<p>Hey all, I already took my SAT and got a 2160 (790 math), as well as the math II subject test and got an 800. I'm applying to these schools: UMich, Purdue, UIUC, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgia Tech with my desired major being mechanical engineering.
I am taking AP physics this year and am signed up to take the upcoming October physics subject test. I have been studying using the Princeton Review book but the electricity and magnetism stuff is really not clicking. Seeing as I only have another week to study and memorize all of this stuff, I'm not sure if taking this subject test will hurt my chances more than it could possibly help them. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Well, you’re going to have to submit at least one science Subject Test. Try Chemistry, if you’ve studied it.</p>
<p>Why do I need a science subject test? I think Carnegie Mellon is the only one that requires 2 subject tests, so I’m going to have to rule that one out, but all the others don’t require subject tests. In fact, UIUC doesn’t even look at them.</p>
<p>Well then, don’t submit it. If they don’t need it, why are you even considering submitting the Physics score?</p>
<p>For engineering schools, particularly the more competitive ones, the SAT subject tests are useful in that they provide a double check on the students math and science ability. Physics is probably the most useful science test for engineering, but if you haven’t completed a Physics class yet, then taking the test and doing well may not be a realistic option. In that case you can either take a different science test (like chemistry) or skip it entirely and just submit you Math II score. Of course at some schools, like CMU, a science test is required, but you can always just narrow your choices to schools that don’t have that requirement (like others on your list).</p>