I am currently planning to take the SAT on January 24th.
Does anyone know if the admissions officer reads the file first, and then decides to wait for the new SAT score to make a decision?
The colleges you applied to no doubt advised applicants of the latest SAT date for which results would be considered. If that date included Jan. 24 then yes.
Yeah, check on the admissions website, the college will show which date is the last SAT date they’ll consider. In most cases, it is the January date, but make sure to check each individual page.