I have noticed that a lot of the east coast schools I plan on applying to recommend SAT Subject tests. I do not plan on taking them. I have heard that AP tests are harder than their corresponding Subject tests. Therefore, do colleges view AP tests as a supplement to Subject tests?
Well, AP tests are in May so unless you take them before senior year, the results won’t be in in time for application season. And if a school says it wants a math and a science SAT2 for example, I doubt adcoms are going to say, oh, look, nevermind, he took a math and science AP so we’ll waive the requirement for RoundGenius.
Well a lot of schools require subject tests, it varies according to college. Most AP tests (like AP Chem and APUSH) will prepare you pretty well for the subject test. AP tests are not necessarily harder than subject tests, the content focus just differs. In the eyes of college admissions, subject tests and other “generic” (ACT/SAT) test scores are more important than AP scores.
AP exams are not a substitute for subject tests. If you want to apply to schools that require subject tests, then you better take them or you won’t have a competitive application otherwise.
@momofmrb and @happy1
You misread my post. I am referring to schools that RECOMMEND them. Let’s compare the AP English Lit test to the SAT Literature test. Would they be viewed similarly?
No, they would not. If colleges viewed they exams the same they would probably recommend that you take EiITHER the AP OR the SATII. But that is not the case. I would take the recommended tests for a college you want to apply to. You should figure that there will be tons of applicants who have taken every course and exam that the college recommended so you will be at a disadvantage if you do not.
Agree with @happy1. If you want to maximize your chances of getting into a school, why would you risk not following their recommendations? I don’t understand that mentality.
They probably SHOULD be viewed equally, but they are NOT.
It is best to do all “recommended” things in the application process.
Unless you are in a disadvantaged situation (e.g. first generation college student in a high school where few apply beyond the local community college or non-flagship state university) which may cause you not to know about SAT subject tests until it is too late (of course, even if you are, you know about them, since you are posting this question), you should treat “recommended” SAT subject tests as “required”.
My family can’t really afford an extra hundred dollars for subject tests, but we can’t get fee waivers.
It is certainly something you can ask your GC to ask the colleges you are interested in.
I would not ask them yourself since if they say you should take them, what choice do you have then,
My kid did not and was rejected at most colleges that recommended them but might have been anyway (other scores were in line with the schools but not perfect) however, was waitlisted at one that recommended them despite not submitting them.