Did you or did anyone you know get accepted with the minimum required number of subject tests?
My heart tells me to leave it and improve other parts of my application, but everyone seems to have at least 3.
This might make me stand out (in a bad way) from my competitors....</p>

<p>What do you think, CC? i need some perspectives here. </p>

<p>I thank you for your help :)</p>

2

<p>Your SAT score and your SAT II subject tests are both very excellent scores.
If you feel that you can do just as well in another subject, I would highly recommend taking it. However, two is fine, but maybe for an international student, you might want three.</p>

3

<p>I took three</p>

4

<p>I think you’re fine. If you want you can send all your scores and then take an additional subject test which no one has to see if you don’t do well. Just don’t use the free score reports, wait to see how you do.</p>

5

<p>If a college requires two that is all you need. That you see on these boards that many take more does not reflect the actual total population of applicants most of whom will take two if that is what is required. Unless you are applying to: (a) Georgetown (or for science/engineering at some others which will require a science SAT II in additon to your math); or (b) Northwestern or Johns Hopkins which do not require SAT IIs but recommend three, you are fine. And you are fine with Yale – if applicants submit more than two SAT IIs, it uses the highest two for admission and you already have two 800 scores.</p>

6

<p>Do not worry about the third test and just concentrate on other parts of college app.</p>

7

<p>let me rephrase the question tho. </p>

<p>I can see now that i won’t be NEGATIVELY affected if I don’t take an additional test,</p>

<p>but would I have a reasonable ADVANTAGE if I DO take another test?</p>

8

<p>@drusba</p>

<p>do you have the link to the page where Yale says it would ONLY consider the two best scores?</p>