I am a junior and have not taken any SATs/ACTs yet. My plan is to take the March and June SATs. Since scores for March come out one day before the June test registration deadline, I could see my score before registering and could decide not to retake. Also I have thought about subject tests but the only schools that really need them are very selective so I thought about waiting until next fall to take them so I have the summer to study and can actually decide if I will apply to any schools that need them. Does this sound like a good plan?
Yes, except: don’'t think of subject test optional schools as truely optional. It doesn’t count against you that you didn’t take, BUT, I do think you get extra “points” when they see you have and scored well, i.e., it helps you.
You seem to be about where my S was a year ago, so I will tell you what he is glad he did and what he wished he could change.
SAT2: he would have made room to take. Thinking they would not help or hurt, he cut them out. He thinks they would have “helped” at his optional schools bc most kids that were accepted where he was rejected or deferred seemed to have taken then and scored well.
Too many safeties/matches: in hindsight, he chose too many schools on the lower end. He says now he would have only did 2 or 3 safety/matches: Binghamton and Northeastern or Tulane. NEU and TU give merit $, NEU has a great co op program. TU is, well, it’s great!
Too many reaches in “the same crowd” of applicants. Everyone seems to apply to UVa, UNC and Michigan. He probably would have been more targeted here. but it is hard to know where you have the best shot bc you don’t know what they are looking for.
No LACs: generally he cut them after deciding not to do SAT2, but now wishes he had swapped out a few Unis for LACs.
You’ll be fine. Just look for what YOU want. Not what everyone else is flocking to. And be sure you can afford it for all 4 years.
Test optional schools are test optional for full pay students. Schools switch to “test optional” because they were turning away full pay students who would have done ok at their school but whose scores would have lowered their posted scores which in turn would have lowered their US News ratings. But then they had trouble filling their "full pay’ seats. So those are the students they are trying to attract. If you are asking for FA you will need those scores.
@HRSMom @lostaccount I was talking about the subject tests which aren’t required for most schools outside the top 20. I don’t mean schools that “highly recommend” subject tests or anything like that.
Even if they dont highly recommend, it is a “plus” if you take them.