<p>I was reading the testing requirements on the Yale website, and it said that the SAT II tests weren’t required if you took the ACT. As almost everyone in my school takes only the ACT (I’m from Mississippi), I was particulary intrigued. Does skipping the subject tests and just taking the Act hurt chances or does it matter?</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>I think it depends on whether or not you are good at science. Since the ACT has English, Writing, Math, and Science, it is the same as taking the SAT I and SAT II Subject tests in Writing, Math (since trig is included), and science. So, if you are good at science, take the ACT, but if not, take one optional SAT II test in something other than science and you’ll do well.</p>
<p>I agree with above poster. The ACT science is infamous for being the hardest section. It is most people’s lowest section.</p>
<p>That makes sense. My highest scores are by far English. In ninth grade I scored a 29 on the English and an 33 on the Reading. This year, tenth grade, I scored a 34 in English and a 29 in Reading. My PSAT scores were also good (tenth grade, so not eligable for NMS!) My science, however, is quite different. So I should take the SAT I and subject tests in Lit. (since writing is will be combined with the SAT), Math, and something other than science (maybe U.S. History?</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>bump…</p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt your chances. It doesn’t matter which test you submit.</p>
<p>I have another question. How helpful are alumni recs? Are they heavily considered?</p>
<p>They are probably not going to be considered more heavily just because they are from alumni. It is content that matters. A letter that gives the adcom a new and great view of you will be viewed the same whether it comes from an alum or some other person.</p>
<p>my sat were badish (660 math, 740 verbal)
my Sat 2 were really bad (writing 640, US hist. 660, german 540)
but my act were good (Comp. 33, E 35, R 36, M 29, S 31)
my AP are good for what i want to do (E.Lang 5, USgov 4, Psych4, UShist 3, AP calc AB 2)</p>
<p>and I got in EA. so if that helps anyone… I don’t think test scores matter that much as long as you are in range</p>
<p>Jimmypop3305, what were your EC’s? What was your hook for getting in EA?</p>
<p>Webviper…i took the ACT over the SAT…but they say you have to take the SAT 2s with the SAT 1 because they can use your SAT2’s for placement in classes. I really dont care about placement…i just want to get in…so i took the ACT and did better on it than the SAT…just buy the princeton review book.</p>
<p>Brooks… as far as hooks go, I founded and am captain of our local rugby team, and compete in some regional select sides. While talking to an adcom at another university (that wants me to go there w/$) they told me the main thing they liked about me was my writing. I also do a lot of acting/directing in our school’s drama academy, and I’m an attorney on the mock trial team.</p>
<p>I think hooks are relative… if you love something, and you are passionate about it, then that will show. You will be active, you’ll have awards, you’ll have all sorts of involvement. They want to see that you are going to bring something to campus. </p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>Thanks Jimmy, I appreciate your response and your wish for good luck. I was concerned because while my scores and ECs are of good quality (i.e. violinist with 3 different orchestras (concertmaster of 1 of them), founder and president of my high school’s debate club, among others of which I hold leadership positions), but my GPA was a little lower from the average (3.7 w). I am praying that Yale needs a musician/debater, and I’m really banking on those passions of mine to get me in.</p>
<p>I have a question for you all. My science background is not as strong as my other backgrounds, and I hear that the science test is really tough. Howeeeever, I took some “Real ACT” practice tests and did really well on all the science questions, because it seemed to me to be mainly chart and graph and reading interpretation. Should I still brush up on scientific facts et al before taking the ACT? What would help most?</p>
<p>all the science portion is is what you said…graph interpretation…they dont expect you to know anything more than what they tell you.</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with the Yale Session of JSA? Does it help chances for admission?</p>
<p>OH!!! WEBVIPER!..i was just in it this past summer!!!..it was the most incredible experience i have ever had! I dont know if it helps your chances but it DEFINITELY made me realize that i LOVE Yale…my interviewer and I talked about it and she was able to see that i had a serious interest in the school. Let me know if you want me to elaborate more…</p>
<p>The ACT Science test doesn’t have anything to do with things you learn in science class. It’s basically the reading section all over again, with charts and graphs added to most sections. I had a 35 ACT (36 E 35 R 34 S 33 M) and got deferred EA. I sent some very mediocre SAT II’s (760, 740, 710) last month but I don’t think it will help. I agree with the statement that test scores don’t matter a whole lot once you reach the upper half of the range for a school like Yale.</p>