I am going to take 2 SAT subject tests within a couple of months, but no school I am interested in requires subject tests. Should I still take them or not? and if I do take the tests, would I be forced by the colleges to send my scores?
If you are applying to schools that recommend subject tests, then yes, take them. If they are not recommended, it’s not necessary.
^^Agreed.
To answer your second question, most colleges allow for score choice so you don’t have to send in scores you don’t feel will help your application. Check the websites and find the policy of each college you plan to apply to.
What about schools that “consider” scores. Seems some say recommended, and some say considered. If a student is seeking merit, would their application seem incomplete at scores that consider SAT subject tests?
The subject test is plainly to show your further knowledge in a particular subject. For instance, if you want to major in Math and you send your Math II score ( provided it’s good enough ), it signals to the school your interest in the subject and your strength in the field.
Send them in if you get good scores. Either way, I don’t think they’ll make or break your application.
If ‘recommended’ or ‘considered’ your application is strongest with the subject tests, ideally with scores 700+ (higher if you are looking at tippy top STEM-y schools like MIT and CalTech).
If merit is competitive (vs. based on a GPA/test score grid), and the school recommends or considers subject test scores, then again, your application is relatively stronger with those tests than without.
If you take the tests and do well, I would send them in. Perhaps they will not help but I cannot see how they would hurt. I imagine if they are strong scores they will be seen positively and help validate your GPA.