The website says they’re not required and my not writing the subject tests will not affect my application. But I’ve also been told that these colleges just “say” that but don’t really mean it? And I don’t want to write subjects tests. Thoughts?
I’ve posted the following numerous times on this site, but it bears repeating:
While Subject Tests are “recommended,” my belief is the reason many schools have switched to “recommended” is that some applicants from a lower socioeconomic status (SES) can’t afford more tests and/or the applicants attend a HS where no students apply to colleges where Subject Tests are requested, and therefore, may not have received the best advice from a GC.
If that does not apply to you, I am of the opinion that colleges at the top tier who request Subject Tests are expecting them from all other applicants. Although everyone will have a story about someone who was admitted without Subject Tests, my view in these cases is that there was probably more to the story (e.g. seriously hooked or lower SES).
Personally, I cannot imagine why an applicant to a school that rejects 92% of its applicants would choose to omit any part of an application. Of course, if you take them, and your scores are low, then yes, I would omit them. But I would not opt to forgo taking them in anticipation that they may be bad.
This question has also been asked before, so here are some other responses:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/2027962-sat-subject-tests-are-not-truly-optional-for-middle-upper-middle-class-applicants-at-elite-colleges-p1.html
Good luck
Thank you. After some deliberation, I think I will actually just write Math 2 & Physics. After all I’m most likely going to apply to UPenn Engineering, And I’d like to strengthen my application.