SAT subjects tests are listed as optional for William & Mary. So my questions is this:
How many people accepted to William & Mary actually submitted SAT subject tests and is it truly optional?
Thank you!
Yes they truly are optional. There is no good reason for the Admissions Office not to be upfront about this. The same thing goes for the interview. It can help your application if you do it and do well, but there is no requirement to do so, and your application will not be looked down upon because you didn’t take it.
When I applied to William & Mary, I did submit subject tests. But that was mostly because I had already taken them for other schools and I knew I could do well on them. I think a good rule of thumb for any school that has optional subject tests: If you have good scores and/or if you know you can demonstrate mastery of the test, do it and submit it. If not don’t sweat it, it is not a primary consideration. There are numerous students that did not submit subject test scores and got in if you look back through old forum posts.
My daughter did not take any subject tests and was accepted. She had a strong ACT score, good extracurriculars/leadership, and did interview. But I really think the essay is important - when looking at so many kids who all have similar stats, that is the one thing that can really make an application stand out.
My daughter was accepted OOS this year with no subject tests.