Calling all parents!! SAT II trouble

ezduzzit · November 4, 2004, 6:00pm

Chalk it up to bad planning or strategy.

Overworked, overwrought student is applying to a school that "recommends" taking 3 SAT II's. She is signed up to take the Math IIC on Saturday, chosen because she got 2 colleges in the school mixed up--one college asks specifically for math and the other specifically for writing. (She has done Writing and Bio and scored one over 700, one slightly under.) Though not a math student, she took honors last year and finished with an A-, and is taking Calc this year and not doing as well, probably due to an overflowing plate.

Well, she is convinced that she will do poorly Saturday. She says she is doing practice tests and getting lots wrong.

Here's the question: would it be better for her to take the test and take the chance of a poor score, or NOT take the test and apply with only 2 SAT II's?

I know you guys will have the best strategy.

voronwe · November 4, 2004, 6:08pm

Do the schools require the IIC? Neighbor's two kids both are in elite schools (though not ivies) and had the exact same problem, so the day of the test they just took Math I instead of II. Didn't hurt any of their admissions.

ezduzzit · November 4, 2004, 6:11pm

Voronwe, thanks for responding. What we have heard is that the IC covers less material but has a BRUTAL curve. School does not require this test, but it is what she is signed up for. The only other option is to bail and do Chemistry, which would just add pressure to the next 24 hours.

Northstarmom · November 4, 2004, 6:14pm

Is there another SATII that she could take that she might do better on? It's OK to take a different SAT II than one signed up for.

If not, I think she should take the test she signed up for.

voronwe · November 4, 2004, 6:18pm

OK, I see. If she skipped it she would still have 3 tests; the problem is that one wouldn't be math. So if math is required, she should go ahead and take one or other other. My son took both (don't ask me why). They (adcoms) are well aware of the curve. I really, really, REALLY wouldn't sweat it. At every school in the country, except giant factory schools, everything else counts more than SAT IIs! They are mostly for placement.

If she is freaking out, I'd say go with the I. It's just a one hour test, and it really won't kill her. I was an Ivy interviewer and am close to some colleagues at other schools, and I asked too because my S isn't a super test taker. They all said not to sweat it. BTW he is in a top ten LAC. Where is she applying? (Unless you want to hide the details, which is ok too!).

ezduzzit · November 4, 2004, 6:21pm

NSMom, see 2nd post. She was originally told by teachers not to do another science since she had one already. BTW, only one college on her list requires 3 SATII's.

She has a big community involvement project that culminates in an event next weekend, so much added stress. There should be a class in HS entitled "How not to Overbook Oneself"!

originaloog · November 4, 2004, 6:26pm

EZ, I can only relate the experience of our son. He did not want to take any SAT 2's and didn't. He appllied to Case which also recommends two or three of the tests. At the info session our son asked if the lack of the tests would make any difference. He was told it would not.

He applied to Case, was accepted and offered a $17k President's(?) Scholarship. So it seems that the info he received was accurate.

Have your daughter call Admissions and ask about this. They are in a position to give her the best advice which may be different from Case.

ezduzzit · November 4, 2004, 6:31pm

Voronwe said: If she is freaking out, I'd say go with the I. It's just a one hour test, and it really won't kill her. I was an Ivy interviewer and am close to some colleagues at other schools, and I asked too because my S isn't a super test taker. They all said not to sweat it. BTW he is in a top ten LAC. Where is she applying? (Unless you want to hide the details, which is ok too!).

I do know that you interview(ed), and I am grateful for your response, which will be worth its weight in gold to her. The school, sometimes referred to as the "loser Ivy" (!) does not appear to do interviews except occasionally alum-in-your-area things.
Too bad, as she "comes alive" when talking about her "stuff".

voronwe · November 4, 2004, 6:38pm

Even for a lesser Ivy, I 100% GUARANTEE that if she does not get in, it will NOT because of her SATII score. I assure you it is never a deal-breaker, although if she were going to major in engineering or physics and got a 500 or below, it would look odd!

I am in favor of ANYTHING that will reduce the ridiculous stress on kids! The poor girl!!! She could probably even skip it and it wouldn't matter! Again, most schools use these as placements (one school - not an Ivy - for example requires a 570 on the Math II OR you have to take a math course - ANY math course, even baby math - at the college). And again, they aren't the dealbreakers. It's a shame how the whole process makes people crazy!

Good luck to her!

ezduzzit · November 4, 2004, 6:43pm

WOOHOO! This will help her so much. I swear, this board is the best ever. It is so nice to say "Look, all these EXPERT people got your back! It's the mom and dad collective! So don't worry, and just get through the next few weeks. At Christmas, you will be sitting pretty." Thank you so much!!

momsdream · November 4, 2004, 7:23pm

You are right about the Math IC curve. My son was scheduld to take the Math IIC last May. He walked in, saw that he could switch to IC and did....and wound up with a horrible score (didn't break 600). After looking at the evaluation of his results, we realized that the curve did him in and that the Math IIc is not really harder than the IC.....just covers different material. But, the IIC is an easier high score. After this experience, I hung around the CC SAT/ACT forum for a few and found that most of the CC kids had already figured that scoring high on IIC was easier than IC. My son never switched to IIC. He was horrified with his IC score and vowed to raise it.....He re-took in Oct and raised the score 90 points. Stay away from IC if you've got a decent math program at the HS and have covered the material for IIC..

ohio_mom · November 4, 2004, 7:35pm

Ditch this Saturday. She can take it in December if she likes. My son used Kaplan - went from 680 on the first practice to 750 on the real deal. The Kaplan book doesn't overwhelm, like the Barrons. BTW, my son overbooked himself - took Math ii in October, and will take writing on Saturday (instead of both in October). My overbooked child is a play practice, but has been working on writing a little at a time for the last 2-3 weeks. I think it will work out fine.

searchingavalon · November 4, 2004, 7:48pm

"She was originally told by teachers not to do another science since she had one already." FWIW, the guy who gave the Yale information session said the opposite, that it's fine to take two history or two science or two language SATs if that's what you want to do.

dmd77 · November 4, 2004, 7:50pm

Umm, how many is "lots" wrong? The 2c, if I remember correctly, allows 5 wrong for an 800. The problem with taking the 1c is that it emphasizes geometry, which she may or may not remember.

And if the school only "recommends" 3 SATs, and nowhere else recommends them at all, skip it completely. She's got two nice scores to show.

And good luck either way.

cruella · November 4, 2004, 9:52pm

Maybe she could go and take the test on Saturday and if she doesn't have a good feeling about how she did she could cancel her score. She may as well take the test, if nothing else but for practice for the next one. Otherwise I would just try a different subject and go on Saturday anyway.

anxiousmom · November 4, 2004, 10:10pm

If school recommends it, I would definitely take it. Any ivies (loser or not) are hard to get into. If a student can't even be bothered to take the requested tests, I believe it makes it even harders. JMHO.

ezduzzit · November 5, 2004, 9:49am

Ohiomom, she IS using the Barron's book. It will be interesting to see what she thinks after a good night's sleep. Aren't December test dates too late?

marite · November 5, 2004, 10:15am

For RD. in most cases, December and January test dates are fine.

mattmom · November 5, 2004, 10:23am

The 2c is an easier high score but the percentile for the high score will be lower because people who take the 2c either are stronger math students or benefit from the easier scoring curve. Once you fall off from the 800 level on the 2C the decline is pretty rapid. In relation to other students taking the same test, a 740 on the 2C probably ranks about the same as a 690 or so on the 1C. So aside from the aesthetic appeal of the magic 7, there may not be much to choose between the two tests. Then again, a lot of this is about aesthetic appeal.

ohio_mom · November 5, 2004, 11:01am

EZ -
the Barron's books are notoriously hard - suit some kids well, others not. Missing a lot in Barron's may be giving her a false read of her actual abilities, as well as being very discouraging. If she wants a decent score projection the Real SAT II's or the Kaplan should do it - she may be in better shape than she thinks. My son's experience - Kaplan test the day before, 740- the real deal Saturday morning, 750.

If she wants to get the beastly thing out of her hair, she could take a Kaplan or Real test tonight. If its >700 and she can a good night's sleep and she's got her confidence back, then give it a shot. She can always cancel or retake in December.