<p>Lot of good colleges require SAT + 2 subject tests. Some says ACT + writing score. </p>
<p>What is the norm? Are most of you taking SAT + 2 subject tests? Need some direction please?</p>
<p>Depends if you want to apply to those that require subj tests. What is confusing about that? Many apply to schools that don’t have that requirement. How can they advise you? It’s your choice.</p>
<p>There’s no substitute for going to the college websites and reading their testing policies. And it doesn’t take that long, considerably less than what it takes to prep for and take an exam.</p>
<p>Go here for a list of colleges that require, recommend or consider subject tests [Compass:</a> Admissions Requirements](<a href=“SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group”>SAT Subject Test Requirements and Recommendations - Compass Education Group) The ones in the recommend or consider columns generally recommend or consider them if you submit SAT or ACT. In the required column you will see some with an * next to the “2” which means the college accepts ACT in lieu of both SAT and SAT subject tests. If there is no * you need to submit two subject tests even if you submit ACT. What is best to take really depends on your individual situation but obviously you create your greatest number of application options by taking subject tests in addition to SAT or ACT. Thus if you are currently a junior or before, are not certain to which colleges you will apply, and want to apply to some high ranked colleges like ones listed on that site, then taking subject tests should definitely be considered.</p>
<p>^Please see my comments about that link and list here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1435255-sat-iis.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1435255-sat-iis.html</a></p>
<p>Again, I think it’s a great place to start, but it’s not the final word on testing requirements, as is stated on the list itself. It would be helpful to state the caveats when posting this link.</p>
<p>Take them both. Most colleges prefer the SAT test over the ACT+ writing</p>
<p>Entomom, though I agree one should check with the colleges to which you are applying, what I have said is accurate about that Compass site in that the * next to the “2” in the required column means the college accepts ACT in lieu of both SAT and subject tests. There is not a caveat to add to that as all the schools in the required column with that * next to the “2” do in fact take ACT in lieu of both the SAT and SAT subject tests regardless of the major for which one is applying. The exception is for home schooled students who are often required to submit subject tests even to colleges that usually don’t use subject tests for admission and I assume with threads like this one that the poster is not a home schooled student.</p>
<p>Also, as to another comment above, colleges do not prefer SAT over ACT. They readily accept either without preference with only one exception I am aware of: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a college in a state where the SAT controls as the test taken by most high school students, about four years ago went from stating no preference to stating a preference for a test – the ACT.</p>
<p>I did a lot better on my act than sat. (30 vs 1930) I also took 3 subject tests. (670 680 690) I ended up only sending my act and the subject tests.</p>
<p>Does anyone have some examples of schools that publish a requirement for the ACT writing?</p>
<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>Can you please corroborate that if I took SAT and 2 subject tests( one will be Math Subject Test), that will at least cover the requirement for standardized tests for 95+% colleges?</p>
<p>Corroboration: If you took the SAT and 2 subject tests (1 math) that will cover the requirement for the standardized tests for 95+% colleges. </p>
<p>If you are an engineering applicant, you would need to take a physics or chemistry subject test as the 2nd. </p>
<p>If you need subject tests anyway, I don’t recommend taking ACT unless you think you can do better on it than the SAT. </p>
<p>I know for example that Yale takes SATI + 2 SAT II or ACT, would not consider evaluate ACT + SAT II. MIT though uses (SAT or ACT) + SAT II Math + SAT II (Chem or Physics). </p>
<p>It used to be that Georgetown, JHU, Northwestern, Harvard and Toronto all required or recommended (like if you want to get in) 3 SAT IIs, but I think all may have relented to 2 and Toronto accepts AP in lieu of SAT II.</p>
<p>Colleges that actually require SAT subject tests for admission require only two. As noted above you need to check a college’s specific subject requirements. The one mentioned above for engineering, that you have both a math and a science, is very common, and others may require or recommend particular tests for some other subjects (example: Carnegie Mellon requires a math and science for engineering but also requires a math for its liberal arts and business colleges).</p>
<p>Colleges that state they recommend subject tests for admission (sometimes phrased as strongly or highly recommend) usually recommend 2 except that two colleges, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins, recommend three. Those are the only two colleges in the nation that specifically go to three (with the exception that a number of colleges require at least three subject tests from home schooled applicants). A third class is colleges that state they consider subject tests but neither require nor recommend them. They usually don’t state a number. A fourth class, which can actually include some from the three groups above and can include some colleges that don’t even consider subject tests to decide admission, are those that use certain subject tests (like language and sometimes math) for placement and/or college credit (example Gtech gives only minor consideration to subject tests for admission but if you score high enough in a chemistry or English lit subject tests you can get college credit).</p>
<p>In additon there are a small number of colleges, NYU and Middlebury are ones that come to mind, that allow you to meet their test requirement by submitting either SAT or ACT, or instead just submit three SAT subject tests (or AP tests).</p>