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Lupine
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 03:22 pm |
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D is trying to figure out if she needs to take 2 subject tests this fall, or whether 3 are necessary. Does anyone know of a college list which summarizes the test requirements, including number and or distribution of SAT II tests? I found a page at
http://www.monsonschools.com/guidance/sat2colleges.html
but in most cases it doesn't say how many SAT II's are required/recommended.
Also, am I correct in thinking that if a school "recommends" a certain number or distribution of SAT II tests that it is really a requirement for all except the most highly qualified /distinguished students?
If she really had her list at this point it wouldn't be much of an issue, but right now one school on her fuzzy list requires 3, and she's trying to figure out if it is worth it to study up for another test.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 03:58 pm |
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| Can't say I've seen such a list, but since you posted on the ACT thread, don't forget that many colleges will accept the ACT+W in lieu of SAT+Subject tests. (Digging thru each website recently, I was surprised at the number of highly selective colleges that will.) Last edited on Tue May 13th, 2008 03:58 pm by DesperateDad
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Descartes
Super Moderator
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 04:17 pm |
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http://www.compassprep.com/admissions_req_subjects.aspx
http://test-prep.ivywest.com/sat-subject-test-score.aspx- The Compass links will expand with more details.
- Only Georgetown, Princeton, and Harvard require 3 exams for general admission, but some specific programs within a school (like engineering) can require three, as well.
- As DD said, ACT can be substituted at many schools. But I do wonder how much additional exams above the minimum supplements admission candidacy.
- Some schools have a preference for at least one exam to be in the area of the intended major. Tech-oriented programs often have a preference for Math II and/or one science exam.
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CardinalFang
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 04:27 pm |
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I had an email conversation with an admissions counselor at Grinnell. Grinnell "recommends" three SAT IIs from homeschoolers. I was trying to get him to say that Grinnell didn't feel so strongly about that, especially for homeschoolers with outside classes. He didn't, and I got the strong feeling that the "recommendation" was really a requirement, unless the applicant walked on water.
I think that the SAT II "recommendation" at other schools is similar. If your daughter decides to apply to the school that wants three SAT IIs, I think she should take three SAT IIs.
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warblers
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 06:34 pm |
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Also, am I correct in thinking that if a school "recommends" a certain number or distribution of SAT II tests that it is really a requirement for all except the most highly qualified /distinguished students? I agree with CardinalFang but would add that many schools also use SAT IIs for placement. This is particularly true in math and foreign languages, I think.
If she really had her list at this point it wouldn't be much of an issue, but right now one school on her fuzzy list requires 3, and she's trying to figure out if it is worth it to study up for another test. Depending on the subject, she may not have to study much for a 3rd test. SAT IIs and AP cover much the same material, which is why many students take them in June after AP exams, when the material is still fresh in their minds.
Last edited on Tue May 13th, 2008 06:39 pm by warblers
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Lupine
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Posted: Tue May 13th, 2008 10:23 pm |
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Thanks so much for everyone's help -- this is great information. D is on a foreign exchange program right now, and she's in a little village that is several hours by train from the nearest place where SAT II exams (which I guess have now reverted to the old Subject Tests) are offered, so she'll have to do those this fall as a senior. Oh well.
I guess the really good news is that even though she's on exchange (perhaps because) she's thinking about these kinds of college questions and trying to ferret out the meanings of things like "recommended" or "suggested" on the college websites. That and trying to explain the popularity of Obama and the complexities of the primary/caucus/superdelegate system to a population that seems to think that Hillary is as good as elected as President.
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Deja
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Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 11:15 am |
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Descartes wrote: Tech-oriented programs often have a preference for Math II and/or one science exam.
Cornell requires the Math SAT2 for 5 of its 7 undergraduate colleges/schools, and requires two SATs total for all but one college. That one college that doesn't require SATs is the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. While SAT2s aren't required for that college, they are recommended.
My son is taking two SAT2s next month (US History and Biology).
Last edited on Fri May 16th, 2008 12:01 pm by Deja
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n2ny
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Posted: Sat Jun 7th, 2008 09:35 pm |
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Can anyone explain what colleges use the SAT subject tests for (besides placement)? Thanks.
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Fireflyscout
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Posted: Sun Jun 8th, 2008 12:56 am |
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Given varying grading/ranking systems of high schools, test scores give colleges a way to verify these elements as well as serve as a tool for comparison.
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n2ny
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Posted: Sun Jun 8th, 2008 01:31 am |
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So, if the high school is already well known to the college as academically rigorous, then SAT subject tests are less important?
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sun Jun 8th, 2008 06:37 pm |
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It is likely that scores are looked at in the context of the high school attended at some colleges, but I think it would be a false assumption that scores wouldn't be as important if you're coming from a better high school.
I would venture to guess that most colleges would expect higher subject test scores (and, for that matter, SAT/ACT scores) from a student attending a high school they felt was more rigorous than they would from a student attending a high school they knew was less rigorous. After all, the student attending the more rigorous high school would, presumably, have had a greater opportunity to develop knowledge in the subject area than one attending a less rigorous high school.
Last edited on Sun Jun 8th, 2008 06:46 pm by CarolynLawrence
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n2ny
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Posted: Sun Jun 8th, 2008 07:19 pm |
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Thanks, Carolyn. That makes sense.
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