<p>FYI, for Homeschooled applicants, 2-3 SAT Subject Exams are a must! Check any school website under homeschool applicants and you will see their requirements. Some schools have specific exams they would like to see, others leave it up to you or suggest depending on your major (ie. Engineering), while others “strongly recommend” a couple of SAT Subject exams for homeschoolers. Plan accordingly!</p>
<p>Does this apply to all applicants, or just those planning a pursue a certain kind of major (e.g. math or science-related majors)? Would an English or journalism major applying to Columbia need SATs in Biology or Chemistry?</p>
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<p>No. </p>
<p>But that student should also be aware that Columbia doesn’t have an undergraduate journalism major. [Majors</a>, Concentrations, and Programs of Study | Columbia College](<a href=“http://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/affairs/programs]Majors”>Majors, Concentrations and Other Programs of Study | Columbia College)</p>
<p>Most schools don’t care what your planned major is - you can take any two subject tests (though generally not just the two math ones.) Some schools - especially engineering schools will give you more specific instructions.</p>
<p>mathmom is correct in #24, in my experience. (I would add that I doubt that it is wise for native-language speakers of foreign languages to present an 800 on the SATII in that language and expect anyone to take it seriously. But that’s not based on empirical evidence…)</p>
<p>At a school as selective as Columbia, you’ll find that most of the prospective English majors have taken AP sciences and calculus in HS, and that the prospective STEM majors have taken APs in the humanities. (If they are offered at the school.) From what I’ve seen, kids rarely get into the Ivies and the like unless they are academically strong across the board and extremely well prepared. It never hurts to demonstrate strength in disparate areas.</p>
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<p>Actually, this isn’t true. It still depends upon which schools you are considering. Neither my oldest nor my middle son needed nor took any SAT 2 tests and both got into plenty of schools (none on the “required” list, of course). Middle opted to drop Emory from consideration since they required them of homeschoolers when his other schools did not. He didn’t want to jump through more hoops. He’s going to the University of Rochester (with merit aid). He did have one AP score (yes, just one as our area doesn’t focus on them) and 3 community college classes (dual enrolled) as well as a high ACT score.</p>
<p>With regards to rumors of ACT vs SAT, I’ve had adcoms tell me they take either (of course), but a couple said they secretly prefer the ACT… so I doubt there’s much truth to the SAT deal. Maybe at different schools… or with different admissions folks. My guys take whichever test they are better at. So far, that’s been the ACT, but it was kind of a toss up for middle.</p>
<p>Reasons for a native speaker to take the SAT II, AP, or CLEP exam in that language include, waiving a foreign language requirement, earning advanced course placement in that language, and/or just finally having solid evidence of the level of fluency in that language. Happykid earned four semesters of college language credits with one 2 hour CLEP exam. Cheapest 12 credits I’ve ever paid for.</p>
<p>And yup, Consolation, my kid is clearly different from yours. I had to push her kicking and screaming into taking that CLEP exam. It was only the threat of having to take 3 credits of something to fulfill a GenEd humanities requirement in a January mini-term that got her to review the kinds of questions that would be on the CLEP and then take it. I cannot imagine what life would have been like had she needed to take the ACT/SAT/SAT II exams in high school. I would have been driven mad. Once she knew the local CC didn’t require any of that, she would have nothing to do with any of them. She took their on-site placement exams instead.</p>
<p>Re #25, exactly. My math guy took physics, math 2 and US History, because he was taking APUSH at the same time. My non-math guy also took US History, and Biology which he was taking the AP class at the time.</p>
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<p>UC allows a high score on an SAT subject or AP test in a foreign language to replace the high school foreign language requirement for freshman admissions.</p>
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<p>Most students going to four year schools go to state universities, many of which do admit by major or division.</p>
<p>^Many, perhaps. Not most. And I excluded engineering. :)</p>
<p>Why do so many people on CC seem to want all students to take science Subject Tests?</p>
<p>If the student doesn’t plan to apply to programs that specifically require a science Subject Test and if the student is likely to score higher on other Subject Tests, I don’t see the point.</p>
<p>One of my kids got into a top-20 school with Math II, Spanish, and U.S. History Subject Tests. She avoided the science tests because she expected to score higher on other tests (and she did get scores above 750 on all three tests she took). But that was several years ago. Perhaps things have changed.</p>
<p>Latichever…if a school REQUIRES SAT II subject test, they use them as a criteria for admission.</p>
<p>Typically AP exam results are not used for admissions, but are use to get college credit IF the school grants it for certain AP score levels.</p>
<p>The AP scores for senior year, for example, are NOT even available until summer following the senior year of high school.</p>
<p>The above list is a start but really if you want to know what a particular school REQUIRES look on that school website as these requirements do change from time to time.</p>
<p>Marian, perhaps there is a thought that it makes you look more well rounded.</p>
<p>Most bright students should probably take math. If you take two more US History is a natural because most schools make you take a US History course. From there if you need a third (and only a few if any elite schools still require three) taking a science is a natural - especially if you are taking an AP science.</p>
<p>In addition there are quite a few engineering programs that do require a science (usually physics or chemistry) so in a better safe than sorry world, taking one of them ensures that you are prepared for most requirements.</p>
<p>Thank you, Mathmom.</p>
<p>I was asking primarily on behalf of all the IB diploma program students out there. Sometimes, because of the structure of the IB program and the differences between IB courses and typical U.S. curricula, they are less prepared to take SAT Subject Tests in a science than in any other field. If they’re not applying for programs that specifically require a science Subject Test, they may be better off taking other tests.</p>
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<p>A science course that is part of an internationally marketed curriculum has lower standards than what is typical in US (non-AP) science courses (whose content is tested by the SAT subject tests)?</p>
<p>ucbalumnus - It’s probably not that that the “standards are lower” but rather that the specific topics covered are a bit different and/or the approach to one or more specific topics is a bit different. Either of those could easily make a difference in the exam score.</p>
<p>What she said. ^</p>
<p>Also, IB does not allow students to complete HL courses until their final year. SAT Subject Tests have to be taken earlier. This creates awkward situations.</p>
<p>I just skimmed the thread but wanted to comment that my D was admitted to Stanford and Yale last year without taking any Subject tests. So they are not required to get into some very elite schools. </p>
<p>PS She had a very good ACT (with writing) score</p>
<p>They can also help with class placement (instead of placement tests for math for instance)</p>