Will lukewarm SAT II's hurt Ivy League prospects?

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

I’m a junior whose taken 2 SAT II’s (Bio freshman year–710; World History sophomore year–710) and is going to apply to several selective colleges in the fall. My other standardized testing scores (and GPA) are more than sufficient, but will my SAT II’s hurt my chances? I’m currently taking AP Bio so I could retake Bio II, but is it worth it if I’m not going to be a science major?

Also-- I’m taking subject tests in US and possibly literature this year, and I expect to do well in both (750+).

2

Your scores will not hurt you. Your referring to solid scores above a 700 as “lukewarm” comes across as self-deprecating IMO. That will hurt your prospects if that tone comes across in your application/essays.

Also, I deleted your shameless bump; that was not needed.

3

The thing about SAT IIs is that people are like “700+ is great!!! You’re fine!!” Really? When a 760 is 69th percentile, you think that’s fine?

I also thought mine were, as you say, lukewarm. However I think they have less of an impact on your app than other factors. Good luck!!

4

(Not to imply that 760 is that percentile for every test, of course–only that it was on the one I took.)

5

Why, yes I do. Colleges are not going to cross-reference scores against a percentile chart; they are only concerned about the number. When Ivy League schools calculate their Academic Index, there are no percentile inputs.

BTW, the reason a 760 would be 69th percentile is that SAT Subject test takers are very self-selecting. Since the vast majority of colleges neither require nor recommend subject tests, it tends to be top students applying to top schools that take these tests. Some of these tests have a harsh curve, so you make one stupid mistake and the score drops 20 points or more.

6

From what I have heard, anything above 700 checks the box (for the schools that require or recommend) but to get a boost (however slight), you need to get over 750 or even 780. So those scores will not hurt you. But there is an assumption that you take subject tests in areas that you have mastered. I do know people who took the Bio subject test in 9th grade and did so-so and then retook in 11th grade after taking AP Bio, at which point they said the test was a breeze and they did very well.