Most of the colleges that I am applying to have a regular decision deadline of January 1st. I am taking subject tests in December.
In order for the scores to be received by the colleges (ivies), do I have to submit my SAT subject scores directly, before I get a chance to view the scores for myself?
Or, can I look at my scores first and then submit my scores. Would there be enough time?
What, exactly, do you plan to do if you don’t like those scores? Change your whole list of applications?
You won’t have any time to take the tests again, so go ahead and submit. The good news is, you have a lot of time to study for those tests, so those scores will be worth sending!
It depends on college but for most you will be fine waiting to send till receipt of the scores online.
First, you need to distinguish between colleges that require subject tests and those that recommend or consider them but subject tests are not actually required. If the colleges does not actually require subject tests, and you get everything that is required in by the application deadline, then you can send the scores after you get them with some risk that the scores will not arrive in time to be considered. As long as your file is deemed complete at time of the application deadline, you can thereafter send supplemental information, including subject test scores, and colleges will consider that information as long as a final decision has not already been made on you by the time they arrive (and as long as the colleges actually consider subject tests at all-- most colleges do not). It is unlikely a college with a January 1 application deadline will have already made a final decison on you before mid-January but there is probably some small risk otherwise.
Second, with the colleges that actually require subject tests, the issue becomes whether required materials, such as test scores, must actually be in the college’s hands by the application deadline. Some do require any required test scores to be in the college’s hands by the Jan application deadline but majority accept scores that arrive within a reasonable time after the application, e.g., such as by mid-Jan. However that does not appear to be an issue with subject tests simply because: (a) there are now only 8 US colleges left that actually require subject tests* from most or all applicants, and (b) all of those accept scores that arrive after the application deadline and thus you can send them after you receive the scores. Also, you specifically mention ivies. All the ivies accept scores that arrive after their application deadline.
*Those 8 colleges are California Institute of Technology, MIT, Cooper Union (for engineering only but most applicants to CU apply for engineering), Cornell, Harvey Mudd, Rice, Tufts, and Webb. In the case of Rice and Tufts subject test scores are not required if you submit ACT.