<p>I’m a homeschooled applicant planning to apply to the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. I know a lot of schools recommend that homeschoolers send in 2 or more SAT II’s to show competency in specific areas (even if they took the ACT instead of the SAT); however, I don’t see Duke make any mention of this. I have taken two subject tests, Biology M (660 – deserved score since I crammed for it a few days before because I was super busy) and Literature (720 without studying). </p>
<p>I wasn’t planning on sending these as I will have 50 credits (in challenging classes, not fluff stuff) from dual-enrollment at a state college by the time I graduate, and have thus far maintained a 4.0 GPA, unweighted – and I hoped that would show I could handle/do well in college courses. So should I spend the break really studying for the Bio subject tests in January, or not worry about it? </p>
<p>@starflake: Duke Admissions’ Class of 2019 Standardized Testing policy (<a href=“Apply - Duke Undergraduate Admissions”>Apply - Duke Undergraduate Admissions) follows (I am sure this is familiar to you): “All candidates for admission must complete one of the following standardized testing options: the test of the ACT, including the writing exam or the College Board SAT, plus two SAT Subject Tests. Duke requires that students send their full testing record for either the ACT or SAT and SAT Subject exams taken in high school.”</p>
<p>It’s unambiguous, and it clearly indicates that if you provide (all) ACT results (including writing), you are NOT required to submit SAT II scores. However, if you elect the SAT standardized testing option, two SAT IIs are mandatory.</p>
<p>Furthermore, from years of Duke involvement (as a admissions interviewer, among several other roles), I am sure you will not be at a competitive disadvantage if you stringently adhere to Duke’s delineated policy (quoted above).</p>
<p>@starflake, to give you a little more comfort, my daughter was homeschooled, had 56 credits from a local state-system university, and submitted only ACT scores, with no SAT subject tests. Obviously, this indicates no guarantee or even necessarily a typical result, but she was accepted.</p>
<p>Those are facts, but my opinion is that maintaining a high GPA taking difficult classes at an actual university rather than a community college is a much better predictor of performance that SAT subject tests or even AP classes. Again, don’t want to get anyone worked up, but that’s my opinion.</p>
<p>@neogeezer, congrats to your daughter, that’s very encouraging! The college I’m at used to be a community college but recently became a state college and offers a couple of bachelor degrees. It’s convenient for me since I live nearby the campus, and the classes are equivalent to those of the state flagship university (i.e., I could transfer all of my classes over without a problem if I wanted to, and simply complete my degree there).
If you don’t mind my asking, did your daughter apply through Early Decision or Regular Decision? </p>