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After discussing this issue with my parents and other kids I go to school with, I'm still not certain what I'm going to do tomorrow morning, so I figured I will ask all the wonderfully insightful people here ;)

I'm signed up to take 3 SAT2 exams tomorrow, in writing, chemistry, and math. Last year I took the exam for world history and did well (scoring a 750). My parents feel that it would be impractical for me to take all three exams tomorrow, citing the fact that they're worried about my performance on three successive exams. Basically, at the moment we've left it that I will take writing and math first and then if I feel confident enough to take chemistry, I will.

Here's my question: If I'm planning to apply early to Brown's PLME program (8 year combined medical program), would it be prudent for me to take the chemistry exam as well? I took the AP a few weeks ago, and feel that I did rather well on it. Brown requires three SAT2 exams, preferring that one be the writing exam. Plus, candidates for PLME are advised to include a science exam in their SAT2 choice, so it seems smart to me that I should take the chemistry exam.

Any thoughts?

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Snapple:

Ordinarily, I would advise against taking 3 SATIIs at one sitting. Since you did well on the World History SAT II (congrats!) you are covered to some extent and can take more risks.
I'm also assuming that you will be applying to colleges other than Brown, so you need to cover your bases. This means you should take the SAT-II Writing as some colleges do require it. Next, take the test that you feel best prepared for. It could be the Math or it could be the Chemistry. If you do not feel exhausted after two SATIIs, take a risk and do a third SATII. If you do not do well on it, you could retake in October or November, or you could let it drop, since you already have the World History score.
By the way, my S took the AP Chem last year and scored 800 on the SATII Chem without further prep and thought it was easy. But he took only one SAT II (taking two more tomorrow). Still, if you did well on the AP, you should do well on the SATII.

Good luck tomorrow!

By Snapple05 (Snapple05) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 05:05 pm: Edit

Right, writing is the one that I'm definitely taking tomorrow, and I'm fairly certain about taking the math exam as well. I guess the major question in my mind is if I do well on the writing and math but not on chemistry would the one unusual score be overlooked (or at least minimized) by the presence of the world history exam?

By Marite (Marite) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 05:18 pm: Edit

Ordinarily, colleges take the 3 top scores. Some students take more than 3 SATIIs, and if they do well on all, that is impressive. But if they do not, as long as they do well on 3, that should be fine. In your case, the concern is whether you will be too tired to do well on the chemistry exam if it is the third one you take in one day; you should be as well prepared as can be since you just took the AP. But you can always retake it next fall if it turns out you were too tired to be careful.

By Ndbisme5 (Ndbisme5) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 05:20 pm: Edit

Go ahead and take all three tests. Getting a refund (if its even possible) will be a hassle. I took 3 SATs in a day and it wasn't too tough.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 10:52 pm: Edit

You got good advice though there obviously are no hard or fast rules about it. My kids have taken three SAT2s in one day. Since schools take the highest three scores, you have nothing really to lose tomorrow if you take three exams cause you have one high one so far. If one score is not what you are hoping for, you can either retake it in October, or else if you have three in all that are in the right ballpark, stop and be done. Chemistry makes sense to me, even if not required cause you are good at it and you are hoping to go into a related field.

Good luck tomorrow. I have a 15 year old also taking tests tomorrow, second run on the SATs, which she took for first time in March. Did 3 SAT2s in May. Might be all done after this! Though she may redo one SAT2 in October. Will decide when all this is done.

Susan

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 11:15 pm: Edit

Do you need the math? Because my experience with these med programs is that they really like to see a science. If you take the required writing and the recommended chem, and you already took the world history, you may well be done. If you don't like your score on either of the ones your take tomorrow, you can either retake one or both and throw in the math as well in the fall.

S is taking 2 SAT2s tomorrow. ON several practice sessions, he just would do poorly on the third exam regardless which one it was. So for him switching gears and sitting there that long does not appear to be productive, and he will take the Writing in the fall and possible another exam if his scores indicate a retake of one of the exams he does take tomorrow. But there are kids who have done just fine on 3 tests in a day. Just depends on you.

By Snapple05 (Snapple05) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 01:42 pm: Edit

Thanks for the advice I ended up taking all three, and feel fairly confident about each -- a few bumps here and there, but nothing too bad. I guess now we just have to wait until the scores come out to see if that was a good decision or not!

Jamimom - Often, if colleges are going to require specific SAT2 exams, they will pick writing and a math exam, plus one of your choice. I'd wanted to cover all the bases so I wouldn't be pressed for time in the fall.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 01:53 pm: Edit

Congrats, Snapple, and I hope they turned out well. I had a horrible experience with my son today with his SAT2 exams. He misplaced/lost his backpack that had his wallet, exam ticket, calculator, all id in it. And he notices this as he leaves to take the exams. I cannot even begin to tell you the turmoil he caused me and others. In the midst of all of this, I offered him a Tylenol and water, something I recommend to all exam takers as a prophylactic measure cuz you don't want to get hit with a toothache or headache in the middle of a three hour session. "Why would I need this?", he asked me.

By Snapple05 (Snapple05) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 02:06 pm: Edit

The only difficulty I had was getting really hungry halfway through my second exam. Luckily, I had a granola bar in my bag, so I ate that during the "one minute" break that they gave us between the second and third exam. I just hope nobody around me noticed my stomach rumbling ;)

I had just started the car this morning to go to my exam when I remembered that my exam ticket was sitting on the kitchen counter, so I'm sure your son isn't the only one who misplaced/lost them.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 02:20 pm: Edit

Nope. He took his at a large school. And the "problem" line was a mile long. And I am sure he was hungry as well as we did not make the planned stop to pick up a bite to eat for him. I guess I should just write this attempt off. Doubt that he did well on the exams with the all of the commotion he caused.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 02:20 pm: Edit

Nope. He took his at a large school. And the "problem" line was a mile long. And I am sure he was hungry as well as we did not make the planned stop to pick up a bite to eat for him. I guess I should just write this attempt off. Doubt that he did well on the exams with the all of the commotion he caused.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 02:20 pm: Edit

Nope. He took his at a large school. And the "problem" line was a mile long. And I am sure he was hungry as well as we did not make the planned stop to pick up a bite to eat for him. I guess I should just write this attempt off. Doubt that he did well on the exams with the all of the commotion he caused.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 02:20 pm: Edit

Nope. He took his at a large school. And the "problem" line was a mile long. And I am sure he was hungry as well as we did not make the planned stop to pick up a bite to eat for him. I guess I should just write this attempt off. Doubt that he did well on the exams with the all of the commotion he caused.

By Ohio_Mom (Ohio_Mom) on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 12:36 pm: Edit

Jamimom,
my son would have gone off the the test with a significant rip in the back of his shorts if I hadn't noticed it when we were walking the dogs. By the time of the test, he was properly clothed, fed and awake. With any luck he will not have to retake either test!

By Snapple05 (Snapple05) on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 03:55 pm: Edit

I just got my scores a bit ago and just wanted to provide a bit of an update. Everything turned out well, just as I thought it had. Thanks for all the good advice, hopefully your childrens' exams went as well