I was planning to take the Sat Bio and math II subject tests. However due to the lack or honors bio and precalc courses i realized that i would have to learn a lot of extra material do do even remotely well on these tests. None of the colleges on my list require subjects and some of them don’t even consider them.
How important are subject test to the schools on my list?(Comp Sci Major):
Rutgers (S)
Penn State (S)
Maryland-CP (M)
U Miami (M)
Ohio State (M)
BU (HM)
UIUC (HM)
NYU (HM/LR)
Tulane (HM/LR)
Northeastern(HM/LR)
UFlorida (HM/LR)
UCSD (LR)
UNC Chapel Hill ®
USC ®
UCLA ®
My current weighted GPA is a 3.95. 3.71(UW). My SAT score combined is a 2120.
Basically could i get away with not taking subject tests…
I would spend the time trying to increase your SAT I score. CS at UIUC has a 6% admit rate, or something very close to that. Tulane will award merit scholarships for high SAT scores. Northeastern has become increasingly selective recently. UMC-CP has a very strong CS dept.
That is exactly why i thought that I should spend more time on the SAT I than spend time studying for SAT IIs that im not confident at all on. My concern is if the lack of subject tests will negatively impact admissons
An 800 on a subject test will not compensate for a 2120 on the SAT. Since you stated that your school curriculum has not prepared you for the subject tests and you would need to teach yourself the material, I think you should just let them go at this point. (I am assuming that you are a Sr.) If you are a Jr and have time to learn the material, then go for it, but if a Sr, you need to prioritize your time and focus on SAT I and CA essays.
Are you taking pre-calc now? To major in CS you are going to need calculus and competitive colleges will want to see that you took rigorous courses. If a school says they recommend the SAT2s they really do want them in most cases unless you have other strong evidence to show that not only did you get good grades but on you scored well on nationally normed tests. So if you have some strong AP scores that would go a long way with those schools that rec Sat 2s.
Rutgers (S) : does not use subject tests to determine admission
Penn State (S): does not use subject tests to detemine admission "
Maryland-CP (M): dos not use subject tests to detemrine admission
U Miami (M): does not use subject tests to determine admission
Ohio State (M): does not use subject tests to determine admission
BU (HM): Required only for special medical and dental programs, otherwise considered if submitted
UIUC (HM): does not use subject tests to determine admission
NYU (HM/LR): To meet testing requirement you can submit SAT, or ACT, or three subject tests or three AP tests
Tulane (HM/LR): not used to determine admission
Northeastern(HM/LR): not used to determine admission
UFlorida (HM/LR): not used to determine admission
UCSD (LR): not required but recommended for engineering and science majors only
UNC Chapel Hill ®: Considered for admission if submitted, strongly recommends Math 2 for placement after admission
USC ®: two recommended but not required
UCLA ®: recommended for engineering and science majors only.
Bottom line: none that you mention requires subject tests; most do not use them for admission; if a college considers them but neither requires nor recommends them to determine admission you are likely fine not submitting them. If the college recommends them for admission, you should seriously consider submitting them. (Note, a number of those you list do require them for home schooled freshman applicants but I assume you are not one of those.)