Bad Jan SAT II Results - Should I Inform the Colleges Why?

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
#1

<p>Okay, so I just found out my January SAT II results and I didn't do so well. The thing is, I had the flu and was running a pretty bad fever on test day. I couldn't concentrate at all and was only able to finish one of the three SAT subject tests I registered for before I almost threw up. I'm sending an update to all my colleges to inform them of a new prestigious award I've just won, so I was wondering if I should also briefly explain the reason for my bad score in the update letter. I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses, but I just got sick at a really really bad time and there was nothing I could do about it. Should I tell them about why I pretty much failed my January SAT IIs? Or would that just make me seem whinny and immature?</p>

<p>Also, the schools I'm applying for are Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Stanford, and Cornell, so their standards are pretty high. My score was a 720 for Biology M, and I couldn't just cancel it because I'm a senior and January's the last testing date for Regular Decision applicants. In November, I had an 800 for Math II and a 790 for Chinese with Listening. Since I'm Chinese, I doubt the Chinese with Listening score's going to do anything. Would the 720 on Biology M really hurt my chances? I'm doing really well in Biology in school (99% on a 100% scale) and it's really frustrating because I KNOW that I could have done A LOT better on my Biology SAT II.</p>

<p>P.S. I'm also an international applicant from Canada, so I'm guessing my score needs to be a lot higher than that of someone applying from the US, even if we have the exact same everything else.</p>

#2

<p>^anything above 700 is good->great</p>

#3

<p>when i first read this, i thought by 'fail' you mean <650 (at the most). 720 may not be the score you want, but colleges won't penalize you for getting such a good score. especially since all my friends said it was impossible and i'm sure you got at least int he top 90th percentile.</p>

#4

<p>^ Actually a 720 in Bio M is around the 77th percentile.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, it's not going to ruin your chances. It's a decent score. I've got 800 math II, 800 physics and 720 chem - I was a bit worried like you, since I was getting 7s in IB Chem (SL), but a 720 really isn't a deal breaker. As long as it's above 700 you're fine.</p>

#5

<p>oh, my bad. but nevertheless, it definitely won't 'hurt' you.</p>

#6