Hello! I applied REA to Princeton, but every time that I have tried to take Subject Tests there has been a problem and I have been unable to take them. The first time, I was unable to change my registration from SAT to STs. The second, there was an issue at the testing center and a few other students and I were not able to take the subject tests we intended to. How concerned should I be that Princeton will not have these for their decision? What else can I do?
PS: I sent APs in Literature and French (which are the same subject tests I was going to take).
It could hurt you. A highly selective school gives a list of criteria for admissions. It has far far more qualified applicants than seats. How does it make the cuts,? Unless a student has some truly extra to offer a school, why shouldn’t it cut someone who hasn’t completed the admissions criteria over those with near identical profiles who did? I’d cut you, as an AO unless there is compelling reason not to do so.
Get those subject tests done so you can be considered RD or if you can get the scores in soon enough , maybe still for REA.
You have a few options…no one here can make a recommendation as we don’t know the strength of each component of the rest of your app. An applicant with no subject tests who has a 4.0 uwGPA with high rigor, all 5’s in AP tests, 99%ile SAT/ACT with strong ECs, essays, and LoRs will be relatively less disadvantaged than an applicant with a more mixed picture.
So, options:
1)Leave REA app in with no subject tests (yesterday was the last day to take tests for REA apps). Princeton’s AOs pretty consistently say that subject tests are optional and that optional means optional…but the website is worded more strongly than that and says recommended, not optional. https://admission.princeton.edu/how-apply/standardized-testing
Unless an ex-Princeton AO gives advice here we don’t really know how the lack of subject tests is perceived by the adcom…the stronger the rest of your app, the better. If you choose this route, things are out of your control, so why stress about it?
2)Change REA app to RD and take subject tests in December (the last time you can do so for RD apps). Choose this if you think you can do well enough on the subject tests to strengthen your overall app. You would be giving up any REA bump over RD for unhooked (assuming you are unhooked) applicants…but really that bump probably only exists for strong candidates who demonstrate a match to the school.
Good luck.