Hi, I’m applying for mechanical enginnering undergrad to US. I know it sounds more reasonable to take the sat physics test but can I stand in a competitive position in admissions by taking chemistry sat test instead?
Yes, unless the college specifically requests physics. I assume you know that a math Subject Test will be necessary as well for many colleges.
Most colleges don’t require math @skieurope
Refer back to the OP’s original statement:
Almost every college that recommends Subject Tests for engineering applicants suggests that one of them be Math.
There are only five US colleges left ithat still require subject tests of all or majority of applicants – MIT, Caltech, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, and Coopers Union. All those require a math for engineering and Harvey Mudd and Caltech require the Math 2. All but Harvey Mudd also require a science and it can be chemistry. Harvey Mudd requires a second test in any subject.
There are about 15 colleges (counting the UCs as one) that recommend subject tests of all or majority of applicants, and many feel that one should treat those “recommendations” as requirments. UPenn recommends a math 2 and physics for engineering. The UCs have varying recommendations: Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego and Irvine, want the math 2 and a science that is “closely related to the applicant’s intended major,” which would suggest physics for mechanical engineering; Riverside recommends math 2 and either chemistry or physics; Santa Barbara recommends just a math 2; Merced, Davis, and Santa Cruz do not recommend subject tests. Carnegie Mellon wants a math 2 and either physics or chemistry. Princeton, Duke, and Webb Institute want a math (1 or 2) and chemistry or physics. Rice wants two “related to your area of study” and thus a math and chemistry would likely be fine for engineering there. Harvard, Yale, Lafayette, Virginia, and University of Delaware, recommend two without specification of which for engineering. although I would personally suggest a math and any science. Georgetown, Babson, and Emory also recommend subject tests (and for Georgetown it is three) but they do not have engineering.*
There are then about 42 colleges that neither require nor recommend subject tests but state they are optional or may be considered if submitted. Some of those do not have engineering. Of those with engineering, most do not mention any specifc test but Johns Hopkins mentions math 2 and any science for engineering; Rensaleer Polytechnic mentions a math and any science; and Swarthmore the math 2. For others, I would also suggest a math and any science (physics, chemistry, or biology) for engineering.
Majority of colleges, including those with engineering that do not consider subject tests for admission. For colleges ranked high in engineering by US News that group includes UIUC, Purdue, Wisconsin, Minnesoata, Virginia Tech, Washington, Maryland, Penn State, and Rose Hulman.
*Emory has a combined five year program with Georgia Tech where you can get a science degree from Emory and engineering degree from Gtech. As to the Gtech engineering side of that, Gtech neither requires nor recommends subject tests but will consider them if submitted in determining admission, and submitting a chemistry score would actually be ideal for Gtech because it will give 4 hours of college Chemistry credit to an admitted student for an SAT chemistry subject test score of 730 or higher. There is no credit offered for a high physics test score.