Hey everyone, rising senior here. I took 3 SAT IIs in June, and I’m happy to say that I got an 800 Math 2, 800 Chem, and 780 USH.
However, I’m most likely going to be majoring in either physics or some engineering discipline. The reason I didn’t take the physics subject test is because I’ve only taken AP Physics 1. My teacher told me that if I really wanted to take it, study the several extra topics that’s tested during summer and take the test in October. However, testing drains me, and I don’t wanna pay for another test as well. Should I still take it considering what I’ll be majoring in?
I disagree. OP has M2 and Chem. Unless the college specifically lists physics Subject Test as a requirement, OP is good to go.
College AO’s are all reasonable and educated people. They should understand that the CB’s decision to eliminate AP Physics B for AP Physics 1 & 2 was a big misstep. Nor would they hold the applicant responsible for schools’/districts’ decision to eliminate Honors Physics to make room for AP Physics 1.
@yonceonhismouth Well, I’m most likely doing engineering. @skieurope Thank you, that sounds reasonable. @ucbalumnus No, the selective ones only ask for one math and one science for engineering requirements.
800 in math 2 and 800 in chemistry should be fine for those requirements, and 780 in US history shows that you are not one dimensional.
Seems not worth it to do physics when you have not had course work covering all of the tested topics. You would have to self-study it, and it is more likely to hurt you (if you get significantly lower than 800) than perhaps marginally help you (if you get 800). Colleges realize that many students do not complete physics course(s) covering all of the tested topics before senior year of high school.
You also presumably have an AP physics 1 score to show as well, to show that you know that physics material well (assuming you did well on it).
@ucbalumnus Yeah, I got a 5 on the AP test, but I heard that AP scores don’t matter that much so that’s why I thought the subject test might be necessary. Thank you!
There is no college which specifically requires physics for anything. There are those that want two subject tests for engineering and science and for those the requirement (or recommendation) is a math and a science and the science can be chemistry instead of physics regardless of which major you want. My sense is you should declare yourself done with subject tests
@neoking - wonder what you decided to do re physics SAT?
I just saw this thread – my DS in a somewhat similar situation – he wants to major in EE & CS. He took the SAT Subject tests in Bio & Math 2 - got 800s and got a 5 on AP Physics 1. We see CMU wants Chem or Physics SAT so he plans to take it. I am trying to identify other colleges that want a science subject test close to the major you plan to study. (He took the ACT also). Thanks for any suggestions.