<p>I have a few questions regarding the SAT Subject Tests. I am a Junior and am thinking of applying to the Fu Foundation (Columbia Engineering) in the coming year. So on that note…</p>
<li> I took three subject tests today: Math II, Latin, and US History. I think I did well on US History and very badly on Latin and (surprisingly) not well on Math II (b/c math is my strong area). Should I (a.) Cancel my scores and simply retake the Math II (and maybe more) in October, in case I didn’t do well on Math and Latin, or (b.) Wait to see how I did and retake if necessary if I did badly?
And similarly,</li>
<li> For SAT II/Subject tests, do colleges look at only your top scores or do they consider how you did both times? I know they only look at top scores for SAT I/Reasoning but am unsure regarding SAT II’s.
Finally,</li>
<li> I spoke with someone from admissions because I’m took AP Physics C this past year and am taking AP Chem next year but Fu requires either SAT II Chem or Physics and you don’t learn all the material on the SAT Physics in AP Physics C: Mechanics. She said that I HAD to take SAT II Physics and that an AP exam score would not suffice. Will they, perhaps, weigh it less in my application since I have to independently study it over the summer and take it in October? And has anyone been in this situation?</li>
</ol>
<p>Since I am applying to Fu, it would seem that the Latin and US History SAT II’s are somewhat irrelevant, but in case I do poorly on the Latin and US History AP’s, I thought it might have been a good idea to take them to show them that I do know my subjects (although apparently I don’t know Latin anymore). In addition, I cannot cancel just one score from today; it’s all or nothing. So please remember this in your response.</p>
<p>THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
<p>Post Scriptum – I really don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but I got an 800 on Math SAT I and am in an accelerated math program at my high school, which is why I think it may (perhaps) be embarassing if I do get less than a high score on my SAT II Math.</p>
<p>{what, i’m not a perfectionist or anything…}</p>
<p>Also, what effect do other SAT II's outside of the requirement have on your application, and do colleges look down on taking non-required SAT II's?</p>
<p>Thanks,
- Tenniskh89</p>
<p>1) dont bother canceling, its not that important</p>
<p>2) top scores im pretty sure</p>
<p>3) that's news to me...i got in and i took bio as my science....seriously tho, the difference between AP physics and SAT2 fisx isnt that great. without studying you could still probably get a 700</p>
<p>Assuming you took both Mechanics and E&M, you'll have to study Thermodynamics, Optics, and "Modern Physics" (I think that's what the SAT people call it). I took AP Chemistry as well as AP Physics C, and I found that for the most part the SAT II Physics topics not covered in the AP Physics C course were covered in AP Chem in more depth than was necessary (Excluding optics...although my first-year physics course had a unit on optics. I assume that's standard?). If you've taken an honors or AP chem course, I recommend taking the chem SAT II rather than the physics. I found chem to be alot easier, and I at least think of myself as equally competent in the two subjects. </p>
<p>I did have a couple of friends who only took AP Physics C, and despite doing well in the course, did alot worse than they expected on the SAT II (something in the 600 range as I recall, despite getting 5's on the AP exam). The questions on those extra topics aren't all that difficult, but I wouldn't recommend not studying at all because they really aren't covered in AP Physics C whatsoever. </p>
<p>Showing that your balanced is definitely a good thing...from what I gathered SEAS considers it a core value of their engineering program. My SAT II's were definitely not balanced - Math Level 2 and Chem - but I did make an effort to show that I was balanced elsewhere in my application. So, it can't hurt.</p>
<p>I agree that you shouldn't cancel your test scores. If you're mathematically inclined the Math Level 2 is a breeze, so just brush up a little and take it again. Hopefully you'll have a better day.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, our AP Physics C course only covered Mechanics; we cover E&M next year with our multivariable course. However, I did do a summer course at Brown in Electrical Engineering, so hopefully that'll mean less to study. Also, SAT Chem is out of the question because, unfortunately, I do that next year as well.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your responses, though,
- Tenniskh89</p>
<p>How important are subject tests in the Columbia admissions process?</p>
<p>As a sophomore, I got:
French 760
Bio 690</p>
<p>Today I took the Math II and US tests.
I'm very good at math, but don't think I did incredible or anything on it...probably around a 750-770. And on US, i apparently missed a bunch...like maybe a 720. :(</p>
<p>Should I cancel teh scores/wait for retake/not retake at all? Will stronger parts of my app compensate for these low-ish scores?</p>
<p>Also, how important are APs in the decision process at Columbia? I feel as if they should be used more, since they're reflective of year-long studying and not just some obscure memorization questions.</p>