Are Subject SAT's a must have?

Applying to College
1

Hi,

I was just wondering if not taking subject SAT’s will put you at a disadvantage for top schools.
I plan on taking the Math 2, but if I do poorly I will not submit it. How much does not taking these subject tests put you at a disadvantage for schools like NYU Stern or similar caliber?

Thanks

2

Colleges clearly tell you what is required. Very few schools require the SAT2s now.

3

@T26E4 I know that very few require them, but I was wondering if not taking them will put me at a disadvantage since they are highly recommended.

4

If your applying to highly selective colleges it would put you at somewhat of a disadvantage seeing as Subject Tests are seen as tests to confirm your aptitude in a particular subject that you took in high school. I.e if you took AP Bio and got an A an admission officer would be expecting a high subject test score, if you instead scored low on a subject test then it would send up a red-flag as to why your scores in class don’t match up with your standardized test scores.

5

@brendauo101 Oh ok. Thanks

6

I definitely think it helped boost my son’s profile, even though only one of the schools to which he applied required the tests. He chose to submit four of the six scores. His Math II and Physics scores put him in the top 60th percentile of test takers, not on par with his SAT score, which was in a much higher percentile. His other two Subject Tests in Math I and World History were higher. I think that taking the tests showed he was fairly well rounded and prepared for college. It also helped support his application given that his school does not weight GPAs, so that his class rank did not reflect that all of his courses had been in Honors or Advanced Placement.

Unless the cost of the tests is an issue, I would advise that you take them if you are applying to competitive schools. You can choose not to submit them if you are unhappy with the scores.

7

For top schools, treat all recommended as required as most applicants would do so.

8

Here is a pretty thorough list of schools that require and/or recommend. http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/subject-test-requirements-and-recommendations/ Agree with @billcsho. For top schools, read “recommended” as “required” unless extenuating circumstances.

9

Here is another document with a thorough SAT2 requirements, although it was from 2013.
http://www.rtsd.org/cms/lib/PA01000218/Centricity/Domain/185/fall%202013%20schools%20that%20req%20or%20rec%20SAT%20Subject%20Tests.doc