<p>So I am interested in biotechnology, which falls under Engineering at most schools. For some reason, this option of sending an SAT but having to send 2 SAT subjects in a math and physics/chemistry versus sending the ACT with writing seems a no brainer choice if you ask me. My only concern is, am I missing the catch? Even counting out the fact that I think that the ACT is fairer (and subsequently easier test to take/prepare for), why would someone choose the route of taking a standardized test AS WELL as committing to 2 subject test which may or may not be subjects you learned in school (I took AP Bio, not AP physics or AP chemistry). What are people's thoughts?</p>
<p>Well, some college ask for the SATII regardless of whether you are submitting the ACT or the SAT.</p>
<p>Taking the 2 subject tests and doing well on them reiterates to colleges that you are qualified.</p>
<p>As noted it depends on schools you are applying to. Majority of colleges neither require nor consider SAT IIs for admission so taking SAT IIs for those would be a pointless act regardless of whether you take SAT or ACT. As to colleges that require IIs, only some take ACT in lieu of both the SAT and SAT IIs, others still require IIs even if you submit ACT. </p>
<p>To show examples of the variances, here are the rules for the ten universities listed in the top ten engineering schools by US News: MIT, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell and UC Berkeley require IIs even if you submit ACT. UIUC, Gtech and Purdue don’t even consider IIs for admission. Stanford does not require IIs from anyone but recommends two regardless of whether you submit SAT or ACT and will consider them, i.e., good scores can only help for admission. Michigan neither requires nor recommends IIs but will consider them if submitted, i.e., good scores can only help.</p>