I know that SAT subject tests are not as important anymore since many schools are no longer recommend or require them. However, I still want to take them if possible since my top schools will still be considering them.
I am a junior planning to apply to colleges as a biochemistry or chemistry major (still torn between the two options) under a pre-med track. I know for sure that I will be taking the chemistry subject test because frankly, I LOVE chemistry and know I can do well on it. However, I want to take two subject tests and I don’t know whether it’d be better to take the Math II or Biology (molecular) subject test. I have heard from friends that I should take Math II because it’s better for STEM, but I never finished learning all the material for my Precalculus class due to COVID-19 and am unsure if I’d be able to do well on it. On the other hand, I feel a lot more comfortable with taking Biology (molecular), but will taking two science tests be somewhat damaging? Or if I solely apply as a chemistry major, will a biology subject test look weird? Which should I take?
Any resources to help study for these subject tests would also be appreciated. I do not want to spend a lot of money on prep since the tests are relatively unimportant this year.
Ordinarily I would say take Math2, but you don’t want to take a test when you don’t feel you know the material well enough. Any colleges you are considering that still look at subject tests will want to see top scores. Go for Bio. It won’t look strange. If anything, it will be impressive if you can get top scores on two tests, given all the uncertainty.
As for study materials, I always recommend starting with any official material provided by College Board. There are other prep guides, but only CB materials will have official practice tests, and those are invaluable.
As of right now, some schools do still recommend subject tests. I assume OP has the skills necessary to google the schools on their list and understand the various subject test policies.
MIT is MIT. It already had that policy. MIT can tell who the top, brilliant math/tech kids are without subject scores (I’m guessing the majority of apps they were getting had 800 subject tests before they dropped them, so that didn’t differentiate kids). There are the AIME, ISEF, olympiads, etc.
IF an applicant to most colleges can still take and get high subject test scores, they will be another piece of the application. I think for 2021, even colleges where kids normally submit them won’t expect them though. Some kids may not be able to take them by ED or EA.
@ANameICallMyself@ucbalumnus@Mwfan1921
I have done research on the schools I am looking at and about half of them are still considering subject tests. I personally will not be applying to MIT (let’s be honest: they just want me to apply to keep their acceptance rates low), but my top college (Rice), although it won’t be recommending subject tests this year, it is optional.
Try review, self-study, and taking the Math 2 practice tests to see if you can get to where you can do well. Most STEM schools/majors recommend a math and a science (when they make a recommendation).
Two sciences would be better than just one, assuming schools you’re looking at recommend STs at all, but math + science would be better.