Hello! I’m applying ED to Dartmouth as it is my first choice school. However, I will not be sending any SAT2 tests because my parents won’t pay for them (not low income, just frugal parents who don’t see the point of paying $100 for extra tests for a single school). I know Dartmouth recently adopted an optional choice of submitting SAT2’s and I talked to an admissions officer who said she’s “unsure” of how applications will be reviewed without SAT2’s since they have never seen that before… Should I force my parents to cave and apply RD with the subject tests or just submit without SAT2’s ED? My SAT is 1400+ and my gpa/rank is on the lower side, but excellent ECs and good LORs + amazing peer rec.
Do any of the other schools you’re applying to require SAT subject tests? If so, then I’d say it’s definitely worth it. If Dartmouth’s the only one, probably you should still take the subject tests. To make it easier on your parents, you could offer to pay half, or even pay for all of it. I’ve paid for several of my own tests if not just to motivate myself to study harder. 
@Fetch56 nope…that’s why they don’t want to pay. I also don’t have any money, so I’m not sure how I would do that. I think I’ll just do ED
Have you taken any AP exams and done well on them? (at least a 4) If so, list them on the Common App.
I find it difficult to comprehend why your parents will support an ED application to D but not pay for the tests. If you are deferred or rejected, will other schools you apply to want them? If so, they could regret this decision, which to me is penny wise, pound foolish.
Do you have savings? Can you pay for them yourself?
Can you apply for a fee waiver? It seems like your app could really use some good subject scores.
Unlikely in this case. It’s not that the parents can’t pay for them; they’re refusing to pay for them.
I think the AO answered the question of whether or not to take. If it were truly optional for reasons other than cost, the non-answer would have been something like “We examine each application on its own merit.”
You should at least try to get a fee waiver. If not, just borrow the money from a friend or see if you can do some odd jobs on a couple of weekends. Most 17 year old kids can come up with $66.00 if they really want to.
Right now it looks as if you are not ready to apply ED. Get your money together, take the SATIIs and apply RD. Right now, I think that you would be doing yourself a disservice to apply without the SAT II. While the SATII and the Peer Recommendations are considered “recommended” the overwhelming majority of students do include them as part of their application package as they provide additional information which can bolster your application.