DD is a rising senior interested in STEM fields and interested in applying to top tech schools as well as non-tech schools. We live in a flyover state with low representation at bi-coastal schools. She attends the local public HS which is adequate for most purposes but very ordinary. No science APs offered. She has 3.9+ GPA unweighted, probably has had the most rigorous course load of all the students at her HS (includes college math courses), will be a NMSF with the highest PSAT score her counselor has ever seen. That probably tells you more about her HS than about her.
That said, she bombed the chemistry SAT2 (<600) in June and knew she had when she took it. She took Honors Chem (no AP avail), and got an easy A. The teacher loved her and she loved the teacher. Don't think she did much test prep.
Talking things over, I don't think she learned all that much chemistry in her class and I think has a significant knowledge deficit. She plans to do Independent study in Chem as a class in her senior year to better prep for college, but meanwhile she needs a science SAT2 for tech school apps. So.......
Options:
1. Study over summer and retake Chem in October. She's overseas all summer and not sure how much she can study.
2. She wants to try Physics (also did Honors Physics and did fine) but I don't think she learned much Physics either.
3. Try both Chem and Physics in October. I think this will require a *lot* of study and would be better off focusing on one.
4. Forget about tech schools and go non-tech. She has 2 other SAT2s that are 700+ that she could use.
Argh... was not expecting this. Her older brother had taken Physics and gotten an 800 so we thought the HS classes were adequate. In retrospect, he had a much better Physics teacher (who has since left) and also significant aptitude for Physics.
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