Hi i have researched a great deal into top-tier universities that do not demand subject tests for admission, however, the majority of these schools such as Princeton and yale recommend the 2 subject tests, i would like to know whether this is a valid excuse:
I am an intended economics major and I take the IB and take challenging classes and i have a predicted 41/42 points
I have chosen to forgo the subject tests so that I may enrol in AP Macroeconomics & AP Microeconomics seeing that economics is not offered in my school. I have chosen to take these two AP classes and have them on my transcript over the subject tests because I felt that taking these two classes are both an absolute necessity and i am hoping me being in the IB and taking 2 additional AP classes because they aren’t offered in my school is excuse enough for not sending a subject test, if I can I may be able to complete 1 but definitely not two, can someone give me their insight
I don’t understand how enrolling in extra classes is related to not taking SAT subject tests. You sign up for the tests on your own and take them on a Saturday. I think a university would want to see a Math 2 SAT subject test for an economics major applicant. Normally a college preparatory curriculum prepares you to take this. Which math classes have you taken?
I am in IB math SL because my school doesnt offer math HL but i have a level 7 in math sl and physics HL
My reasoning is, is that my school unlike the american curriculum where you are prepared and able to take the test in the IB i have to learn lots of the content.
my justification for not taking the test and spending time studying it, is so i can spend time studying for classes that will impact me greatly(AP micro and macro econmics), my knowledge and my application,I have no time for subject tests as a result, possibly ony a physics test but unlikely, you really dont think this is excuse enoguh?
Nope. That’s not a good excuse. In fact, IMO, it’s a really bad excuse as it comes across as thinking that you are the only applicant with competing priorities. You can very easily take a math Subject Test with very little prep, IMO.
Additionally, if I’m reading your post correctly, you are planning a full IB diploma. So there is no reason to take AP Econ, and you thinking of doing so indicates to me that you are vastly underestimating the workload involved in IP. Take econ in college.
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).
For the schools that the Subject Tests are “recommended,” particularly those with very low acceptance rates, I am at a loss why an applicant would not want to submit as strong an application as possible. Now if you took Subjects Tests and had scores that were not ideal, then maybe we can have a discussion about the best course of action.
Unless there is a hardship for you to get to a testing center, recommended really means take them. You will be putting yourself at an unnecessary disadvantage otherwise.
Taking AP classes is not a valid excuse for failing to take the SAT subject tests. It’s extremely difficult to get into schools like Yale and Princeton under the best of circumstances. If you fail to take the recommended subject tests, you have practically no chance of getting in.
If you are in an IB curriculum there is absolutely no necessity to take AP classes not offered by your HS. You will have demonstrated sufficient course rigor in your HS curriculum. I’d forgo the classes and take the subject tests (although I don’t see why the classes and subject tests are an either/or proposition).
I’ve heard admissions officers from top (Ivy) college say that the SAT II tests were changed from required to recommended to help applicants who 1) had trouble affording the SAT II exams and/or 2) did not have reasonable access to SAT II exam testing centers. If you don’t fall into one of those two categories I’d take the SAT II’s to maximize your changes at these schools (which must be considered reaches for any unhooked applicant) – colleges such as Yale and Princeton have acceptance rates well under 10% and will have many highly qualified applicants who will meet all of their recommendations in terms of testing.
Do you think it would be fine if i sent 1 subject test score like Physics? or do you think that is still too little? i need both if i want a shot at admission?
I’d hold off on the question until you’ve actually taken the Subject Tests and have something to talk about. But here’s my PoV: report 2 or report none. Basically nobody takes just one Subject Test, so reporting one, IMO, comes across as trying to hide a bad score.
If you want a top tier college, you don’t remake the rules. You don’t make excuses, look for ways to slip around their expectations. Nor do you judge your circumstances different or special, in the first place.
I don’t think you understand enough about the sorts of drives and thinking that matter to them. “Recommended” doesn’t mean do whatever you wish. Your competition will be thinking differently and producing it all.
The curriculum in US schools doesn’t specifically prepare students for subject tests. Subject tests tend to have their own idiosycrasies and do not necessarily align well with the varied ways that high school classes are taught in the US. Physics is probably the most annoying example, as AP Physics 1 only covers half or two-thirds of the topics covered on the subject test.
The math subject test coverage is more straightforward. For most advanced students, math 2 is the better option.
I suggest getting official practice tests - College Board has one book with practice tests from all the subject tests. They are only one hour each. Then, if needed, get an additional prep book.
But regular or honors physics generally covers all the topics. AP Physics 1 is a bad example of aligning a HS class to a Subject Test, nor does the CB make any claim that it will. I have said many times that the CB did a disservice to students when they replaced AP Physics B with AP Physics 1 and 2. AP Physics B would have prepped the student adequately. But schools/districts also share the blame as many took the opportunity to eliminate Honors Physics when they introduced AP Physics 1.
The curriculum of an AP course is not designed to prepare one for a Subject Test. Subject tests are designed to reflect high school-level courses. AP courses are designed to be equivalent to a college course, and as such, cover the topics in less breadth and more depth. Now some schools/teachers might spend time filling in the gaps, but really the onus on preparation is on the student in this case. Considering that Subject Tests are generally only recommended/required for top tier schools, no student or their parent(s) should expect that they should be spoon-fed preparation.
The physics subject test situation is partly the College Board’s fault. Regular high school physics was sufficient to do well on the SAT subject test (formerly Achievement test) in physics. Where the old AP physics B was the honors physics option, that also was sufficient. When they split AP physics B into two one-year courses in AP physics 1 and 2, students in schools where AP physics 1 was the honors option would only get half of the material covered (they would need to take both 1 and 2 to get full coverage).
However, generally, the subject tests cover material that should be covered in regular high school courses in the US. So it is not an unreasonable expectation that a student who did well in a regular high school course in a decent quality high school in the US will be ready for the associated subject test, without needing much, or any, additional preparation.