I don’t want to take the ACT and SAT this year because I am taking 6 AP exams this year? Do colleges care? Does applyig test optional ruin my chances of getting into college?
Unless you are currently a senior, I wouldn’t assume that all schools will remain test optional next cycle. Some schools have already moved away from TO this year.
AP exams aren’t until May. ACT and SAT tests are offered at multiple times throughout the year. You can schedule your test so they don’t overlap.
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I would definitely take both ACT & SAT, multiple times. If you do well, those scores are great to have, and can’t hurt, especially if you are holistic review.
I am guessing you are a junior?
It would be good if we had more context. Are you aiming for a top college? I suspect that many top colleges will ask for test scores next year, but it’s hard to know right now. If you are a junior and are aiming high, you have plenty of time between now and then to decide if you want to do the SAT or ACT.
I see no reason why you must plan on taking both tests multiple times. Try a sample test of both and go with the one you prefer. If you need to retake, or want to try the other test, you can decide later. They are similar enough that you don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to prep for the other test.
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I also wouln’t bet on all schools continuing test-optional through next year.
Some schools (Florida, Georgia) aren’t TO this year. So yes, not taking a standardized test would ruin your chances at these schools.
Yes, schools often expect you to find five free hours sometime on a Saturday in the one to two years before applying to college. AP exams are in May. SAT/ACT tests are available starting in August.
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Better to prep for them and take them, rather than be limited in where you can apply. If you have a high score, it’s sure to help you in your applications.
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Well I know you don’t go to public school in North Carolina because it’s required here for all juniors whether they are going to college or not.
I’d give it a go and take it at least once. My D22 took it once and was done. Her score was fine for the colleges she’s interested in (not Ivies). She didn’t do a lot of prep, but did a little bit. You might try a practice test at home and if you don’t like your score you can see if you can find time to prep more. But the first go 'round might be good enough. Better to have a test score that you can submit if you want to than not have one at all and have a school that you love that requires a test score.
Why not take an exam and see where you score - even if you don’t prep.
While many schools are TO and many students are getting in TO, having a solid score (one at least at a school’s average) can only enhance your chances and may give you a greater chance of merit money.
Plus, some schools - for example, the Florida and GA publics still require them. Other schools such as WPI, Catholic, and the UCs are test blind…so they won’t consider them regardless.
Bottom line, you should take the test. While prepping would be best, spending several hours hours on a Saturday morning may become a very profitable endeavor for you, especially if you’re a great test taker.
The APs will appear on your schedule as rigor, but depending on the school, the scores won’t make an impact on your decision.
Good luck.
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If I were you, I would plan to take the SAT/ACT just once early in 2022 and study for it during winter break so it doesn’t overlap too much with your AP courses. If you don’t like your score, you can still apply to test-optional schools, but if you like your score it can boost your applications.
Applying test optional won’t “ruin your chances of getting into college.” Your grades and course rigor are more important than your test scores, so don’t sacrifice your school work to prepare for either standardized test. And in almost all instances taking both is just overkill.
Hundreds of quality colleges are test optional for this admissions cycle and next admissions cycle. I’m not sure what I am allowed to link here, but if you search for Compass Education’s “SAT and ACT Policies and Score Ranges for Popular Colleges and Universities,” their information includes the years in which various schools have committed to test optional.
The caveat is that test optional doesn’t always mean the same thing at different schools. For example, MIT is technically test optional, but MIT strongly recommends that applicants submit test scores if they are able to take the test. Many other highly selective schools have indicated that it is up to the student, and the school will evaluate only what is submitted. Some highly selective schools (Cal Tech, and all the UCs and California State schools, for example) will not accept test submissions at all.
So if you have your heart set on a certain school or schools, you should check their policies before deciding to forgo taking the test.
Beyond that, you should consider the strength of the rest of your application, and whether your expected test score is likely add to or detract from the rest of your application. This is hard to do if you haven’t taken the test, but you may have a pretty good idea from the PSAT, for example.