<p>I have to take 3 SAT II tests in November..I am definitely taking Math II, and Chem..but not sure on the third</p>
<p>Is it a bad idea for me to take Chinese (w/listening)? I am Chinese, but I was born in Toronto and lived all my life in Toronto--I do speak Chinese at home but I speak Cantonese, not Mandarin. The test is in Mandarin. I know some Mandarin, I took some classes last year but its still not really easy for me. </p>
<p>I can take physics or biology instead but it would take more studying. I'd prefer Physics over bio. I am planning on going into something in the sciences.</p>
<p>Would taking Chinese help show my all-aroundness? or should I take another science cause I am most likely going into sciences.</p>
<p>Uhhh I read your other posts and see you want to apply to all the Ivies except Dartmouth. Can I just say that Dartmouth's focus on undergrads is unparalleled because we don't have that many grad students? If you want to go into the sciences, you have a ridiculous number of oppurtunities to do research. I know people who are working in a lab their first year here. Also consider why you want to go to these schools; prestige is not a very good reason. Consider the fit and oppurtunities you'll have at that school.</p>
<p>If you have difficulty with Mandarin, I suggest against taking the SAT II because a lot of native speakers take the test so the curve is not so lenient. I would advise showing your all-aroundness which would best be accomplished by taking a history or literature SAT II.</p>
<p>Utopia19 has an excellent point. The curve on the Chinese test is brutal. I hate to say it, but the odds are high that if your last name is Chinese or you check the Asian descent box on the application, the adcoms will simply assume that you were a native speaker (as most people who take the test are, I think). That's definitely not fair to you, but it's not unlikely to happen. You'd have to go out of your way to specify somewhere in your application that you were taking that test as a nonnative.</p>
<p>I'd say that the science test is a better bet for you.</p>