So, I’ve seen that Emory recommends (or considers if submitted) SAT subject tests for first year applicants in their study interest. I want to apply ED1 to emory and oxford, but I wont be able to take a subject test until after the deadline. My question is, how important are the subject tests? Would it be better to take one or two and hold off applying until ED2 or submit my application now without? My SAT is a 2070, ACT is 30. My GPA is an unweighted 4.0 (I think weighted its like 4.6?) I’ll have 9 APs by graduation (pretty much the most my school offers) and a strong extracurricular with Art and have showed and won in a few galleries. I’m a Georgia resident and have a legacy.
Depends on what your SAT II is. If you have a good chance getting above 700 and they are related to your major, it heavily outweighs the slightly lower acceptance rate of EDII. Your SAT/ACT are also lower than Emory average, so the SATIIs will help your application if you want EDII.
Ok so, I want to major in Biology. However, my school doesn’t teach biology after 9th grade, though I have taken 2 years of chemistry (honors and AP). Would it be better for me to take the biology subject test and probably get a lower score, or the chemistry test and get a higher score, though it is not my main area of interest but is a science?
I think it would be most impressive if you studied for the Biology subject test and did well on that one because it shows that you are truly interested to the point that you will self-study the subject and do well on it. However, if you aren’t confident that you will score well, it would be best not to take risks and take the Chemistry test.
SATII Chemistry is also believe it or not really important for biology majors because biology involves a lot of chemistry. SATII Biology is really difficult to get a full score but above 700 is fairly easy if buy a Barron’s book. You can get 65% and still go over 700.
I suggest you wait EDII if you are confident you can get above 700 for both SATIIs especially since you are majoring in biology. Your GPA is also really high btw so there Emory is a high match for you EDII with SATIIs.
@KuntaKinte I honestly feel the AP chemistry score could trump an SAT II and that taking AP chem is certainly more important for a biology major than merely taking and circling the right answers on the SATII Chemistry test. That chemistry that they teach in general biology is hardly enough to say that understanding chemistry at intermediate levels in HS is necessary (it is so apparent that they watered down or reteach the chemistry stuff in 141 accounting for the fact that people have limited chemistry experience or are taking it as a co-requisite where the important chemistry for biol 141 isn’t taught until chem 142), though it is certainly advantageous. Biology 142 for example, is mostly experimental biology and requires limited understanding of chemistry, so in theory a person who APs out of 141 could easily do well in biol 142 with no chemistry skills as long as their general problem solving skills are solid (or they can take an easy teacher like Cafferty where a greater share of the questions are at a lower level, requiring minimum problem solving skills). It helps one if a person truly wants to understand biology (say they want to do research or envision themselves being interested/doing research in molecular cell biology, biochemistry, or chemical biology), but the courses taken by biology majors can often be “learned” (basically you can make A’s) in a vacuum, in this case meaning, without understanding of other scientific disciplines and often without even learning introductory knowledge like that taught in 141. Courses do not necessarily build on each other like in chemistry, physics, or math (unfortunately I believe).
What AP chem experience COULD help with is if they actually implement the new chemistry intro. courses next year. It would prepare students for whatever is about to happen there as chemistry courses are required as a part of the chemistry major.