<p>I'm getting conflicting advice on the neccessity of taking SAT 2s if the student is not planning to apply to the top tier--The schools I've been reading about don't seem to require them, but I've heard that there is movement among some to require them (like B.U. for example). My D is a rising junior, by the time she applies to college, will more schools be asking for them.</p>
<p>I'm also thinking of having her take the ACT in addition to the SAT and in lieu of the SAT 2s.</p>
<p>JMO here. None of the (very good but not elite) universities DD applied to required SAT2s, and she did not take them. I don't have any proof, but I suspect this hurt her at WashU and Emory, both waitlists despite academic credentials that put her at 80th percentile of the incoming class. Keep in mind that senior year AP scores don't appear until months after the admit decision. In their absence, SAT2 scores can serve as proxy for how well the student absorbs material. Again, JMO.</p>
<p>I would recommend that your daughter do the following during Junior year:</p>
<p>November: take PSAT
February: take ACT+Writing</p>
<p>From the scores on the above 2 tests, she can decide if any more are needed or appropriate. Basically is she does well on the ACT, or better on the ACT than the PSAT score -- then she should stick with the ACT; no reason to take the SAT at all. If she thinks she can improve upon the ACT score, she can retake it at the end of junior year -- the ACT offers score choice so she can choose to submit only the best score. </p>
<p>If the ACT score is weaker than the PSAT, or if PSAT scores are strong enough to put her at the level of National Merit semifinalist (usually in the 215-220 range, depending on state) -- then she may want to take the SAT.</p>
<p>My D was accepted at 3 schools with just an ACT score. She did score high enough on the PSAT to make her a National Merit semifinalist. She did take the SAT to make it to the finalist stage. If she hadn't done so well on the PSAT, I highly doubt that she would have taken the SAT at all. She received notification of acceptance from these 3 schools before the SAT test was taken. She did not take any SATII test. She did get accepted at Washington University with just the ACT and SAT.</p>
<p>I wasn't planning on applying to "top tier" schools, so I didn't take SAT IIs, but then I changed my mind fall of senior year and had to take them real quick. It would have been easier to just take them the spring before, though I've heard the fee has gone up since I was taking those exams, and be safe.</p>
<p>Very few top tier schools require SAT II's if there is an ACT with writing - which is why I suggest taking the ACT first. </p>
<p>A notable exception is the Univ. of Calif., which does require SAT II's from all students -- so Calif. residents probably need to take these tests in any case. </p>
<p>But for the rest -- I think it's more efficient to simply take the ACT. Less testing overall; less expensive -- and as far as I can tell, not only do ACT-submitters successfully get into top tier schools when they want to, but at most top schools the range of acceptable ACT scores is a little broader.</p>
<p>I looked up the test dates for ACT and see that it is not given in NY on the February date (no idea why not!).</p>
<p>She could do the ACT in April and June if necessary; the SAT in March and May; and save the June SAT date in case she needs the 2s. So much testing for a child who does not handle test pressure that well.</p>
<p>I think it would be great if she could just do the ACT with writing and skip the SATs all together. I think that is almost unheard of in our high school...</p>
<p>Our son did not take the SAT 2's and was accepted to the likes of Oberlin, Case and Rensselaer. At the Case info session he asked if the lack of the tests would work against him in any way and was told it wouldn't.</p>
<p>In addition to his acceptance he was offered a Trustees Scholarship worth $17,000/ year.</p>
<p>i wouldnt count on many schools adding an sat ii requirement any time soon as it would be pretty devastating for application numbers. a few top schools have dropped their requirements over the past several years and nearly universally experienced a 20% increase in applications upon doing so. other critical data, like sat scores, also increased dramatically. it simply became significantly easier for the vast majority of high school students to apply, an essential at non-super elites in this day of students submitting 10 or 20 applications each via the commonapp. </p>
<p>unfortunately (and this is unfortunate), im not sure bu--or any school of its calibre--could survive a swim against this current.</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted at Brown and U Chicago without SAT II scores. On CC I've read of some kids accepted to Yale without them, too. Some Ivies do require SAT IIs with the ACT, as does Haverford. I haven't made an extensive study by any means -- these are just the ones we happened to run across.</p>
<p>If a student has particular schools in mind, s/he should check out the requirements.</p>