<p>Hello. I am a prospective engineering major (bio/biomedical engineering for most schools and chemical engineering for a few). I am applying to/have applied to some competitive schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, USC, Cornell, UPenn, Johns Hopkins, etc. My safeties are UCSB, UC Davis, and Cal Poly SLO. I feel that most of my app is solid, but I am concerned about my SAT subject tests scores.</p>
<p>I took them at the end of last school year and received:
Math 2 - 730
Chemistry - 610
US History - 670</p>
<p>I am signed up to retake the Math 2 and Chemistry subject tests on December 7. The problem is I have not had any time to study for these tests. I don't feel comfortable going in the test unprepared and don't feel that I could get higher scores on my subject tests, but I know my scores are low. I already paid for both tests too, so my parents are not the happiest about this, but that is a minor issue.</p>
<p>On my UC and USC application I wrote that I plan to take Math 2 and Chem on Dec 7. If I don't take the test will this be an issue? If I take the test, but don't send my scores to these schools, will this be an issue?</p>
<p>I don't want to take the tests, get lower scores, and have it sent to schools I'm applying to. Could I wait until I see my scores and send it to the schools that will still accept it if my schools is higher?</p>
<p>I really think you need to go back through your list of schools and research which schools “require” SAT subject tests versus those who only recommend or do not make any requirement. Your subject test for math, although a 730, is approximately the 67%'tile … a 610 in chemistry is the 29th percentile, and 670 in history is 54th percentile. Applying as a prospective engineering major, at many of the schools on your list, you are competing among the best and brightest – students who have prepared for their subject tests (since a student can choose which ones they want to take and submit). I would strongly encourage you to narrow down your list to schools for which do NOT require or even recommend SAT subject tests, because at this point, in my mind, your subject test scores may hurt your application chances at many of the schools on your list. Since your applications simply are “self-reporting”, I am hoping that if the school does not require the subject tests, that even though you self-reported that you were going to take them, that you can simply say you in the end chose not to take them after all. </p>
<p>Whether it is an issue on whether you don’t choose to send the scores will absolutely matter if the school requires them (I don’t have the time to research of your schools and in the UC system, it varies by engineering program) or not.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure all of my schools require and/or strongly recommend subject tests. I will go through them all and double check for the schools I have not submitted yet.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I have time to go through and rethink my entire list. Even if the rest of my application is competitive for that school, would low subject tests really jeopardize my chances?</p>
<p>(1) UCSB and Davis are NOT safeties for anyone applying for engineering. Cal Poly . . . I don’t know.</p>
<p>(2) I’m not aware of any engineering program that doesn’t require both a math and a science subject test . . . oh no, wait - the Alabama schools! Birmingham, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa. Admission (and scholarships) are based on GPA and SAT (or ACT) score alone. Go do some research NOW. They are all excellent schools - but quite different from each other. You need to find the one that fits your interests and add it to your list. You do need a safety, and the schools you listed in your post don’t qualify.</p>
<p>I don’t know your stat’s (or anything else about you), so I couldn’t possibly tell what schools are safeties for you. And please don’t post them - this is not a chances forum.</p>
<p>And it is indeed “unfortunate” that you’ve decided not to consider any Alabama schools. If your parents are unhappy about the cost of two subject tests, imagine how thrilled they’ll be when they find out you passed up a chance to attend college for under $10k/year (if your stat’s qualify) in favor of applying to schools that’ll cost them five or six times that much!</p>
<p>But before you panic, speak to your school guidance counselor . . . it’s possible that Cal Poly is a safety for you, in which case you don’t need to apply anywhere else.</p>
<p>Purdue, UIUC, and UMN all do not require nor will use subject test scores for admission. Umich also does not require or recommend, but will consider if submitted.</p>
<p>I assume many others from Southern California would not consider going to an Alabama school either. Of the schools you list, Cal Poly, Northeastern, UPitt, Drexel, and UWashington neither require nor recommend subject tests and don’t use them if submitted (but as noted above you are now beyond the application deadline, Dec 1, for UWash). One cannot guess as to what your chances for any school are, including whether any could possibly be safeties, since the only info you provide is subject test scores.</p>
<p>As to your original questions: the fact that you mentioned on the UC and USC app that you were taking the December tests will ultimately make no difference; the only impact is that they may delay reviewing your file until the time has passed when they would expect to receive such scores if you were actually sending them, but for UCs and USC that likely makes no difference since review of files other than for determining whether your file has the required minimums needed for admission likely won’t start until mid-Jan anyway. As far as waiting until Dec scores come out, the UCs recommend that you identify one in the test application for the Dec test to assure it arrives in time, and thus send it blind, but for the others you list you can wait until you get the scores as long as you send them regular delivery quickly after getting such scores.</p>
<p>Of course not. Why would they consider attending UA (or UAB or UAH) for a total cost under $50k when they could attend UMich (or any of the other non-UC schools listed) for over $200k?</p>
<p>And look at all the other things they’d have to put up with at UA . . . no snow, accessible administration, new dorms, a competitive 4-year graduation rate, more research opportunities, better job opportunities. You’re quite right - it makes NO sense whatsoever for a Southern California resident to consider attending school in Alabama. Silly me for suggesting it! :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I am from So Cal and know of several students in our town this year who are applying to Alabama… the visibility of their football program hasn’t hurt their chances, and Dodgersmom is right – warm weather is a key factor…</p>
<p>While I doubt the three “safeties” can really be considered safeties individually, a student with the OP’s stats (as stated in other threads) would be very unlikely to be rejected at all three of them. But if an ironclad assured safety besides community college is needed, then it may be wise to add such a school (e.g. Alabama, South Dakota Mines, New Mexico Mines, Texas A&M, etc. – of course, check affordability).</p>
<p>dodgersmom: My parents were more annoyed that I didn’t have time to study. The actual monetary amount is not the issue to them, just the principle of it. I know that my parents would be able to afford the schools I am applying to since I have talked to them about this. My guidance counselor wouldn’t provide any help (lol), but I will do some research. Thank you!</p>
<p>drusba: Your response is very helpful. Thank you. I think I will take the tests this Saturday, and wait to see what I get. If my score improves, I will send it to the schools that will still consider it (which wouldn’t include the UCs). Do you think it would be a good idea to email the UCs and USC and say that I am no longer planning on retaking the test?</p>
<p>dodgersmom (2nd response): I don’t think I would like the environment at Alabama from my research of the school, so that is why I don’t want to apply. I do know that it is a great school and that does not mean I am putting it down. I just don’t think it would be a good fit for me. I do appreciate your suggestion, though!</p>
<p>ucbalumnus: I probably should add one “for-sure” safety, but it is just difficult for me to find one that I like. I will continue researching more schools and look at the schools you suggested. Thank you.</p>
<p>If you do not want to send them blind to the UCs, that does not mean you should not send them after scores are released; likely they would still arrive in time to be considered although you have some low risk otherwise. I would not send any email to the UCs or USC.</p>
<p>The problem is you wrote on your applications to UCs and USC your plans to retake the tests and now you are waffling.
That is why you don’t make promises in writing…on college applications.
Your parents are mad that you didn’t take the time to study for the SATIIs.
Senioritis?
If you don’t think you can improve your scores then you’ve already psyched yourself out.
Your call.</p>
<p>I don’t know the specifics of the OP’s senior schedule, but I doubt the issue is “senioritis.” It’s far more likely that he or she is overwhelmed with AP classes, honors projects, and pending 1st semester exams. If my senior had to retake subject tests this month, I think it really would be “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” He was already too busy in September to set aside time to retake a test!</p>