So I have a 780 on my math II subject test and a 720 on my physics and chemistry subject tests. Do you think I need to retake these tests if I’m aiming for top universities for engineering like MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Cornell, or do you think I’m ok?
My ACT: 35 composite (36, 36, 35, 34)
My GPA: 4.0 UW and 4.65 W
My ECs: I have very unique ECs, and I have won 2 national awards for one EC and was recognized by the government in a foreign country for another EC (international). I have more ECs along with these 2.
Do you think you can improve? While they are very good scores, your have selected very top schools where Math is probably average (or below, at Caltech) and Chem is below 25th percentile.
An application is a complete portfolio, and your other components look fine. I don’t know if you “need” to take them over. Subject tests are probably weighted less that HS grades, rigor, ACT scores, and weighted similarly to ECs, so it’s not a big gap. But if you can improve the scores without spending time that would impact other aspects, it would help.
I know majority of students who do take this test take it after AP Physics 1, 2, and C. But my school offers only AP Physics 1, which is the hardest AP offered and I got a 5 on that. Do you think my 5 could maybe waive my subject test score?
Most colleges will not give academic credit for Physics 1. So it probably would not make a difference.
For Engineering schools, the introductory Physics classes will be Calculus based. There are students who will self-study for the Physics C AP exams, but those are considered difficult tests.
Do you think a 720 might hurt me really badly? I heard subject tests are only 2-5% of the admissions decision but I’m not sure to what extent this is true.