Does the SAT essay matter?

I just took the SAT for the first time and got a 1550 but I got a 15/24 on the essay, which I don’t really understand because I’m pretty good at AP Lang. Is it worth it to retake the test? My goal is to major in CS + Business at a top 15 school.

My S19 is a CS major took the ACT and got a 35 and an 8 on the essay, everyone told him not retake it. I do not think it made any difference in his acceptances. I would check the schools that you are interested in an see if they require the essay, very few do.

15 is okay enough that it’s not worth the risk to retake the test and get a lower score on a section. Almost no colleges care about the essay. It ain’t broke, so don’t try to fix it.

No college other than West Point cares about the essay score anymore.

No.

(Blah, blah, it depends, maybe in certain situations, … but actually, no (West Point excepted))