I just finished my junior year of high school, but I have not yet taken any SAT Subject Tests. I’m planning to apply to a bunch of STEM-heavy colleges for CS/applied math of some sort: Harvey Mudd, Johns Hopkins, UChicago, Rice, and U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Most of these schools require 2 subject tests - one in Math 2, and the other in a subject of my choice. The general rule is 1 STEM, 1 humanities, but given the heavy STEM leaning of the colleges I’m applying to, should I take the second test in STEM as well, something like Physics or Chemistry? How well would I need to do (score range)?
That’s not the general rule. There is no general rule. If the college asks for something specific, that’s the rule to follow.
Harvey Mudd requires M2 and the subject of your choice. Rice recommends 2 related to your potential studies. To kill 2 birds with one stone, take M2 and the science of your choice. As for scores, Harvey Mudd will be inundated with 800 scores, so the higher the better.
Math 2 is a no brainer. For Engineering programs, you should take a physical science (Physics or Chem). For schools with a Core, like Chicago and Rice, or Mudd, which requires liberal arts work, I’d take a Lit/Hume as a second.
Personally, I’d recommend 3: Math 2, a science and a Lit/Hume, so you can demonstrate your science chops as well as strength across disciplines. It also helps move you ahead of the pure math/science folks (who may be weak in Lit/Hume.)
There is no general rule for SATII, other than following the specific college recommendation.
If you are going for CS/Math, then take Math2 and Chem or Physics.
You can take a 3rd SAT if you are confident about a Humanities one (USH or Language etc.) but not necessary. Some colleges use SAT Foreign language in placement.
So, better to check each of the college website and do accordingly.
Regarding the physics subject test, if you take only one part of the AP physics sequence without having taken regular high school physics, you may be missing some topic coverage that is tested on the subject test.
Math 2 and Chem or Physics is what I have found for most top schools when searching Engineering/Math/CS for my D, but each school will have recommendations on their web site.
There will be 25-30,000 or more 800s on the Math 2, and the schools you list will probably have a very large number of them, you I’d say you should target upper 700s, at least. Chem/Physics are slightly better, 7-8,000 800s and 25-30% over 750, so 750 is a minimum target IMHO, for top schools.
I agree with RichInPitt that your target should be the upper 700s for Math 2, especially for the schools on your list. A score of 800 in the June 2018 Math 2 test was a 79th percentile, or an astounding 21% of takers scored 800 on that test! Equally, if not more important, is to distinguish yourself through your essays, help the AOs remember you; perhaps through your unique global perspective and your empathetic and compassionate outlook, and your demonstrated literacy in both traditional and emerging topics in math, science and technology, for example.
The frequency of 800 on math level 2 is probably because:
A. Math level 2 has a very self-selected group of test takers – those who are at least a year advanced in math (precalculus in 11th grade or earlier) and therefore a group of stronger than typical math students.
B. The scaling is probably made to avoid having math level 1 being easier to get a high score on than math level 2 for students in the above group.
Ideally you would have taken the test in May or June for whatever science you are taking this year while it’s fresh in your mind. Both my kids took 3 subject tests. The older STEM kid took Math 2, US History (very easy as he was taking APUSH that year didn’t study at all), and Physics. Younger son took Math 2, US History (also taking APUSH) and Bio. He didn’t like his math score so he retook them and tried Literature instead and did quite well with very little prep.
Yes, the best time for Subject Tests is just after you completed the relevant coursework. If you just finished your Junior year and haven’t taken any, assuming that includes this month, then that’s a bit of an issue. You need to get them in before applications this fall, so you don’t have any more classes to complete before then. But you seem to have missed this year’s May/June optimal dates.
Math 2 is best taken after pre-calc. If you just finished junior year, this either just happened or, given the schools on your list, happened a while ago (My D just took it after Freshman year). Math, fortunately, is something that is fairly well retained, IME, though I suspect detailed trig identities and the like are no longer top of mind. Ideally, you can do some studying and take it in August.
For a science or humanities, perhaps either whatever science/history you just finished junior year, with some summer study, or if you’re taking a second/AP/IB course in the fall, take that test as late as you can to have it reported in time (probably October for early or December for regular admissions).
I think it’s relatively difficult to do well on a Subject Test when you took the class 1-2 years ago, so your Jr/Sr. course schedule may dictate the best options.
Just a data point to support the comment above - Harvey Mudd is one of the few schools I’ve found that publishes any Subject Test scores on the admitted student profile.
Their Math 2 middle 50% is 760-800. Without something unique, a 760 would be the minimum I’d shoot for with a very strong application. 780 or higher would be better. Most of the other schools you mention are probably similar, with UIUC probably a fair bit lower.
A fact-free guess would be that sciences are 10-30 points lower. 730-780-ish.
You need only two SAT subject test scores if applying STEM to any college that requires or recommends such tests for admission and the most common requirement or recommendation made for STEM is a math and a science, not a math and a humanities. Best two are Math 2 and either Physics or Chemistry because that combination will successfully meet the requirements or recommendations of every college in the nation that requires or recommends two subject tests.
However, as noted above whether tests are needed depends on college. The recommendations of some are mentioned above, but you are incorrect to assume that most colleges require or recommend subject tests for STEM; it is actually a limited minority. For example, one college you mention, UIUC, does not require subject tests and does not use them to determine admission – if you submit them, the fact that you took the tests and the scores are information not provided to those who actually make the admission decisions. UChicago considers all test scores “optional,” including SAT or ACT, and though subject tests may be submitted, you should not expect them to get any significant consideration in the decision.
"I’m applying to, should I take the second test in STEM as well, something like Physics or Chemistry? How well would I need to do (score range)? "
I would take Physics, places like Harvey Mudd require two and half semesters of Physics, the most of any science, meaning they probably think it’s the more important science, regardless of major. If you were going into pre-med or chem engr, then bio or chem could make more sense.
You’ll need a 800 for sure in Math 2 as others have noted, 750 on Physics. as bluebayou noted, you can take a 3’rd non-stem since you’re already sitting for 2. Not sure on literature one though, those can be tough for stem majors, try us history if you took the class in 11th and can review over the summer.