<p>Got a 620 on the Physics subject test a year ago, and I'm not sure if I should retake it (because penn sees all my scores anyway). I feel like everything else on my application is relatively fine, but I'm not sure how to address this since I haven't taken Physics in about a year. Thanks!</p>
<p>I should add that I’m looking to apply at Wharton. I have heard they care quite a bit about science/math test scores. Is this a deal breaker?</p>
<p>They don’t ‘see’ all your scores because you have to send them yourself. I’ve heard that Penn is the only school that requires all subject scores to be submitted, but there is really no way for them to check if you have adhered to their policy (this is a very grey area in college admissions, some believe that scores are the ‘property’ of the student and it is the choice of the student to reveal them to the colleges, while others say that you should follow the college’s requirements no matter what the scores are). There is no right answer for the dilemma above, and I was searching for it when I was deciding whether I should send my bad SAT I score or not. In your competition for a school such as Wharton (single digit acceptance rate), there is no single clear-cut formula for admission, but I would recommend for you to take at least the math level 2 subject test as well as another SAT in a subject that you are good at (doesn’t have to be science per se). I would also like for you to think about your safeties and matches, since Wharton is a reach for anyone, even people with perfect scores and GPAs. Many business schools in the U.S. offer the same resources as Wharton, and you don’t necessarily have to graduate from UPenn to become a successful person. Best of luck</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I’m applying to 10 schools (give or take), but Wharton is my #1. I have Math 2 and US History subject tests that I should do well on, and I was wondering if I should retake the Physics test to boost the score. I’m probably sending my Physics score in because I wouldn’t want to get into Penn with dishonesty. That being said, I’m hoping that 1 bad test isn’t going to kill my chances.</p>
<p>Not at all. I think admissions at a college such as UPenn is more than just one test score and I don’t think it’s going to kill your chances for Upenn. However, if you choose to retake physics, I would recommend the Barron’s edition, since it covers everything you need to know to get a good score on it. You can also study for bio or chem if you are set towards taking an SAT in a science subject. Some schools (MIT for instance) also require you to take an SAT in science. For MIT, a science is required for all the applicants, while many schools recommend you to take a science towards the major that you’re declaring (when they ‘recommend’, it basically means that you ‘should’). I’m hoping to be a biochem major, and so I took bio, chem, and math lvl 2. Of course, there is no specific formula. You just have to look at what you want to study and then take the SAT that is somewhat related to that field. US history and Math lvl 2 are great SAT subject tests to take, specially for a business major. Btw, only UPenn requires all your scores (even subject tests), so you don’t have to worry about sending the physics to the other 9. </p>
<p>Take the ACT so you don’t have to submit your SAT 2s</p>
<p>^ I would, but Penn requires my entire testing history, all of the tests I’ve taken. If I understand correctly, there’s no going back. Plus, I want to submit the Math 2 and US History tests because I think I’ll do well with them.</p>
<p>You could actually only submit the ACT. But as you said, if you submit the Math 2 and History results, you’d have to submit the Physics one.
I’d retake it if you think you can improve your score significantly. </p>
<p>If not, it’s not going to hurt you that much either. They will take into consideration that you were a sophomore (I’m assuming) at the time you took it. </p>