Okay, so I’m a junior and planning on applying to a couple Ivies and Northwestern, Duke, Hopkins, etc. next year for a STEM major. I want to be involved in the medical field, so I’m definitely going to pursue a science-y major no matter where I go, but am wondering about doing engineering (specifically, biomedical or biochemical depending on options at specific colleges). The issue is I kind of suck at timed standardized tests; my scores aren’t bad by any means, but not really at Ivy level (i.e. 30 on ACT math with 34 composite, 670 on math SAT and let’s not even talk about that Math I SAT subject I took). I’m wondering if it will hurt my chances as a STEM admit if I don’t submit an SAT II Math 1/2 test score, or generally that my math scores are lower than my science and reading/writing, considering the fact that I’ve gotten A’s in every math class I’ve taken so far (which is up to AP Stats and Hon. Pre-Calc, with AP Calc BC on the line for next year). Also, is engineering a stupid decision if I want to go to medical/grad school later? Thanks 
Add some match and safety schools as well.
Engineering is not a good choice for premed, because engineering GPAs tend to be lower in general yet no slack is cut for engineers. The algorithm doesn’t input major, only GPA*MCAT, for the first cut. Further, Biomed engineering is one of the very few engineering fields that requires a graduate degree rather than allow you to start your career right away.
Unless you live in suboptimal conditions, a 670 Math SAT, the mere fact of taking SAT Math 1, or a 30 ACT Composite, would make any top 25 university nearly out of reach for a STEM major.
Why would you try to apply for an engineering major at top schools if your math scores are low? Even my middle son who has a severe math disability scored a 750 on SAT math and a 730 on the SAT II math, and would never have applied to engineering majors at top schools. He only applied to engineering majors at less selective schools (and truth be told, he lost interest in engineering when he was struggling with pre-calculus, even though he got an A in Calculus I at the community college in his senior year). It’s hard to study engineering at any school, and particularly hard at top schools.
Why not study something where you have strengths? Biology? Chemistry? English? Anything but engineering?
What are your best ECs?
your standardized testing definitely needs to go up but you have time. Good luck!
@MYOS1634 That’s what I’ve heard about engineering for premed, which definitely makes me nervous about it. I actually got a 34 composite on the ACT, just a 30 in the math section, but math is definitely not my strong suit. The science is infinitely better lol, thanks for the advice!
@sbjdorlo thanks for the response! Both of my parents are engineers, and I’ve looked through some of the coursework for engineering and it looks pretty cool, so I guess that’s why I’m interested, but I think I’m leaning more towards a biochem or other pure science major every day now. I definitely have more strengths in science (34 on sci part of ACT, 5 in AP Bio, A in AP chem, plus other science classes for next year and some science EC’s). I think my best EC’s in quick overview are that I’m going to be conducting some research in neuroscience/psychiatry this summer at a local university, I’m a two time All American Varsity cheerleader, and I play piano and violin where I have some awards/other leadership positions. I have more EC’s than that and I by no means elaborated on them completely here, but in a nutshell, that’s what they are.
You can do engineering with those scores, but getting into an elite school would be a challenge. Have you peaked at after 2 or 3 rounds of studying and testing or just taken each test once?
@AroundHere I’ve just taken each test once, but I just took the SAT again and I’m taking the ACT again in a couple weeks so hopefully I’ll improve…my PSAT was good in math (730/760) so I’m trying to be hopeful. Thanks for the response!