I really think that if possible a couple of subject tests taken at the right time for best scores is a good idea just in case their list changes next fall. It certainly can’t hurt.
I think the schools requiring Subject Test is so small now, glancing over that list will quickly give you a good idea whether a school your child might apply to is on it. I sure don’t want to ‘subject’ my kid to subject tests without a good idea that they will actually be necessary. It’s mostly elite (aka $$$) and obscure schools.
Unless you are in California. UCs almost all require or recommend depending on subject.
When you are in the midwest, CA schools are both elite and obscure. 
- Currently Quinnipiac, but we still have a handful to visit (UNH close second)
- Civil Engineering
- Just really loved the campus, surrounding area, and it seemed like a laid back vibe. Oh, and hockey.
@VickiSoCal I agree with you about taking the subject tests if possible (and student is so inclined). DS took Math II and Chem Subject tests and plans to take Bio in the upcoming Spring. He takes the tests after taking AP tests in those subjects.
What if a subject test is inconsistent with SAT or ACT Subject score? Has anyone considered re-taking a subject test to improve? Not sure how that would look on applications. Also, does AP Bio more closely align with Bio-M or Bio-E?
- This week: Barnard, Sarah Lawrence, Bryn Mawr
- Psych? Art? English? Neuroscience?
- Wants SLAC, women’s college or historically women’s, driving distance from Mid-Atlantic
December ACT scores are out - S20 scored a 35! So excited for him as I know he wasn’t expecting it! He will be beyond happy to be done with testing!
That’s awesome @mountainmomof3! Congratulations to your S.
With regards to subject tests - we are a full pay family that chases merit. None of S20’s possible schools (or S19’s current list) require them. I do agree with most of the strategies presented. Most important- if your student has any possibility of needing them taking them early is key. My friend’s son took them December of senior year when he discovered he needed them last minute. His scores were not in line with his SAT of 1580. His lottery schools didn’t pan out. Maybe unrelated but who knows.
My daughter is planning on retaking Math 2 @SoccaMomma It’s recommended to take after PreCalc, but it wasn’t really on our radar after she took PreCalc so she took it after Calc BC sophomore year. She really didn’t have time to prep and went in figuring she was strong in math and would do fine. She really needed to brush up on a few of the concepts she hadn’t seen in several years. She scored 720 if I remember right. She’s planning on taking the Chem and Bio ones in the spring and figured she’d give the Math 2 another shot after reviewing this time.
Another point about taking tests early, and I was just discussing with my D this morning, is that with all the crazyiness with cheating and inconsistencies in test difficulty, if a student waits too long to take a test, and then the unthinkable happens that the test is cancelled, or scores delayed (even proctors can screw things up), then they may miss the window to submit that score in time for admissions. Just like getting your applications in early, you need to get testing done early to retain everyone’s sanity.
Absolutely @bigmacbeth. My S’s December ACT test center was canceled because of weather (and apparently many other test centers canceled as well). And don’t forget that kids may also be sick for test day, or be distracted by family/friend drama, or misbubble, or just have an off day. Plan for several test dates, just in case!
@ShrimpBurrito Thank you for the offer to share about touring Canadian Universities. D22 is only a freshman but would be interested in starting the touring process. Did you visit during open houses or scheduled tours around your schedule? Did you tour any during the summer? Thanks!
My D20 and I just had a nice, long talk. We’ve agreed that she should take a gap year after graduation next year. She’ll only be sixteen and we aren’t ready (on either side) for her to go away to college. She will decide sometime next year if that means she should start at a CC or if she just wants to spend her time honing her dance skills and working to save up for the following year. It’s a relief to have figured out what she would do though. It was starting to feel like a speeding train that she didn’t want to be on.
@milgymfam that’s great! I’m a big fan of gap years. D17 wouldn’t consider it. D20 is definitely planning on one, though she is the only kid in the junior and senior classes at her school who is (that’s only about 180 kids, to be fair.)
Her initial reaction was “gap years are for rich kids!” Eventually we talked through all the possibilties though, and it ended up being the most attractive.
I am starting to think a gap year would be a good thing for my D20 as well.
@ebh87 be aware that many schools that give National Merit scholarships won’t give the scholarship for students that take gap years. UTD makes certain exceptions on a case by case basis and with prior approval
@3scoutsmom Thank you for the information (and all the information you share here!). I will have to keep that in mind. My older kids were so easy! D20 is tougher than my other three combined as far as the college search.