@azwu331 What is a bad SAT 2 Math 2 Score for BSE?
@beemane I can’t really speak for the admissions officers, but I’d assume that any score below a 700 on SAT Math II would not be seen in a good light.
@beemane Then again, your Math II scores are only one aspect of the application; the engineering committee looks at other aspects of your application as well before making a decision.
@azwu331 So a 720-760 probably wouldn’t be a deal breaker?
@beemane Probably not; however, if you have a 720-740, do realize that you might be at a disadvantage when compared with other applicants with Math II scores above 770.
Don’t worry too much about it! If you have prepared enough for Princeton’s rigorous STEM class, I think you’re fine. Just make sure that your grades in science and math classes (especially calculus, physics, and chemistry) are good and you have a shot.
And does the comittee consider AP CALC exams, if so would a 5 on AP CALC AB help?
@beemane Of course! Also, your Math II is not the only test considered by the committee; there are the other science (chemistry or physics) subject tests as well.
@whatthewhat surprisingly, not at all. no comments on my test scores. i think they did comment on my GPA but only briefly, as well as the number of AP classes i was taking. far more of their evaluation was focused on my extracirriculars and what i would bring to the campus community. they also did not compare me to my classmates (at least in the writeup)
Hey, the content difference between physics 1 and physics C mech is almost nonexistent. With physics 1 its really a good course to self study (that’s what I personally did). If you’re concerned about it, taking a crack at the AP exam might not be a bad idea. I have personally have about 19 friends who all self studied Mech and got a 4 or 5.
@azwu331 thanks for the stats
Do you know the percentiles of subject test scores that are accepted?
Like, is getting 2 800s very common for bse admits?
When is this year’s date?
@ivyyhopes 800s will certainly help your chances, but not having a perfect score will not hurt either. I personally don’t know the exact numbers for BSE admits, but I do know that many people with 770s and 780s end up getting in (while some with multiple 800s do not). Once you reach a certain threshold, the officers look beyond your test scores.
@TheMak0 Thanks for the advice! I will look into self-studying for Physics C. Hopefully it won’t be too bad. 
what is the date for this yera?
Hey guys joining this thread now I’ve been following it for awhile but haven’t said anything (sorry). Anyway, I’m applying as a BSE for biological and chemical engineering. I know they “strongly recommend” subject tests in math and either physics or chemistry, but for the science section I took the molecular biology test instead. In my application I talk about my love for biology–one of the reasons I took the biology subject test. Also, it still applies to my intended major. My school has a bit of an odd order as well: physics (freshman year), then chemistry (sophomore year), then biology (junior year), and then physics again (senior year). During my freshman and sophomore years I barely knew that subject tests existed, so I didn’t take the physics or chemistry tests. I mean, I scored well on my subject tests: Math II - 790, Biology (M) - 780. But is not taking a chemistry or physics going to kill me? Honestly, my test scores are my biggest downfall in the admissions process I believe; my SAT is a bit low too (2140 ,CR: 650, M: 720, W: 770 E: 11). How bad do you think it will hurt when they review my application for BSE?
I wouldn’t think so, tbh the physics subject test is a complete joke. An 800 on that is really not that hard if you know physics well. I literally did not sleep the night beforehand (test anxiety) and I still pulled a 750. The bio SAT is much harder and I really doubt it will make a “killer” change.
@TheMak0 Thanks!! That makes me feel a lot better :~)) !! The classes at my school are challenging, but they suck when it comes to test prep. My AP Chem teacher told us hybridization wasn’t going to be on the AP exam, but then it ended up being one of the free-response 
So I’m kind of glad I didn’t take the chemistry subject test because I probably would’ve done poorly on it
@TheMak0 Out of curiosity, what physics background did you have going into it? The new AP Physics 1/2 system kinda screws over students since a huge portion of the material is not covered, including: magnetism, induction, optics, relativity, and thermodynamics. I think it’s curved a hell of a lot though. I pulled a 770 without having formally studied any of those (just intuition and a night-before glance in my physics book). Those make up around 35% of the test according to CollegeBoard’s site. Either way I don’t think they’ll be too stringent in demanding 800s. If that were the case, I’d say the grading scale is completely messed up.
@MikeJuhuoski If you explained your interest, I don’t think anyone can fault you for trying to show your talents in the field you want to study. It’s more relevant to your situation than showing that you can do kinematics or determine the current through a circuit.
@CautiousOptimist I have a pretty strong background. I took all 4 ap classes for phys (self studied 3). I achieved the highest physics 1 score (unfortunately a 4 ;-;). I ended up with both 4’s on c mech / em. I took physics 2 for the hell of it and got a 3 (somehow the only one to pass in my school). SO I do have a strong background, but on the other hand the subject test has like a 10 question curve so. The questions are also pretty easy, basic formulas will suffice. I’m also hoping to go into physics then again. In terms of how they will look at the grading scale, I think they probably won’t look too heavily into it. I personally have friends who have scored insane numbers on every other test but have 650’s in physics. I think getting a good score might help more this year than other years.
@CautiousOptimist Thanks for your response ((: I hope the admissions committee sees it that way too.
@TheMak0 I agree that getting a good score this year will help more than other years–and not only on the physics subject test, but also the other subject tests. One of the admission officers came to my school and talked about the removal of the subject test requirement, stating that they believe “the strong students will stay strong.” I feel like it can be interpreted a lot of ways, but in the most direct way I think it’s saying that students with the subject tests are more competitive in the applicant pool than those without them.