Are SAT IIs overrated for admission?

SpecialPrancer · 06-27-2006, 10:32 PM

Some people in here are talking about SAT IIs as if they are more important than AP tests, grades, and regular ol' SAT and ACT scores! I don't get it, SAT IIs are 1 hour long tests and can hardly be considered extensive or accurate at anything besides testing your memorization of some specific subject matter. There are no free response questions or anything. Ugh, maybe I'm just bitter.

I got a 34 on my ACT but low SAT II scores. 670 for Biology and 660 for Math IC (ouch!). I'm still awaiting my results for SAT IIs in Lit and Math IIC, but I don't think they'll be any better than my previous two scores. Does this seriously hamper my chances of getting into a good school?

jimbob1225 · 06-27-2006, 10:33 PM

on this site, yes, they're highly overrated. heck, college admissions is highly overrated. i've found it's MUCH easier than it seems

Flippy · 06-28-2006, 12:47 AM

SATII scores and SATI scores are about the same weight.

In fact, UC's combine the top 2 SATII scores and the SATI score and use a score out of 4000 (2400 + 800 + 800).

SpecialPrancer · 06-28-2006, 01:08 AM

^^ Okay...so I really didn't want to hear that flippy.

Are they THAT important at every school?

Here's a thought...instead of retaking the SAT in the fall might I retake the SAT IIs instead? Given that I already got a 34 on my ACT I probably don't need to worry about improving that as much as my lousy 670 and 660 on the SAT IIs.

spinner · 06-28-2006, 01:42 AM

most schools won't require SAT II if you submit ACT
Your ACT is good enough to apply anywhere

wzzzz · 06-28-2006, 10:15 AM

Do they look APs as well? How do APs weight if you get 5s?

spinner · 06-28-2006, 10:42 AM

APs add to your whole package but I don't think they are a substitute for poor SAT scores

jimbob1225 · 06-28-2006, 10:44 AM

YEah

Dude if you have a 34 ACT, don't worry. That's awesome!

Stillmanz · 06-28-2006, 04:17 PM

SAT II's and I's aren't weighed equally. Good scores on SAT I's or ACTs are far more important than on SAT II's

Flippy · 06-28-2006, 05:51 PM

^Back it up.

SpecialPrancer · 06-28-2006, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the relief folks! Now, do you think should I still retake my SAT IIs or retake the SAT (2130 last time) instead? I did significantly better on the ACT obviously so I think that is more my style of test.

jimbob1225 · 06-28-2006, 06:06 PM

NO

Don't retake ANY SATs. If you submit the ACT, you don't HAVE to submit SAT2s. Look closely at college official sites and you will see this fact.

glucose101 · 06-28-2006, 06:07 PM

why back it up?

why do schools only post average SATs?

they could post averages of the SAT IIs if it were that important

I think it's important...but I think that:

SAT>SATII

alyssieann · 06-28-2006, 06:28 PM

SOME schools do require that you submit SAT II's, even if you submit the ACT. I don't know how important they are though, but I figure they must look at them if they ask for them.

SpecialPrancer · 06-28-2006, 06:49 PM

I've already sent my SAT II scores out to 4 colleges I am considering though. So I might as well retake them and try to up the score? They're not going to ignore them just because I sent my ACT? I actually sent my SAT (2130), SAT IIs (Math IC 660, Bio 670), and ACT (34) to the same four schools:

Cal-Berkeley
UNC-Chapel Hill
Wake Forest
Duke