<p>AFAIK, only Georgetown still requires three SAT IIs, yet it seems the majority of CC students are taking more than 2, sometimes several more than 2, even with very high scores. Is this just the typical "if one's good more's better" CC overkill, or am I missing something? </p>
<p>My daughter got scores she was pleased with in Bio and USH, and we're doing the happy dance to be done with standardized testing (except, sigh, for APs). I could understand if a person who wasn't taking AP courses wanted to show his breadth, but if you're taking and doing well in AP courses, what's the point of 3, or 5, or 7 SAT IIs? Dartmouth and Duke (I haven't looked up other tier-1s) both say they'll only look at the two highest, anyway.</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering about this also, as DS took his two subject tests yesterday. I would have to agree that there’s probably a bit of a skew here at CC. I get the sense that science/pre-med types take some or all of the science tests, maybe to show proficiency? DS is a liberal arts kind of guy; he took the SATI once and his two SATIIs as says he’s done. Odd, that here on CC at least, that’s stance is something of a defiant one!</p>
<p>I think it’s a waste of time and money to take more than required, but some students and parents think that “more” provides something. I suspect not; two 800s were enough for my son to make the right impression.</p>
<p>My DS took 2 SAT2s (world history and bio) and he’s done. Unless he finds a school this summer that requires a math SAT2. Then, of course, he will have to take the SAT 2 Math 1. He scored well in both. He is happy. We are happy. I might be singing a different toon come September!</p>
<p>Some are necessary to get waivers provided by some of the schools based on SAT scores (I have heard of at least a waiver for language).</p>
<p>I for one am concerned to see people taking 6-8 SAT IIs and doing well in all of them and so my next question is - is my kid at a disadvantage because we said two are good but the kid can do well in 6 or whatever so why stop. But then when some schools say turn in all your scores even though we require only two, it becomes a risk to take more than needed.</p>
<p>I don’t get it either. Don’t let your insecurity about these other kids taking ridiculous amounts drive your dd to do it, too. Stay content with the two good scores she has. :)</p>
<p>texaspg: I hadn’t thought about the language waiver, but you’re right, that’s one reason to take a third test even if you only need two, especially since the language tests in general seem to have a more generous curve (although it makes sense to me to take the language test at the end of your senior year, after your last year of language, rather than at the end of your junior year or beginning of senior year).</p>
<p>But otherwise, good, I think she’s done, hurrah!</p>
<p>The cost for taking 3 is hardly more than 2, and most students here are quite competent at several subjects due to AP classes. I have Math II and Physics, but since I really love history and did well in AP US History I figured I’d take that as well since I had already studied for the AP test, which was taken the day before.</p>
<p>Since many schools require/prefer a math subject test, some students that aren’t super-confident in math skills take both subject tests to see which score is better for them as well.</p>
<p>My kids figured if they were in the room it was no trouble to stay and take three tests. Getting out of a language is certainly a good reason to take a test even if your score isn’t so high that you don’t want to use it. (For years I could post the amazingly low score that was good enough at Harvard, but I see they’ve raised it to a 700!)</p>
<p>a) For homeschoolers, SATIIs provide an outside “validation” of their work
b) Some kids take 3 or 4 with the idea that the 2 highest will count (perhaps they didn’t do terribly well on the first 2)
c) There are a few schools that actually still require 3
d) Some kids want 2 good ones plus a less-good language if the latter will get them out of a language requirement
e) Some people who don’t understand US elite college admissions persist in believing that they can force their way in with lots of high test scores</p>
<p>My son will be taking four, and this is why. He took three on Saturday–Math II and Chemistry, because many of his science/tech college choices require Math II and one Science Subject Test. Then he took Latin, because he wants to minor in Classics and has learned that he might need to craft his own minor; therefore, it would be to his benefit to show his ability to the admissions staff. </p>
<p>In fall, he’ll take the Physics Subject Test to see if he does better than he did in Chemistry, and he’ll submit the highest of the two Science scores (he’s more of a Math than a Science guy).</p>
<p>I think that most people take three to be safe, just so in case they really screw up one they don’t have to go back and retake one. But yea, 7 is way too many.</p>
<p>"many of his science/tech college choices require Math II and one Science Subject Test. " - We found the same thing. Had my son also been considering schools that required a different mix, he would have taken more than just those two. </p>
<p>Some of the students taking more than 2 SAT2s are doing so because they picked schools AFTER their first set was taken. (Often the take them due to completion of a related AP course). Or they didn’t realize it was important to pre-check the various admission websites of interest.</p>
<p>Harvard used to require 3 but discontinued that probably to expand the eligible pool. But their dean of admissions had previously made comments suggesting that they really like to see a lot of SAT2 subject scores. Even today the Harvard admissions site says:</p>
<p>Traditionally, colleges required three SAT II tests, with one of the three being the Writing test.</p>
<p>But Writing is not part of the SAT itself, and the SAT II Writing test no longer exists. </p>
<p>So it seemed logical for many colleges to drop the requirement to two SAT II tests.</p>
<p>I don’t see any particular value to taking more than two unless (1) you are a homeschooler or (2) some of the schools you are applying to want tests in specific subjects that are not your best. If school A wants a math test and school B wants a language test, but your best subjects are literature and chemistry, you might end up needing to take four tests so that you can give the best possible impression to schools C, D, and E.</p>
<p>Of course, Harvard may be a different situation. But even for Harvard, it probably makes more sense to emphasize tests that involve advanced work, such as AP or IB tests. </p>
<p>The annoying thing about SAT II tests is that they are not particularly high level, but students may still need to study some material on their own in order to prepare for them because high school curricula often do not exactly match the material that the test covers. Doing this for SAT IIs beyond what’s actually needed seems like an irritating waste of time to me.</p>
<p>It is because schools look at the highest two. If a student takes more than two, she can send the highest two and refrain from sending the others. Also, some schools use Subject Matter tests for placement in freshman classes.</p>
<p>Some colleges offer their own placement test as an alternative. Another possibility, in some instances, is to take the SAT II test at the end of senior year. This way, you only have to pay for it and waste a Saturday morning on it if you end up going to the college that wants it, and if your score is low, it cannot affect your college admissions.</p>