<p>I’m currently a junior and I’ve started planning out my schedule for the SAT II’s. I’m definitely going to take the SAT II in US History since I take APUSH this year, but I’m having a problem deciding what other test I should take. My top choice right now for schools is, by far, Wesleyan, but from what I’ve gathered, Wes is a bit of a stickler about well-roundedness. Which leads me to my dilemma.</p>
<p>Academically, I do well in all my classes, but my strongest suit is English. I take “advanced” level math courses instead of honors, since the honors math courses at my school are brutal; however, all my other classes are honors/AP and I plan on taking AP Calculus AB senior year. My question is, should I take the Math Level 1 SAT II in addition to the US History? My other option is to take French, on which I’m positive I could do very well. But I’m not sure if Wes would rather see one humanities/history test and one math/science test. My guidance counselor (and my gut) tell me to take the math, but I’m afraid that I would get a much lower score than what I would get if I took the French. Does anyone out there have any advice?</p>
<p>I’d definitely go with the French over the lit. I say this because one, USH is already a very popular SAT II; lit is even more popular and it shows more diversity in academic prowess to take the French. This is just my suspicion, but I would imagine that one needs a really high score on the lit for it to count for much. If you are anything like me, extremely verbal but don’t always score in a way that does justice to your abilities, I would go with the French. Fewer people take the languages because of their reputation for difficulty (I took the French; it was harder than I had expected) and if you can get even a high 600 on a language test, that would look really good. If you need it, I can recommend a good prep book for the French.</p>
<p>If you take USH and French you’re not exactly spanning the qualitative/quantitative bridge, but by taking French you’re defintely diversifying some. The histories and lit, from what I am told, are considered the ‘easier’ SAT IIs whereas the math II, bio (because it can cover almost anything) and most of the langs are considered categorically harder. As for the math I, by virtue of there being a level two, you’re already at a disadvantage; if you were considering II it might be worth it, IMO, but otherwise USH and French would look fine. I took Bio-E and French. Are you planning on taking it w/ or w/o listening?</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. I’m thinking of e-mailing the school and asking if they have any subject preferences, although I’m doubtful they’ll give me a response one way or the other.</p>
<p>I was thinking of taking the French without the listening, but if it would be advantageous to take it with listening, I’ll do so. Which do you think would be better?</p>
<p>Yeah, you should probably go with French if you think you could do well. You could also take both French and either Lit or Math II.</p>
<p>OTOH, while Wes does care about well roundedness, I got in even though my SATIIs were US History and English Lit, AND my recs were from a history and an english teacher, so it’s not imparative that you show well roundedness in those areas (I had taken AP calc jr. year, though). I mean, as I said, I think it’s a good idea to take the French if you’ll do well, but it certainly not the end of the world if you don’t do the math.</p>
<p>About the listening vs. w/o, I took it without only because the date I signed up to take the test, French w/listening wasn’t offered. I think it’s only offered once a year so if you want it, make sure you know when. I don’t think it matters whether or not you take it w/listening. I have heard from some friends that the listening was easier than some of the problems sets (thus boosting their scores) and from others that it made no difference and made the whole experience more stressful. I’d probably take it without just because it’s one fewer thing to worry about. Definitely get a book; the test was harder than I had expected it to be. As for emailing the school, it’s unlikely that you’ll receive much of a response either way.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at your other posts. You test extremely well in CR/WR; not quite so strong in Math. Your ECs show you are obviously a humanities kid. Personally, I can see no reason for you to take the Math SAT II; put your energies toward raising the SAT I Math score. As for SAT IIs, focus on tests in subjects in which you think you can get the best scores. Better to have two 750s than a 750 and a 630 in pursuit of some supposed requirement of “breadth.” </p>
<p>Most schools that require SAT IIs do not require specific tests or distributions; a few do, but not most. The most common is: take two tests. </p>
<p>For example, here are some schools that ask for any two SAT IIs:</p>
<p>Columbia (except that the Engineering School specifies tests)
Dartmouth
Amherst<br>
Duke (except specific tests for engineering)
Brown<br>
Williams
Swarthmore (except Math Level 2 recommended for engineering)
Haverford
Wesleyan</p>
<p>Here are a few schools that require (Stanford strongly recommendis) two SAT IIs and give some direction as to which tests to take: </p>
<p>U Penn: Tests to take varies depending on the school or potential major, if intending to major in certain sciences</p>
<p>Rice: Asks for tests “related to proposed area of study,” which is counter to the supposed “show breadth” notion.</p>
<p>Stanford: Math Level 2 recommended</p>
<p>Pomona: Two tests not in same field, e.g., not Math Level I and Math Level II</p>
<p>One caution about the French: there are two tests. One is regular French SAT II, and the other is French with Listening. This one is only given in November, and has a listening comprehension component, which can be tricky, if you don’t practice for it, no matter how good a student you are. As a trade off, there is less grammar and reading on the test with listening, because the amount of time for each test is the same-- an hour, I think, or close to it.</p>
<p>French and History are great choices. I wouldn’t bother with the listening component; it won’t help your application but it will restrict your test dates.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all your help! I spoke with my parents a bit more on the subject today, and just to play it safe, I’m thinking of taking a total of 3 SAT II’s - U.S. History and Math Level 1 in June, and then the French (w/o listening probably, since that’s my weakness in class) in the fall. I don’t know if Wes would look at a third SAT II, but at least I’ll have the math and, if it’s very good, I can send it.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your posts. Now I can sleep fairly easy. :-)</p>
<p>Double check the dates for the French, if you decide to take it. I may not have been very clear earlier. French w/o listening is given when all the other SAT IIs are given, EXCEPT in November, when it is given with listening. I agree with 8up and foghorn. Fr w/o listening will probably be just as good on your app, unless you want to major in French, in which case taking it w/ listening would be better. I am a French teacher!</p>
<p>Just a note of warning: unless you cancel a score immediately after you take the test, you have to send all your scores. As for the French w/o listening, I think it’s annoying to schedule around. Get a book and practice some of the questions, though; they can be devilishly deceptive. You really don’t NEED 3 SAT IIs, so you can take the math, but the general impression I’ve gotten from AOs is that math I isn’t counted for as much. You can definitely relax; I think you’ll find the SAT IIs much less stressful than the SAT.</p>
<p>franglish - Thanks for clarifying. I guess I’ll go for the French then in June.</p>
<p>froghorn - If a good score on the French exam would have more weight than a lower score on the Math Level 1 exam, then French it is! Thanks for your help. :-)</p>
<p>I too think it would be a mistake to take a third SAT II unless you absolutely need it to apply or you’re extremely confident that you will do as well (or better) on the third exam as you did on the first two exams. All of your scores are sent and a low third score will be an application negative, whereas a non-existent third score will not. Choose subjects where you can get your two highest scores and focus on those tests.</p>
<p>:-), No problem. I definitely think that is the way to go and I agree with all of dntw8up’s points. Good luck! The test taking sucks but it’s good to get it over with and not have to worry about it too much Sr. year.</p>
<p>Is there a downside to taking more than the required two SAT II’s? WIll the schools only consider the two highest scores, in the same fashion as they only consider the highest SAT scores?</p>
<p>Probably not a big downside – other than having to prepare for the test. To be sure, as others have noted, schools will see all of your SAT II scores – just as they will see all of your SAT I scores. But I think schools will count only the top two SAT II scores, just as they count only your highest (superscored) SAT I scores. I wouldn’t get too paranoid about a “low” third SAT II score undermining your application.</p>
<p>Is your reason for wanting to take a third SAT II that you think you have about equal chances for a good score in the second and third subjects? (I note that there is a small handful of schools that still require three SAT IIs: H,Y,P, Georgetown come to mind.)</p>
<p>What scores are expected on the SAT IIs by the Wesleyan admissions office of serious candidates for admission? I know the line for the Ivies has always been “at least 700, but 750+ is preferred.” While Wesleyan is less numbers driven than at least some of the Ivies, I would suspect that most admitted students have scores within a certain parameter?</p>
<p>I really feel like the same parameters apply to Wesleyan as well, despite the fact that it may not be as number-driven as the Ivies are. SAT Scores are an important part of your application to Wesleyan, and even scores in the 700s are (I’m afraid to say this) the averages for many Wesleyan students who took the SATs. I’d assume that a similar trend would follow with regards to the SAT Subject Test scores.</p>