<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Like many, I am in a frenzy over the scores I received this morning. I only took one SAT II in June and that was the Chemistry exam. To my dismay, I discovered I got a 700, despite 2 weeks of solid preparation. I am not one to complain or say I deserved better, but I would love any advice.</p>
<p>I am planning to apply to several competitive Ivy’s, such as MIT, Cornell, and Brown. I am looking to go into engineering, so, yes, science is one of my strong suits. And in case it matters, I need FA. Given this info, do you think a 700 would be good enough? I have already taken the most advanced chemistry class at my school, but would taking the exam again, maybe with a different review book help (I used Kaplans)? Most importantly, is a 700 going to hurt my chances of admission at the aforementioned colleges?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>To my dismay, I discovered I got a 700</p>
<p>You got a 700. Give it up. The time that passes from now until admissions is time that you need to be spending on writing your own story - 700 is passable, but even if you continue you invest yourself in your scores, you’ll end up like a lot of other folks (there are literally hundreds of ED/RA results threads in CC Top to confirm this twenty times over) - 800’s, 36’s, 4.0’s… all rejected.</p>
<p>Scores are not everything.</p>
<p>Actually, if you completed the most advanced chemistry class in your school, then a 700 is not desirable. I would highly recommend that if engineering is your focus -and science your demonstrated love - then it is imperative to score well (750 at least) on science-based subject tests.</p>
<p>Aside from that, though, I share sentiments with VatInsect. Develop your story, but do so after demonstrating strength in your intended major.</p>
<p>Hey workhard,</p>
<p>700 is NOT going to cut it if you are thinking MIT etc</p>
<p>MIT SAT subject test - Science : 720,800</p>
<p>[Admissions</a> Statistics | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/stats]Admissions”>Admissions statistics | MIT Admissions)</p>
<p>MIT is not in the Ivy League. </p>
<p>And a 700 won’t hold you back, but it won’t impress top schools either. It’s “passable,” if only barely so.</p>
<p>Keep in mind there are people who get into Ivy Leagues and comparable schools with much lower test scores. Some aren’t athletes or ‘special cases’ so once you pass a quantifiable border, the application is becomes subjective and based on the admissions officer’s opinion,</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback! One more question. As I said, I have taken the most adv. chemistry class offered at my school, but I was also the youngest person in the class (I was a sophomore in a junior class) - will colleges consider that I took the test a year earlier than most?</p>
<p>If you’re that young, then what’s the problem? Just give yourself till the end of junior (should be a year from now), and knock it out of the park with a 780-800 when you retake it. This is a silly thread if you’re really that young.</p>
<p>If the OP just finished chemistry class this year, won’t it be even harder to get a high score if he/she retakes the test next year??? Aren’t you supposed to take the subject test pretty much as soon as you finish the class - before you forget everything?</p>