SAT Physics scores for Engineers

<p>My score was a 670 for the Physics SAT II and a 730 for the Math IIC. I was aiming for a 700+ on both so clearly I'm a little disappointed with my physics score. Will admissions officers (engineering) recognize that I'm not in AP physics until next year and judge my score based on that? Or should I take it again in Oct or Nov to get that 700+ with a month or two of AP physics?</p>

<p>You should retake it. I got into CAS as a physics major with a 720 in Physics 800 Math II. They don’t put a ton of weight on it but it never hurts to raise your score.</p>

<p>Definitely retake it. Engineering places more weight on test scores and you want 700+ on the sat subject tests. 670 may raise some eyebrows, also considering the physics subject test has a very generous curve. </p>

<p>Can you afford another sat ii retake? As in do you need to retake the sat I? Are you applying early decision? If you are, the November sat score may not be received in time, so you would only have october to retake the sat I or ii</p>

<p>I got a 650 Critical Reading and 740 Math on the regular SAT on my second sitting, so I’m not retaking that one and I’m happy with that anyway. I’m not applying ED either so I can safely take the Nov test but I would still most likely take it in Oct. I might just retake both for the hell of it in Oct since I studied all the wrong stuff for Physics. </p>

<p>I just ask on here because my guidance counselor tries to make me feel comfortable with my scores because they’ll get me into my level schools (she clearly doesn’t have faith in me getting into Cornell and shows no support whatsoever, even though trying hard to get into Cornell will make it even easier to get into level schools). </p>

<p>But still, do you know if Adm. Officers consider AP vs non-AP students’ scores?</p>

<p>Retake it. It definitely matters more for Engineering than CAS. Even if your intended major in CAS is physics, CAS doesn’t really see you as a physics major until you apply; so as an applicant, you are more or less on the same footing as an intended English major who applies with a 670 in physics.</p>

<p>Your guidance seems to have the right idea actually. If you are unhooked, a 1390 CR/M SAT will not cut it for the College of Engineering, regular decision.</p>

<p>I will slightly disagree. I think CoE is forgiving on CR scores assuming math is top-notch. 740 is good on math is probably good enough, but you need to be a TOP math/science student. Whereas for the other colleges, top 10% is a good guideline, for CoE, you need to come across as at least top 5% (probably higher) in math/science on standardized tests/in school. If you are not one of the absolute best math/science students in your class, your chances in CoE are slim.</p>

<p>I don’t think as forgiving as you think. look here <a href=“http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000176.pdf[/url]”>http://dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000176.pdf&lt;/a&gt;, the 25th percentile for CR for engineering is the same as arts and sciences and higher than architecture and the 75th percentile is only 10 points lower than arts and sciences and fairly lower than architecture. Test scores are very important too by the CDS. 740 is good but it’s not great. </p>

<p>Also note that that data is for enrolled freshman. The accepted students’ averages are usually higher.</p>

<p>My guess is that’s more a function of the correlation between scores. Generally speaking, someone scoring well in math also scores well in CR.</p>

<p>In the end, SAT Is are worth a lot more than SAT IIs. And even for arts, they do consider what major you apply for. Overrepresented v underrepresented majors.</p>

<p>Remember in the end, scores are only part (1/3) of the package. SAT IIs make up a small part of that. Yes I would retake if you get less than 720ish, but SAT IIs aren’t such a big deal.</p>

<p>This is a good reality check. My hopes were going up of possibly getting in unhooked, when I told myself at the beginning that I’d be setting myself up for disappointment if I got my hopes up too much. Of course I won’t give up because of bad test scores since I’m still a really good student but at least I’m getting a better look at probability. </p>

<p>One last thing, do I have to send ALL of my SAT II scores to Cornell or is that just all SAT I scores?</p>