SAT Subject Tests for Engineering Major

<p>I am currently applying to UCLA, UCSB, UCSD, Cal Poly SLO, and University of Arizona as a mechanical engineering major. I looked on the UC and CSU websites and saw that I didn't have to take subject tests to get accepted to these schools. Thinking back on it, that was dumb. Anyways, I am now in a sticky situation. There is only one SAT test date available that I could take and send the scores on time. So I was thinking about doing that for two subject tests: Math II and... I have no clue. I took Physics Honors sophomore year, AP Env. science junior year, and I am taking Chem Honors this year (I was going to take AP Physics B, but the class was cancelled due to budget cuts). I am not sure if I would even score above 700 if I were to take the Math II test. Is it worth it? Basically, what would be the best course of action for me to take at this point to ultimately help my chances of getting accepted?</p>

<p>(posted in this forum because this is the main college that I am worried about)</p>

<p>I think >700 on Math II is attainable. If you start studying now (I took the test a year removed from trig which I had completely forgotten), and I would recommend Barron’s for Math II, you could probably pull off a score you’d be happy with. </p>

<p>As far as taking either biology, chemistry, or physics and deciding which one you would perform best on, that’s up to you to evaluate. I don’t know how much AP environmental science overlaps with AP biology but if you haven’t taken an actual biology class, I’d probably avoid it, unless you’re willing to cram a large amount of info in a short period of time. If you did well in physics honors, you should go with that since studying for it would essentially be review/refresher, and with chemistry, as you’re in the class now, up to this point you may not have covered all of the concepts that could show up on the exam and hence you’d have to learn some new concepts on your own. </p>

<p>You can take 3 tests on the same day but probably by the third you’d be worn out from the first two (I don’t remember if you have control over the order in which you take the tests) and subsequently it may lower your score on at least one of them if you’re fatigued. </p>

<p>For the SAT Reasoning/ACT you have to submit scores from all your sittings, but since SAT subject tests are now optional, if you don’t do well on one of the tests I believe you might be able to utilize Score Choice to only send in your highest scores, although I am not 100% on this. If the latter is the case, I would suggest pursuing the tests because I would guess many of the applicants to a school as competitive as HSSEAS have a few subject tests under their belt. Best of luck.</p>

<p>Thanks for the response! One last little note/question, on the app i have to put down whether or not I am taking any tests after i turn in the app (nov 30 is deadline) The test is on Dec 7. So i would have to commit to one test and send it, correct?</p>

<p>Yeah I would think so, if you decide to back out of the test or cancel after taking it (post-submission of your app where you listed your plans to take it) you would have to notify the schools/provide an explanation.</p>

<p>What’s a good score for the sat science subject test?</p>